Irish edge Tiger gridders for title

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – TURNOVER: Lyndonville’s Brooks Boyle races up field with a fumble recovery which set up the Tigers first score in a narrow 29-22 loss to the Troy Fighting Irish this afternoon in the Northeastern Football Alliance championship game at Pembroke Town Park.

PEMBROKE – Rallying for two touchdowns in the final seven minutes, the Troy Fighting Irish trimmed the Lyndonville Tigers 29-22 this afternoon at the Pembroke Town Park to claim a fourth straight Northeastern Football Alliance championship.

Trailing 22-14,Troy pulled even on a two-yard touchdown run by Reggie Browne with 7:45 remaining.

The Irish then capitalized on an interception to score what proved to be the game winner on a 20 yard touchdown carry by Browne with 3:59 to go.

Lyndonville’s last ditch rally was then dashed by a lost fumble at the Tigers 33.

Troy also got off to a fast start when Browne broke loose for an 80 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.

Lyndonville answered right back as Brooks Boyle recovered a fumble and raced 75 yards to the Troy five setting up a four yard touchdown run by Rob Williams.

And the sea-saw battle was under way as Troy countered with a 10 yard touchdown run by Browne less than four minutes later to regain a 14-6 lead.

Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the Troy 30 but Lyndonville was unable to capitalize on the opportunity turning the ball over on downs.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – TIGER ON THE LOOSE: Lyndonville running back Derrick Adams picks up good yardage during this afternoon’s Northeastern Football Alliance championship game against Troy .

Boyle then stopped a late Troy drive with another fumble recovery at the Lyndonville 41 with just seven seconds to go in the half to keep it close at 14-6.

After a scoreless third quarter Lyndonville came exploding out at the outset of the fourth quarter to score two touchdowns in the first four minutes to grab a 22-14 advantage.

First, the Tigers pulled even at 14-14 on a 37 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Mackintosh to Williams and a two-point conversion toss from Mackintosh to Nate Scott.

The Tigers then got the ball right back on a fumble recovery by Scott at the Troy 36 and it took the Lyndonville offense only three plays to capitalize.

A big 22 yard pass completion from Mackintosh to Williams on a slant over the middle set up a three yard touchdown run by Derrick Adams with 11:39 remaining. Scott added the two-point conversion run to make it 22-14 but the last rally and the victory belonged to the Irish which capitalized on two costly Tiger turnovers down the stretch to rally for a fourth straight championship.

Lyndonville advanced to the title contest by blanking the Nickel City Kings 14-0 in the West Division finals while the Irish claimed the East final with a win over the Glove Cities Colonials.