Salado Eagles beat the Troy Trojans on the road, 59-42, in a shootout to open the football season Aug. 29.
The Eagles led 10-7 after the first, 24-21 at the half and 38-35 at the end of the third, before outscoring Troy 21-7 to put the game away.
The Eagles scored in the first minute of the game on a 62-yard pass from Devonte Foster to Landen Noske. The PAT by Max Gist made it 7-0.
After shutting down Troy, the Eagles took a 10-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Gist with three minutes left in the first.
After intercepting a Salado pass, Troy got from their own 20 yard line to the Salado 1 yard line on a long pass. A penalty set them back before Jayden Lucky scored on a 6 yard run. Jacob Ward’s kick made it 10-7 with a minute left in the first.
Salado answered on the ensuing drive with a 20 yard pass from Devonte Foster to Noske two minutes into the second quarter. Gist made it 17-7.
Troy answered with a 65 yard pass from Hunter Fryman to Cohen Ketcham. Ward’s kick made it 17-14 with eight minutes left in the half.
The Eagles went up 24-14 with two minutes left in the half on a 45 yard pass from Landon Owens to Gabriel Merriman and a PAT kick by Gist.
Troy closed the gap by recovering a Salado fumble at the Eagle 16 with less than a minute to go. Bryson Williams scored on a 9 yard pass from Fryman. The PAT by Lucky closed the halftime gap to 24-21.
The Trojans took their first lead of the game on the opening drive of the second half. Lucky ran for 60 yards and then converted the PAT for a 28-24 lead over Salado.
Devonte Foster answered with a 10 yard run and Gist made the Salado lead 31-28 two minutes into the second half.
Lucky returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards and added the PAT for a 35-31 Troy lead.
Foster found Noske for a 23 yard TD pass and Gist made it 38-35 Salado just three minutes into the half.
Devonte Foster extended the lead a minute into the fourth quarter on a 7 yard run. Gist’s toe made it 45-35.
Fryman found Cohen Ketcham for a 25 yard TD pass with nine minutes left to play. Lucky closed the gap to 45-42.
Luke Bingham scored on a 28 yard run with seven minutes left to play. Gist made the lead 52-42,
The teams traded turnovers until Owens connected with Merriman for a 55 yard TD. Gist’s kick gave Salado its final lead of 59-42 with three minutes to play.
Offensive Statistics:
Passing: Salado: Devonte Foster, 15-20, 277 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; Landen Owens, 3-3, 81 yards, 2 TDs. Troy:Hunter Fryman, 17-32, 384 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; Owen Smith, 1-1, 10 yards.
Rushing: Salado: Devonte Foster, 13-163 yards, 2 TDs; Luke Bingham, 9-151 yards; Caine Cruddas, 4-3 yards. Troy: Jayden Luck, 20-135 yards, 2 TDs; Owen Smith, 2-17 yards; Hunter Fryman, 6-3 yards.
Receiving: Gabe Merriman, 9-180 yards, 2 TDs; Landen Noske, 5-123 yards, 3 TDs; Caine Cruddas, 1-20 yards; Brayden Dildine, 1-17 yards; King Tobe, 1-9 yards; Luke Bingham, 1-9 yards. Troy: Cohen Ketcham, 9-264 yards, 2 TDs; Brock Sebesta, 2-56 yards; Owen Smith, 2-35 yards; Bryson Williams, 2-24 yards, 1 TD; Jayden Lucky, 2-15 yards.
Defensive Statistics: Cade Fenoglio, 8 solo tackles (ST), 6 assisted tackles (AT); Ethan Robledo, 6 STs, 3 ATs, 1 Pass Defense (PD), 1 Tackle for Loss (TFL); Michael Edmonson, 3 STs, 6 ATs, 2 TFLs; Damonte Foster, 8 STs, 1 INT, 1 TFL, 1 PD.; Luke Bauser, 3 STs, 2 ATs; Max Gist, 3 STs, 1 TFL; Miller Gallia, 3 STs, 1 TFL; Dylan Jiminez, 3 STs; Owen Gunter, 1 ST; Devonte Foster, 1 ST; Tyson White, 1 ST; Christian Norcross, 1 ST; Mason Olson, 3 PDs, Robert Campbell, 1 PD.