Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central’s regular-season finale win Friday at Speedway turned out to be a “dry” run for its sectional opener this week.
The Tigers’ next opponent, a one-win Clarksville team, won’t be as formidable as the Sparkplugs but the “wet” weather late this week will not favor Triton Central in its Sectional 39 opener.
“It was the first time we have played on grass and in the rain (this season),” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able of his team’s 40-7 win at Speedway.
The conditions could be more of the same Friday at Clarksville.
“We are playing on grass again and that is not our forte,” said Able. “We are a speed team. We are a skill team. We like a dry track.”
Triton Central’s talent and depth should prove more than enough to overcome a Generals program that has won more than three games in a season just once since 2012.
Triton Central quarterback Jace Stuckey has completed 72% of his pass attempts this season for 2,167 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Eastern Michigan commit also leads the Tigers in rushing yards (646) and rushing touchdowns (8).
Brayden Wilkins has produced over 1,200 offensive yards this season with 283 rushing yards and a team-leading 937 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
While Triton Central’s offense is averaging 39 points per game against the state’s 110th-toughest strength of schedule, which includes two teams that have been ranked No. 1 in the state coaches poll, Clarksville’s offense is averaging 14.9 ppg against the state’s 229th-toughest opposition.
Clarksville freshman quarterback Christian Lee has made 18 pass attempts all season, completing half of them for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Lee is the team’s leading rusher at 653 yards and six touchdowns.
The running game is bolstered by sophomore Josh Hall (316 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and junior Brody Yates (297 yards, 2 TDs).
The Generals’ defense is allowing nearly 47 points per game and surrendered 34 in a regular-season finale 46-34 win over Crawford County Friday, which ended a 9-game losing streak.
Triton Central makes the trip south as a 74-point favorite which allows Able to use this week to continue to fine tune the program.
“We are trying to work on different basic things this week.” said Able. “We are going back to fundamentals … the simple stuff. We need to get better fundamentally each and every day. And we need to stay healthy at practice.”
The winner of Friday’s sectional opener will face either 2A No. 3 Brownstown Central or Indianapolis Scecina in the semifinal round on Oct. 27.
If TC and Brownstown Central win, the game would be played in Fairland.
If Scecina and TC win, the Tigers would travel to Scecina.
QUICK FACTS:
Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central at Clarksville
Game time: 7 p.m. at Newcom Field at Clarksville High School, 880 Dr Dot Lewis Drive in Clarksville.
2023 record: Triton Central 8-1; Clarksville 1-8.
Head coaches: Tim Able, 98-36 in 11th year at Triton Central, 223-134 in 30th year overall; Zach Hensel, 1-8 in first year at Clarksville.
Sagarin ratings: Triton Central 76.64, No. 1 in Class 2A; Clarksville 0.81, No. 55 in Class 2A. Triton Central is a 74-point favorite.
Last meeting: Triton Central defeated Clarksville, 42-7, in the sectional semifinal round of the 2021 season.
Class 2A, Sectional 39: Indianapolis Scecina (5-4) at Class 2A, No. 3 Brownstown Central (8-1); Brown County (1-8) at Switzerland County (5-4); Eastern (Pekin) (3-6) at Christel House Manual (3-5).
Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email. Go to shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.
