INDIANAPOLIS -- Ray Crawford’s first handoff within sight of the south end zone at Ray Schultz Field ended with a touchdown run. Three weeks earlier, the last handoff he took at Christel House Manual’s field ended in heartbreak.

Crawford was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage on the final play of a 21-20 overtime loss to Indianapolis Scecina at Ray Schultz Field.

Class 2A, No. 5 Triton Central opened Sectional 39 play Friday at the same field and romped to a 58-6 victory.

Crawford (photo) ran for two touchdowns and Brad Schultz had three touchdown receptions to lead Triton Central to a convincing victory.

The Tigers, now 8-2, will travel to Brownstown Central (6-4) for a semifinal contest next Friday. Brownstown Central defeated Brown County, 61-7, in its sectional opener.

After shutting down Christel House Manual’s game-opening drive, Triton Central took over at its own 36-yard line and started marching toward the north end zone. Three Crawford runs and a catch by Schultz gave TC a second-and-13 play at the Eagles’ 17.

Quarterback Jace Stuckey (photo) scrambled loose and ran the 17 yards for a touchdown but Crawford was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty when he delivered a knockout block on Christel House’s Jalen Gill, who did not return to the game.

With the touchdown negated and a third-down pass falling incomplete, Levi Dewey drilled a 40-yard field goal for an early lead.

The Eagles fumbled on the first play of their second drive and Stuckey notched the first of three straight touchdown passes to Schultz. The first came from nine yards out. The second was 48 yards as Schultz ran under a deep pass into the end zone. The third was a 15-yarder early in the second quarter as Triton Central quickly rolled to a 24-0 lead while Christel House was still trying to earn a first down.

Crawford’s two touchdown runs came successively in the second quarter and Brayden Wilkins added a 15-yard scoring run to set the halftime score at 45-0.

Triton Central came into the sectional opener a 69-point favorite.

“This game was unique from many games we’ve had,” said Stuckey, who along with the rest of the starting units spent the second half on the sidelines. “We took a different approach but I think we did what we wanted to do and we did it well.”

Stuckey completed 8 of 13 passes for 162 yards.

Schultz (photo) hauled in seven catches for 137 yards which moved him even closer to the single season and career receptions record held by Dakota Nelson. The senior now needs two catches to surpass Nelson’s record of 68 catches in a season and seven to surpass the career record of 118 set in 2012.

The postgame meeting was calm and subdued. Triton Central came back to Christel House Manual to get a measure of redemption from its loss three weeks earlier.

“We got the redemption on the field and now we are looking for redemption on the next team and that starts next week with it looking like Brownstown (Central),” said Stuckey.

“We have to be able to play anywhere and everywhere,” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able of the return to Schultz Field. “This field is really beat up. It hasn’t rained in awhile. Everyone’s yards are this way.”

Now, the Tigers can set their sights on the tradition-rich program at Brownstown Central that is 6-0 all-time against Triton Central. The two programs have not met since the 2000 postseason.

Head coaches Tim Able (213 career wins) of Triton Central and Reed May (291 wins) of Brownstown Central have not faced each other in their storied careers.

“They have a tradition and a strong program with a great coach,” said Able. “He is a quality person that runs a great program.”

Triton Central’s two second-half touchdowns Friday came from Sam Collier on a 1-yard run and Luke Blake on a 3-yard run.

Triton Central 58, Christel House Manual 6

SCORE BY QUARTERS

TC (8-2)  17  28   7  13  --  58

CH (3-6)    0    0   0    6  --    6

First Quarter:

TC – Dewey 40 field goal, 6:57

TC – Schultz, 9 pass Stuckey (Dewey kick), 5:51

TC – Schultz, 48 pass Stuckey (Dewey kick), 3:34

Second Quarter:

TC – Schultz, 15 pass Stuckey (Dewey kick), 11:07

TC – Crawford, 7 run (Dewey kick), 8:07

TC – Crawford, 4 run (Dewey kick), 3:37

TC – Wilkins, 15 run (Dewey kick), 2:15

Third Quarter:

TC – Collier, 1 run (Winslow kick), 1:35

Fourth Quarter:

TC – Blake, 3 run (Hayden kick failed), 2:51

CH – Church, 73 pass Lucas, 0:00

Individuals:

Rushing: Crawford 9-42, Wilkins 2-37, Brown 6-32, Perkon 3-9, Collier 4-7, Stuckey 0-0 (TC); Thomas 8-13, Bible 9-(-10), Church 1-(-5) (CH).

Passing: Stuckey 8-13-162, Collier 5-6-60 (TC); Lucas 3-10-68 (CH).

Receiving: Schultz 7-137, Perkon 3-42, Crawford 1-26, Robertson 1-12, Brown 1-6 (TC); Church 1-73, Bible 1-0, Tyler 1-(-5).