Troy Athens Scouting Report

Written Wednesday September 4th, at 10:10 PM

The Red Hawks come into this game with Lake Orion with some questions about itself. Last season Troy Athens was humiliated by the Dragons 68-20 at Ford Field in the Gridiron Classic.

Lake Orion returns Zach Arnold who had 140 yards and two touchdowns last season against Troy Athens and took home MVP honors in that game.

The Red Hawks return tight end/defensive end Lucas Bezerra. Bezerra committed to Western Michigan in the off season. Bezerra is Troy Athens best player since the Jake Duzey days when he was at Troy Athens now he is at Iowa.

Troy Athens will run a modified spread offense and their defense is a 4-3.

The Red Hawks have had a quarterback competition between Jake Nelson, Brandon McHugh, and newly Troy transfer Alex Muscatt. Nelson runs the option much better and is a duel threat while Muscatt and McHugh both has better arms. Muscatt was a starter at Troy until Jay Darish took the quarterback job and has never looked back sense.

However it does not mean success though Troy Athens has been one of the most hyped up teams in Oakland County but haven't delivered lately. The Red Hawks shocked everyone by making the playoffs in 2011 before losing in five overtimes to Romeo in the first round of the playoffs. Then 2012 it was a disaster in Troy where the Red Hawks finished 2-7 and 1-6 in the Red. Troy Athens two victories (Pontiac and Southfield-Lathrup) were a combined 1-17 last season.

Muscatt won the starting quarterback job for coach Josh Heppener but Warren Mott have really been a pain to his Red Hawks since 2011. In the last two seasons the Marauders have outscored Troy Athens 88-13, one of those games was last week when the Red Hawks lost 47-7 on Thursday night in Warren. Troy Athens allowed 40 unanswered points in that game and was down 34-7 at halftime.

The main problem for the Red Hawks has been it's run defense, it has not been good. Last week against Warren Mott they allowed over 300 yards rushing on the ground and an alarming 532 rushing yards and 496 rushing yards was against the Dragons last season.

Depth is also a problem at Troy Athens as well in the past few seasons. With the numbers down this season.

Troy Athens threw five interceptions (two were for touchdowns,) allowed a 78 yard kickoff return, allowed Warren Mott's top running back to have 14 carries and 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns allowed two rushing touchdowns from 52 and 40 yards.

Warren Mott coach Tom Milanov said after the Warren Mott/Troy Athens game that "I didn't think tonight that was a true representation of what Troy Athens is capable of."

We'll find out what Troy Athens is capable of when the Red Hawks invade Dragon Country on Friday night.