Despite being more than two hours apart, the football programs at Triton Central and Paoli are well acquainted.

Friday night’s Class 2A, Sectional 39 championship game is the fourth meeting between the Tigers (7-4) and Rams (7-2) in head coach Tim Able’s ninth season in Fairland. The programs have clashed five times in the postseason since 2011 with TC up 3-2 with wins in 2011, 2019 and 2020.

Able’s Tigers have ended Paoli’s season in consecutive years and now must do it a third time to collect a third-straight sectional championship.

“It’s going to take a nice effort to win,” said Able, 79-31 in nine seasons at TC and 204-129 over 29 years. “They are a much better team this year and they’ve got everybody back while we lost a lot (to graduation).”

Triton Central has won the last two postseason meetings 41-8 in 2019 and 35-12 in 2020 – both games at Paoli.

This year, the Rams head north to Fairland with senior quarterback Carson Little and sophomore fullback Trey Rominger seeking revenge.

Rominger is a “downhill runner” according to Able who has amassed over 1,200 yards rushing this season and 20 touchdowns. He is joined in the backfield by seniors Sawyer Livingston (48 rushes, 524 yards, 4 TDs) and Marcus McGuire (35 rushes, 300 yards, 1 TD).

“They are a run-oriented team but the QB can throw when they need him to,” said Able.

Little has only put the ball in the air 46 times this season with 17 completions (7 for touchdowns).

Paoli’s leading receiver, senior Ike Baker, has seven receptions and two TDs.

“They do a good job of what they do,” said Able. “It’s not overly complicated but they are very good.”

Triton Central reached the sectional championship game for the ninth consecutive year by keeping the state’s leading rusher in check on a wet Friday night in Fairland. Clarksville junior running back Robert Lamar gained 163 yards but needed 34 carries and scored just one touchdown.

Paoli will have as many as nine seniors on offense Friday against a young Triton Central squad.

“We’re trying to get our kids back down to earth,” said Able. “For many, it’s their first tournament run. We have a lot of young kids that don’t understand you can’t over celebrate. Distractions are easy for young kids. We have to get our mojo back and get ready to go.”

The weather kept Triton Central from showing off its aerial attack against Clarksville. It wasn’t needed, though, as sophomore running back Ray Crawford, who is over a 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season, ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore quarterback Jace Stuckey ended two more drives with touchdown runs in a 42-7 victory.

Stuckey will not have to battle adverse conditions in the championship game meaning Triton Central can get its offense firing on all cylinders.

The pre-game show on GIANT fm (96.5 FM) starts at 6 p.m. with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

The Sectional 39 champion will face the Sectional 40 champion in the regional championship game.

North Posey (9-2) is at Evansville Mater Dei (9-2) Friday for the Sectional 39 championship.

If North Posey wins, the Vikings are a 21-point underdog at Mater Dei, and Triton Central wins, TC will make the 3-plus-hour drive to North Posey on Nov. 12.

If Mater Dei and Triton Central win, TC is a 12-point favorite over Paoli, the regional championship game will be at Mendenhall Field in Fairland.