Murray’s Ground Game Helps Troy Prepare for the Playoffs

Troy High running back Brett Murray rushed for 150 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Warriors defeated Fullerton, 27-24, in a Freeway League game Friday night at Fullerton High.

Next week, Troy (8-2, 4-1 in league) advances to a first-round game in the Southern Section Division IX playoffs. Fullerton finished 5-5, 1-4 in league.

Murray carried seven times for 31 yards in a second-half drive that took seven minutes off the clock. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior capped the 16-play, 90-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run that gave Troy a 27-16 lead with 9:32 left to play.

“We’re 8-2 and we have the potential to get better during the playoffs,” said Murray, who injured his left ankle on the Warriors’ final series but isn’t expected to miss next week’s game. “Tonight, the offense made some mental mistakes but we came up big when we had to.”

Tied at halftime at 13-13, Troy marched 65 yards in seven plays on its first possession of the third quarter to take a 20-13 lead. Tom Osborn finished the drive with a six-yard run.

The Indians rallied midway through the fourth quarter. A 10-play, 45-yard drive was culminated by Armando Lopez’s 10-yard run. Michael Echaves completed a two-point conversion on a pass to Dustin Sober to close the score to 27-24.

Lopez finished the game with 181 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 30 carries.