Jay Yaskanisch hoists the ball after he recovered a fumble forced by a sack by Nick Valenti in Saturday's Section II Class AA semifinal against Niskayuna. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

TROY — The Troy High football team wanted to send a message in Saturday’s Section II Class AA semifinal against Niskayuna.

It only took two plays.

Senior quarterback Brian Marsh ran for a 74-yard touchdown on Troy’s first offensive play and Shatiek Lewis scampered 73 yards to the end zone on Troy’s second play from scrimmage.

 Shatiek Lewis breaks away for a long touchdown run during Saturday's Section II Class AA semifinal victory over Niskayuna.

The Flying Horses gained 492 total rushing yards on 46 attempts and the defense intercepted four passes and made seven sacks in a 63-7 victory on Edward C. Picken Field.

Troy (8-0), the Liberty Division’s No. 1 seed and the No. 7 ranked Class AA team in New York State, advanced to Friday’s Section II Class AA Super Bowl against Empire Division No. 3 Shenendehowa (7-2). Kickoff at South Colonie High School is set for 7 p.m.

Brian Marsh takes off for the end zone on Troy's first play from scrimmage Saturday afternoon against Niskayuna. Chris Henry (22), Nick Massaroni (21) and Shatiek Lewis (41) are in pursuit.

Lewis finished with 207 rushing yards on 10 attempts and also scored on a 77-yard run in the second quarter. He suffered a high ankle sprain at Saratoga Springs in Week Five of the regular season and sat out Troy’s 35-28 overtime victory at Niskayuna in Week Six.

Although Lewis appeared in Troy’s last two games, he was glad to be back at full strength Saturday afternoon.

“It feels really good. I’m just glad to get back,” he said. “I felt like I was just letting the guys down on the sideline so I had to come back and do good for the team. I feel like I owe it to them.”

Marsh finished with 101 rushing yards on six attempts and senior running back Jordan Canzeri added 95 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries.

Stephaun Grinage comes up with the ball after intercepting a pass thrown by Niskayuna's Kyle Bayly. Raheem Felder (11) looks on.

“It’s my senior season and I don’t want to go out in the bad way,” Lewis said. “I was being patient, but I got emotional sometimes. I looked at my teammates and I said, ‘I’m going to do this for you guys. I’m doing it for you guys.”

Troy’s defense, which was torched for 336 passing yards in its regular season contest against Niskayuna (5-4, Liberty No. 3 seed), bent but didn’t break against the Silver Warriors Saturday. Niskayuna senior quarterback Kyle Bayly completed 14-of-33 passes for 232 yards, but he also had three passes intercepted by the Troy defense.

“We know how it is when teams score on us,” Lewis said. “We know how it is to struggle in games. We all know how it is and we don’t like that feeling, so we try to put them out early.”

Stephaun Grinage intercepted a pair of passes and Canzeri and Tyler Moore added interceptions for Troy.
Troy held the Silver Warriors to -19 yards rushing, thanks to the seven sacks made by Luis Lind (two), Nick Valenti, Kyle Geraci, Tyler Moore, Dan McAuley and Tom Welcome.

Stephaun Grinage (31) and Noah Thomas (82) leap for joy during Saturday's Section II Class AA semifinal victory over Niskayuna.

“We needed to control the ball with our offense, but with the same token, our defensive coaches put together a great scheme,” said Troy head coach Jack Burger. “Coach (Bob) Burns runs the show with Coach (Mark) Galuski and Coach (Sam) Marro and they had a great scheme and the kids were able to execute.”

A season ago, Troy played in the Section II Class A Super Bowl against Burnt Hills, losing 33-18.

Shenendehowa, which is 6-0 away from Steuerwald Stadium this season, last appeared in a Section II Super Bowl in 2004.

For the Troy High seniors, a second shot at a Section II championship has been a major motivating factor in 2010.

“In January, that was our goal. Go to the Super Bowl again,” Lewis said. “I feel that we’re back where we belong, but this time, we’re going to win it. We’re not going there just to be there, we’re going there to win it.”

TROY 63, NISKAYUNA 7

Niskayuna (5-4) 0 7 0 0 — 7
Troy (9-0) 21 21 14 7 — 63
First Quarter
T — Brian Marsh 74 run (Badro Talbi kick failed) 11:39
T — Shatiek Lewis 73 run (Marsh run) 9:07
T — Jordan Canzeri 5 run (Talbi kick) 5:11
Second Quarter
T — Stephaun Grinage 31 run (Talbi kick) 10:28
N — Josh Callahan 58 pass from Kyle Bayly (Joel Agnes kick) 9:50
T — Lewis 77 run (Talbi kick) 7:46
T — Canzeri 4 run (Talbi kick) 1:14
Third Quarter
T — Canzeri 3 run (Talbi kick) 9:25
T — Marsh 3 run (Talbi kick) 5:21
Fourth Quarter
T — Raheem Felder 70 punt return (Talbi kick) 4:34
Individual Stats:
Rushing: Niskayuna (19-(-19): Hilweh 8-5, Baisy 1-1, Singleton 5-(-4), Bayly 5-(-21). Troy (46-492): Lewis 10-207, Marsh 6-101, Canzeri 12-95, Grinage 4-55, Mann 3-14, Geraci 3-11, Felder 4-4, Pastore 1-4, Pirela 2-1, Valenti 1-0.
Passing: Niskayuna: Bayly 14-33-3-232; Singleton 1-5-1-12. Troy: Marsh 2-2-0-53.
Receiving: Niskayuna (15-244): Callahan 5-109, Fragnoli 5-77, Schuler 3-42, Akpanikat 2-16. Troy (2-53): Blair 1-27, Blaauboer 1-26.

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