Triton Central did not get a gridiron win Friday at Class A, No. 1 Lutheran -- but it got an education.
“We did as best we could,” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able of his team’s 35-7 loss to the Saints. “They’ve got a good team. They’ve got a good program. We had a chance down 21-7 with an opportunity to make a catch and score a touchdown and make the game more interesting. We just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities and that’s part of our growing pains.”
Triton Central (2-1, 1-1 Indiana Crossroads Conference) fell out of the top 10 state rankings in Class 2A with the loss, one that would come with an asterisk if the Tigers and Saints were to meet again later this season. Triton Central, now ranked 12th in the state coaches poll, played without two of its top playmakers in sophomore Ray Crawford junior Brad Schultz.
Crawford, the Tigers’ leading rusher (267 yards, 2 TDs) and second-leading receiver (130 yards, 2 TDs), returns to the lineup Friday while Schultz will miss a second consecutive week recovering from an ankle injury.
With Schultz out, senior receiver Devon Emberton (11 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDs) and sophomore running back Brayden Wilkins (20 carries, 114 yards) have been given more responsibilities in the offense.
Week four is Homecoming Week for Triton Central. Monrovia (2-1, 1-0 ICC) is the opponent Friday night at Mendenhall Field.
The Bulldogs’ offense is one dimensional which presents a challenge to Tim Able’s defense.
“You want to make them throw the ball,” said Able. “They are comfortable running the ball and if you let that happen, they will make you bleed.”
The heavy-duty run offense features three running backs – sophomore Brayton Belcher (236 rushing yards, 4 TDs), junior Dustin Kostrzewski (209 yards, 1 TD) and senior Todd Camic (183 yards, 4 TDs).
“They like to give the ball to all three and evenly distribute it,” said Abel.
To prepare, Abel has instructed his defense in practice to tackle all three rushers after the snap.
“We don’t use a ball (in practice),” he said. “We tackle all three of them which helps us simulate the speed.”
Quarterback Eli Wagner, a junior, is 4-for-12 passing for 76 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Monrovia finished 2-8 in 2020 in head coach Andy Olson’s inaugural season. The Bulldogs’ junior varsity was undefeated, though, countered Able.
Triton Central won last year’s conference clash, 33-20. Monrovia is a 10-point favorite based on the Sagarin ratings of Indiana high school football teams.
With Shelby County’s other football program, Shelbyville, shut down for the second straight week due to positive cases of COVID-19, Able believes Triton Central is in good shape.
“So far, so good. (Positive cases) have really slowed down here. We have a lot more kids in classes,” said Able.
Lutheran sits atop the ICC standings at 3-0 (3-0 ICC).
Class 2A, No. 11 Speedway follows at 3-0 (2-0 ICC) ahead of Monrovia, Scecina (2-1, 1-1), Triton Central, Beech Grove (1-2, 1-2), Ritter (0-3,0-2) and Cascade (0-3, 0-3).
Friday’s schedule includes Beech Grove at Scecina, Speedway at Ritter, Cloverdale at Cascade and Lutheran at Lapel.
