NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS CAN'T OVERCOME EARLY MISCUES IN 31-21 LOSS TO TROY (12 PHOTOS) (September 4, 2026)
By CHRIS MANNINGValley Sports ReportTROY — Athens came out slow, then rallied, but ultimately couldn't overcome its miscues in a 31-21 loss to Troy in NTL football action here Friday night at Alparon Park.
The Wildcats had four turnovers on the night while getting penalized nine times for 65 yards. They also had problems snapping the ball out of shotgun in the second half, with it rolling to quarterback Connor Davidson several times.
But even after all that, they were right there at the end against the defending league champions.
"The first half was rough," said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. "That's what I just told the kids, it looked like we kind of laid down in the first half, but we definitely did not in the second. That's how we need to play football right there."
After falling behind 28-7 at the break, the Wildcats scored 14 straight to make it a seven-point game. Troy would go on a 16-play, eight-minute drive that ended with a field goal, putting them up by 10 with just under five minutes to play.
Athens would come up empty in their final two possessions.
"We had some opportunities in the second half," said Bradley. "We were inside the 20 again, with a chance to tie the game, and we just didn't finish that drive. A lot of good things - some bad things we can work on, but a lot of good things."
Davidson was held to minus-5 yards rushing, but that was mostly getting caught in the backfield on pass plays. On design runs he had 36 yards on seven carries, while through the air he was 11-for-31 for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions.
He spread the ball around as five different receivers touched the ball. Kade Rowe had five catches for 78 yards and a score, Nolan Raupers finished with two receptions for 24 yards and a score, and Gage Marmor hauled in two catches for 80 yards.
"We had kids make big plays," said Bradley. "The defense played great in the second half. Offense, we had to change it up, and go to a wide-open look. We did our best, we just came up a little short."
Sophomore Devin Maxfield had the defensive play of the game, picking up a fumble for a 38-yard scoop-and-score to make it 28-21 late in the third.
For Troy, Josiah Pesesky had 93 yards rushing on 16 carries with a score to lead them, as they ran for 227 yards off 49 carries.
Trey Teribury had two touchdown catches and finished with 107 yards on three catches. Logunn Heasley had a pick-6, as well.
Troy got the opening kick-off and wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Martin hit Teribury for a 56-yard touchdown strike off play-action. Lykon-Leffler's kick made it 7-0 less than a minute into the game.
Spencer would pick off a deep Davidson pass on the ensuing drive, though the two teams went into a stalemate after that.
Athens would get down to the Troy 11-yard line but a field attempt was blocked by Feldmeier.
On the ensuing Troy drive, the Trojans went 75 yards on six plays, ending with a Pesesky 21-yard scoring run. After Lykon-Leffler's kick it was 14-0 with 17.4 seconds left in the first.
Athens responded with a touchdown drive of its own, going 52 yards on six plays. On fourth-and-9, Davidson found Rowe, who broke three tackles en route to the end zone. Zach Fisher's kick was good for a 14-7 game with 10:45 left in the half.
Troy answered with an 80-yard drive over six plays. Pesesky would hit Teribury for a 13-yard strike on a halfback pass for the 21-7 lead with 7:48 left in the half.
The key play was a 31-yard run from Palmer with Athens getting called for a personal foul to tack on 15 more yards.
After trading possessions, Athens would start inside their own 20. On second down, Heasley leaped in front of a Davidson pass, corralled the ball, and tight-roped his way down the sideline 30 yards to pay dirt. Lykon-Leffler's kick was good for a 28-7 lead with 4:09 left in the half.
The Wildcats opened the second half with a 65-yard scoring drive on eight plays, ending with a 20-yard pass of Davidson to Raupers.
A 45-yard strike from Davidson to Eli Wayman to get down to the red zone set up the score.
The defenses dug in, though, Athens was able to get to the Troy 9-yard line. However, back-to-back sacks from Feldmeier and Kutt forced a turnover on downs.
The Athens defense would get them back in the game as they forced a bad pitch from Martin. Devin Maxfield scooped up the fumble and out ran the Troy players to the end zone for a 38-yard return.
Fisher's kick was good, and it was a one score game with 1:28 left in the third.
Troy answered with its long drive, in which they converted three straight third downs before getting stymied at the 15-yard line.
After Lykon-Leffler's kick Athens needed 10 points to tie in the final 4:59.
The ensuing drive ended with a turnover on downs, while their final drive saw Pesesky step in front of a Davidson pass for the pick.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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TROY 31, ATHENS 21Scoring Summary
First QuarterT - Spencer Martin 56-yard pass to Trey Teribury (Gavin Lykon-Leffler kick), 11:03
T - Josiah Pesesky 21-yard run (Lykon-Leffler), 17.4
Second QuarterA - Connor Davidson 39-yard pass to Kade Rowe (Zach Fisher kick), 10:45
T - Josiah Pesesky 13-yard pass to Trey Teribury (Lykon-Leffler), 7:48
T - Logunn Heasley 30-yard interception return (Lykon-Leffler kick), 4:09
Third QuarterA - Connor Davidson 20-yard pass to Nolan Raupers (Fisher), 9:31
A - Devin Maxfield 38-yard fumble return (Fisher), 1:28
Fourth QuarterT - Gavin Lykon-Leffler 32-yard field goal, 4:59
Individual StatsATHENSRushingConnor Davidson 13-(-5), Brendan Cooke 4-9, Team 2-(9)
PassingConnor Davidson 11-31-258-2-4
ReceivingKade Rowe 5-78-1, Nolan Raupers 2-24-1, Gage Marmor 2-80, Dominic Robbins 1-11, Eli Wayman 1-45
TROY
RushingJosiah Pesesky 16-93-1, Reed Palmer 12-64, Jayden Kutt 12-39, Spencer Martin 3-10, Evan Allen 3-10
PassingSpencer Martin 2-5-94-1-0, Josiah Pesesky 1-2-13-1-1
ReceivingTrey Teribury 3-107-2
Team Stats Athens TroyRushes/Yards 19/(-5) 49/227
Passing Yards 258 107
First Downs 10 16
Penalties/Yards 9/65 5/34
Fumbles/Lost 1/0. 3/3
Interceptions By: Athens - Connor Davidson;
Troy - Spencer Martin (2), Logunn Heasley, Josiah Pesesky
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