Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central only led 2A No. 3 Brownstown Central for 66 seconds Friday night in the Sectional 39 semifinal showdown in Fairland.

Quarterback Jace Stuckey lofted a pass toward the end zone that Mason Compton ran under for a 21-17 lead with one minute, six seconds left in regulation.

Sam Kemper then intercepted a Micah Sheffer pass and scored 16 seconds later to seal a 28-17 victory and a berth in the sectional championship game this Friday at Eastern (Pekin).

After a scoreless first half in Fairland between a pair of teams both ranked No. 1 in the state coaches poll this season, the offenses kicked into gear in the second half.

Brownstown Central (9-2) scored first when Keetan Burcham-Jones powered into the end zone with 4:59 left in the third quarter.

Brayden Wilkins raced around the left side for a 27-yard touchdown run for Triton Central that tied the game again with 2:21 on the clock.

Sheffer operated a flea flicker play perfectly and connected with Hudson Fritz for a 32-yard touchdown strike just 38 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Triton Central again answered with Wilkins racing into the end zone from 14 yards out.

Tied again 14-14, the Braves moved the ball down field and chewed time off the scoreboard clock. A Triton Central stop forced Brownstown Central to try a 30-yard field goal attempt from Bryce Peak, who worked it inside the goalposts for a 17-14 lead.

With 2:46 left, Stuckey worked the Tigers down field and into field goal range but that was not necessary when Compton broke free from defender Preston Garrison for an easy touchdown catch with 1:06 on the clock.

Kemper then squashed any comeback attempt for the Braves with the interception.

Eastern (Pekin) advanced to the sectional championship Friday with a 44-0 win at Switzerland County.

The Musketeers (5-6) last faced Triton Central (10-1) in the opening round of Sectional 39 in 2021. The Tigers won that game 58-0.

Steve Bush photos

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