PIQUA — The Troy football team took control in the second half in brutal conditions to win the annual rivalry game with Piqua 21-7 at Alexander Stadium/Purk Field Friday night.

Troy now leads the series 68-66-6.

The Trojans, 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the MVL, will host Xenia Friday night.

Piqua, 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the MVL, will host West Carrollton Friday night.

The game was tied 7-7 at halftime and Piqua seemed to have the momentum to start the second half.

They tackled Troy at the six-yard yard line and forced the Trojans to punt from their own end zone.

But, the momentum swung when Piqua took over at Troy 35 and lost one yard on three plays and had to punt.

From that point on, Troy used the running of quarterback Aiden Kirkpatrick and running back Dakota Manson to control the game.

The Trojans got the ball back on their own 20 and went 80 yards in 16 plays.

The duo shared carries on the last 15 plays of the drive.

Kirkpatrick ran seven yards for a first down on third-and-four from the 26 to keep the drive going.

He added a 10-yard run to get the ball out near midfield.

On a fourth-and-two from the Piqua 32, Manson powered his way for eight yards.

He added a five-yard run to give Troy a third-and-two at the Piqua 16.

Kirkpatrick would handle the final three plays of the drive.

He ran for eight yards to the eight for a first-and-goal, ran seven yards down to the one and powered his way into the end zone on second down on the final play of the third quarter and Cameron Stoltz’s kick made it 14-7 going to the fourth quarter.

After a Piqua three-and-out, both teams turned the ball over on downs on four-and-outs and Troy took over at is own 44 with 6:30 remaining in the game.

The Trojans would go 56 yards in five plays to seal the win.

Kirkpatrick started the drive with a 34-yard run to the Piqua 22.

After three more Kirkpatrick runs, Troy had a second-and-goal at the seven-yard line.

Manson burst through the line and into the end zone and Stoltz’s kick made it 21-7 with 3:38 remaining in the game.

Piqua, who never made a first down in the second half and was 1-for-10 in the game on third and fourth downs, punted.

Troy, who was 4-for-6 on fourth downs in the game, would then run out the clock and celebrate a big win.

The Trojans took over on their own 25 after forcing a Piqua punt on the first drive of the game.

Troy put together a 15-play drive for the first score of the game.

The Trojans converted a fourth-and-one from their own 34 to keep the drive going on a Kirkpatrick run.

Manson converted a third-and-two from the Piqua 46 and Kirkpatrick would thrown 15 yards to Kayden Franklin and run for 19 yards on consecutive plays to give Troy a first-and-goal at the Piqua six.

Kirkpatrick added runs of four and two yards to put the ball in the end zone and Stoltz’s kick made it 7-0 with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Piqua would answer early in the second quarter.

On second-and-nine from the Piqua 31, Caiden Thomas found Debo Knisley open in the flat and Knisley would take it all the way to end zone for a 69-yard score. Gavin Larger’s PAT tied it 7-7 with 9:44 remaining in the half.

It would remain that way until Troy took control in the second half.

Kirkpatrick would finish with 124 yards on 25 carries, while Manson had 56 yards on 14 carries.

Kirkpatrick was 1-for-5 passing for 15 yards.

Gage Kawecki led the defense with nine tackles.

Caiden Thomas completed four of 15 passes for 87 yards and Jerich0 Burns had 56 yards on 19 carries as the Trojans defense limited Piqua to 2.1 yards per carry.

Owen Shawler led the defense with eight tackles and Carson Marrs and John Hess both had seven tackles.

Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]