With the game tied 21-21, Neatherton took a handoff and ran left, then cut up along Miamisburg’s sideline for a touchdown. Neatherton sat out the first five games of the season after transferring from Valley View.
“I just looked left, saw open field and starting running,” Neatherton said. “I started running as fast as I can, I saw a guy and I stiff-armed him. I just ran as fast as I could to the end zone… It was very nice to be out here and play with my team against a team I didn’t get to play in regular season.”
Troy trailed 14-7 at halftime but built a lead in the last minutes of the third quarter.
Sam Jackson intercepted a pass a few yards in front of Miamisburg quarterback Tate Vongsy and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown with 5:49 left to tie the game 14-14. Miamisburg fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and Troy’s Zach Boyer recovered the ball at Miamisburg’s 45-yard line.
After two quick first downs, quarterback Hayden Kotwica scored on a 22-yard run with 3:07 left to give the Trojans a 21-14 lead.
Miamisburg responded on its next drive. Running back Tony Clark ran 41 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 21-21. Troy was forced to punt on its next drive, but Miamisburg fumbled on the return and Shane Shoop recovered at the 5-yard line to set up and first-and-goal. The Trojans couldn’t capitalize, though, and were stuffed on four consecutive running plays.
The Vikings got two first downs and were forced to punt, and Troy went three-and-out on the next drive. Kotwica’s punt was partially blocked and recovered by Miamisburg at the Trojans’ 40. That set up Neatherton’s game-winning touchdown.
Troy finishes with a 10-2 record, which comes after they were 11-29 in the previous four seasons. Troy head coach Matt Burgbacher said he’s excited for the program’s future. Though the Trojans will lose Kotwica and senior running back Josh Browder, they return most of their starters and have depth coming up with a JV team that lost only one game and a freshman team that was undefeated.
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