The 14th meeting of the two head coaches with a combined 429 career wins comes Friday at Triton Central in an Indiana Crossroads Conference battle between two top-10 ranked programs.
At stake is potentially sole possession of second place in the ICC standings behind Class A, No. 1 Indianapolis Lutheran (6-0, 5-0 ICC), who defeated both the Tigers and Crusaders by a combined score of 85-27.
“The higher you finish in the conference, the more players you can nominate (for postseason awards),” said Able. “The individual awards come with more team success.”
Both Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central (5-1, 3-1 ICC) and 2A No. 7 Scecina (4-2, 2-1 ICC) are in the same sectional which means Friday’s clash could be a postseason preview, just as it was in 2022.
The regular season game went to overtime and Scecina scored first for a 21-14 lead. Triton Central answered with a touchdown and Levi Dewey (photo) delivered the extra-point kick to set up a second overtime session. Only the Crusaders were flagged for a penalty on the kick and Able opted to take the game-tying point off the scoreboard and go for the win.
Triton Central put the ball in running back Ray Crawford’s capable hands but Scecina defensive lineman Adam Young met him in the backfield and shut down the 2-point conversion attempt to give the Crusaders the win.
The sectional rematch proved even tougher for both teams but Triton Central prevailed 10-7 to get its first sectional win over the Crusaders during Able’s tenure.
Friday also is Senior Night on what is the only guaranteed home game left for the highly-successful Class of 2023.
“That should hit them pretty hard,” said Able. “It’s a pretty neat night when you are home on Senior Night.”
In three-and-a-half years in the program, the TC seniors are part of 33 wins and three sectional championships. The class can become the second straight graduating class to win four straight sectional titles. The class of 2022 accomplished that last year and finished their careers with 38 wins.
“They’ve been highly successful,” said Able of his senior class. “They’ve got to finish the deal now. We’ve won four sectionals in a row but that’s getting old.”
The Tigers’ sectional also features No. 4 Brownstown Central and 4-win Switzerland County.
On Friday, it will be the quarterbacks that make their respective teams go. Scecina senior signal caller David Mendez has completed 52% of his pass attempts this season for 1,188 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also is the team’s leading rusher at 416 yards and six TDs.
“Their quarterback is really good,” said Able. “They are a little more run than pass. … They are good at the passing game, they just don’t do it as much.”
Scecina has four receivers with at least 15 receptions. Senior Keegan Ray has 23 catches for 419 yards and five TDs while junior Masyn McClellan leads the team with 27 catches for 322 yards and three TDs.
Mendez, McClellan and sophomore Eric Montgomery have combined for all 10 of Scecina’s rushing touchdowns.
Triton Central senior quarterback Jace Stuckey (photo) continues to assemble a stellar final season of his record-breaking career. The Eastern Michigan commit has completed 73% of his pass attempts (95 for 129) with 24 touchdowns to just one interception. Stuckey also has rushed for 390 yards over the first six games.
Senior Brayden Wilkins (photo) has aspirations to play collegiately and is garnering interest as one of Stuckey’ top targets. He has a team-leading 636 receiving yards and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
“He is a multidimensional receiver, linebacker and defensive back,” said Able. “He is a Swiss Army knife that can do everything except pass.”
Wilkins is one of 11 seniors listed on the roster. The final games in kelly green and white also are ahead for Mason Compton, Jace Stuckey, Courtney Dunville, Anthony Dunville, Sam Kemper, Levi Dewey, Ray Crawford, Garrett McElfresh, Henry Smith and Max Ray.
Triton Central has risen again to No. 2 in the Indiana Football Coaches Association poll in what has been a topsy-turvy season in Class 2A. The Tigers were ranked. No. 2 in the preseason poll and ascended to the No. 1 ranking ahead of playing and falling to Lutheran in week three. Since then, Scecina and Brownstown Central have held and lost the top ranking.
Linton-Stockton is currently ranked No. 1 in this week’s state coaches poll. Bluffton is No. 1 in the Associated Press poll which demonstrates there is not an overwhelming powerhouse team to be conquered in Class 2A.
“The rankings are kind of everywhere, but at the end of the year no one is going to go back and look at those rankings,” said Able.
Triton Central’s goal is the same as every other team that has been ranked No. 1 this season — be No. 1 when the season is over.
QUICK FACTS:
Class 2A, No. 7 Indianapolis Scecina at Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central
Game time: 7 p.m. at Mendenhall Field.
Broadcast time: 6 p.m. pregame show from Mendenhall Field on GIANT fm (96.5 fm, 106.3 fm, 1520 am and the GIANT fm app) with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown.
TC student theme: Neon/Construction.
2023 record: Scecina 4-2, 2-1 ICC; Triton Central 5-1, 3-1 ICC.
Head coaches: Ott Hurrle, 228-148 in 32nd year at Scecina, 229-157 in 34th year overall; Tim Able, 95-36 in 11th year at Triton Central, 220-134 in 30th year overall.
Sagarin ratings: Scecina 61.02, No. 7 in Class 2A; Triton Central 70.42, No. 1 in Class 2A. Triton Central is an 11-point favorite.
Last year: Triton Central lost at Scecina, 21-20.
Series: The two programs have played 15 times since 2011, including three postseason meetings, with Scecina holding a 10-5 advantage. The Crusaders have won eight of the last 10 meetings.
Around the ICC Friday: Beech Grove (2-4, 1-4 ICC) at Indianapolis Ritter (3-3, 1-3); Cascade (4-2) at Owen Valley (2-4); Indian Creek (3-3) at Speedway (2-4); Class A, No. 1 Indianapolis Lutheran (6-0, 5-0) at Monrovia (5-1, 3-1).
Class 2A, Sectional 39 records: Class 2A, No. 4 Brownstown Central 5-1; Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central 5-1; Switzerland County 4-2; Christel House Manual (2-4); Class 2A, No. 7 Indianapolis Scecina 4-2; Brown County 1-5; Clarksville 0-6; Eastern (Pekin) 2-4.
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