Missing two key players can be damaging to any team’s chances on a Friday night. Add to it that Triton Central’s two missing players accounted for positions on offense, defense and special teams and that the Tigers were playing #1 (1A) Indianapolis Lutheran. The result was a 35-7 Indiana Crossroads Conference loss.
#8 (2A) Triton Central (2-1, 1-1 ICC) entered the game without the services of junior Brad Schultz (ankle) and sophomore Ray Crawford (serving suspension following Week 2 officials call of helmet-to-helmet contact). Crawford is expected to return for the Tigers home game with Monrovia. Schultz will be evaluated in the days leading up to the Week 4 game.
Lutheran (3-0, 3-0 ICC) jumped out to an early lead by taking advantage of a Triton Central quarterback Jace Stuckey fumble. The Tigers argued Stuckey tried a forward pass as he tried to elude the rush but the play was ruled a fumble recovered by the Saints. Lutheran wide receiver-converted-quarterback Montasi Clay put the Saints on the board with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Javen Holsey.
Lutheran doubled the lead to 14-0 late in the first on a Clay 26-yard run.
Triton Central was able to move the ball through the air. Quarterback Jace Stuckey was 17-for-29 passing for 176 yards. He threw for the Tigers only score, a 32-yard touchdown to Devon Emberton. It was one of 10 receptions for 120 yards by the 6’2” senior receiver.
Triton Central head coach Tim Able on the Cagney’s Pizza King postgame on GIANT fm Sports.
It was a different story for the Tigers on the ground. TC rushed for just 26 yards on 21 carries.
Triton Central was down 21-0 when the Tigers finally got on the board with 2:31 left to go in the third quarter with the Stuckey – to- Emberton score.
Lutheran put the game away late in the period when Clay returned from leg cramps just moments before to sprint to an 82-yard touchdown. Sophomore running back Joe Davis capped the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Triton Central will return home to play Monrovia in an ICC matchup Friday. Monrovia (2-1, 1-0) is coming off its first loss, 34-8 to #12 (2A) Linton-Stockton.
Triton Central – Monrovia can be heard on GIANT fm Sports with pregame at 6:00 pm.
