Friedrich Gets Late Score to Pace Troy

Steve Friedrich caught a 22-yard scoring pass from Greg Windle with five seconds left in the game to give Troy High School a 17-10 victory over El Dorado at Valencia High School Thursday.

But the victory did little to improve the spirits of Troy Coach John Turek, who is miffed at his team’s play so far this season.

Troy (1-1) opened the season with a 17-7 loss to Rancho Alamitos last Friday.

“We’ve got to really improve,” Turek said. “We flopped around a lot out there.”

Troy opened a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but El Dorado rallied to tie the score with a third-quarter touchdown and a fourth-quarter field goal.

Troy started the winning drive on its own 27 with two minutes left.

Friedrich and Windle connected three times in the drive for 50 yards. But the most important play was an apparent incompletion that turned into a 15-yard gain thanks to a pass interference call.

Troy was on the El Dorado 37 with 22 seconds left, facing a second and 17.

Friedrich started down the left side and cut to the sidelines at the 22, where he was bumped from behind by defender Eric Ayala just before the ball arrived, according to the official.

On the next play, Friedrich started to run the same pattern but then cut up field into the end zone.

Friedrich, a senior and team captain, had six receptions for 72 yards. Windle was nine of 22 for 97 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 67 yards in nine carries despite being sacked four times for minus-19 yards.

Windle scored on a 46-yard run in the first quarter, giving Troy a 7-0 lead. Mark Lowe made a 31-yard field goal also in the quarter as Troy led, 10-0.

El Dorado’s defense assumed control of the line in the second quarter and dominated until the final drive.

El Dorado’s third-quarter touchdown was set up when Bryan Warner made a twisting, over-the shoulder catch of a 31-yard pass from quarterback Jason Bluth.

The reception gave El Dorado (1-1) a first down at the Troy two, and Scott D’Antuono scored from a yard out two plays later.

El Dorado tied it, 10-10, on a 30-yard field goal by Mike Roth with 2:07 left in the game.