Time will tell if Triton Central turns lessons learned in 2021 into a dedicated out-of-season workout routine that builds to a 2022 season full of great expectations.

“I hope the kids understand we don’t want to go through what we went through again,” said Triton Central football coach Tim Able. “I hope they are not satisfied and want to keep playing longer.”

With rebuilt offensive and defensive lines littered with underclassmen, expectations were curtailed for a 2021 team also breaking in a sophomore quarterback with no real Friday night experience.

The Tigers opened the season 2-0 for the seventh-straight season but a key injury and a brutal Indiana Crossroads Conference schedule weighed on the program and left it 5-4 going into the postseason.

“We knew we were playing teams more experienced and with more talent because they were more experienced, so it was not too much of a surprise,” said Abel of the barely above .500 record.

That tough conference schedule prepared Triton Central for a sectional slate of team from southern Indiana. The Tigers mangled Eastern (Pekin), 58-0, and Clarksville, 42-7, to set up a sectional championship showdown with Paoli.

“The pinnacle of our season was beating Paoli,” said Able. “They were good at things we were not good at.”

Triton Central prevailed, 37-35, to capture the program’s third-straight sectional title. The championship game appearance was a ninth straight under Abel’s watch. The veteran coach, with a state championship to his credit, won career game No. 200 during the regular season.

The season ended one week later when Evansville Mater Dei rolled into Fairland and captured the regional title, 35-7.

That left Triton Central with an 8-5 record with the five losses coming to teams with a combined 53-14 record. Evansville Mater Dei won the southern Indiana semistate before losing to Andrean in the Class 2A state championship game.

Indianapolis Lutheran, who handed the Tigers their first loss of the season, 35-7 on Sept. 3, won the Class A state title.

And ICC-rival Indianapolis Scecina also won a regional title before losing to Evansville Mater Dei in the semistate round.

The calendar now reboots as preparation begins for a 2022 season where Triton Central has most all of its top playmakers back as well as linemen with a year of experience under their belts.

“The kids are working hard in class and staying after school if they are not in (winter) sports,” said Abel. “Putting on weight and strength is huge between now and spring break.”

An offensive line that at times had two freshmen starting must get more powerful to protect a strong-armed quarterback and a dynamic running back that has eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in his first two seasons with the program.

“That’s a no brainer,” chuckled Able. “We are going back to the weight room. You can only get stronger by working year round. We got better (as the season progressed) but we have got to get stronger and more physical.”

Sophomore quarterback Jace Stuckey completed 51% of his pass attempts in his first varsity season for 1,386 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for nine touchdowns.

“He needs to get more consistent with his habits and his mechanics and keep working to get stronger,” said Able. “He is very athletic and if he gets stronger he can run more often.

“He’s a good student of the game. He will keep watching film. He has a lot of talent and a lot of football savvy. He can think through things and anticipate things. He has a bright future that he has control of.”

Sophomore running back Ray Crawford collected 1,273 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns behind a young offensive line that forced him to be more creative.

“Ray will be better next year when we can open more running lanes for him,” said Able. “He will keep developing as an athlete.”

Crawford also became a threat in the passing game this season, hauling in 24 receptions for 433 yards and three TDs.

Brad Schultz had an on-and-off junior season while trying to get healthy after suffering an injury in week two against Greensburg. Schultz ran for 188 yards and two touchdowns this season and finished with a team-leading 26 receptions for 416 yards and four touchdowns despite playing in just 10 games.

A big offseason goal is finding new leaders on the team. Graduation takes away senior all-conference selection Jayden Mays, who played offensive line, linebacker and handled punting duties for the Tigers.

“He is someone with leadership ability … a hybrid player,” said Abel. “He could do so many things that he will not be easy to replace.”

Developing the front seven on defense is another priority. Most of the defensive backs will return following a solid season.

“We have to get that front seven shored up,” said Abel.

Sophomore Levi Dewey locked down the kicking duties, hitting 36-of-37 extra-point attempts and 7-of-8 field goal attempts this season.

Once spring arrives, Abel expects to see several players participating in twice-weekly workouts. Several Tigers will participate in track and field and baseball as well.

Practice time ramps up to four days a week during the summer session which provides time to develop a good eighth-grade class coming to the high school level.

There are no changes to Triton Central’s 2022 schedule. Cascade comes to Mendenhall Field on Aug. 19 with the first road game one week later at Greensburg.

Lutheran, now the defending Class A state champions, are again the week three opponent with Monrovia, Indian Creek, Ritter, Scecina, Beech Grove and Speedway rounding out the schedule.