Tim Able had a flashback moment Friday after his team played a scoreless first half against Brownstown Central.
“I had that same feeling back in 2000,” explained Able. “We played Goshen the year before (in 1999 and lost 34-7 in the regional championship). Now, we were tied 7-7 (at halftime in 2000).”
Able was recalling his 2000 state championship squad at East Noble. One year after falling to Goshen, the Knights secured a 21-14 victory then followed that with a 25-7 semistate win over Plymouth and a 28-7 state championship game win over Plainfield.
Friday’s scoreless first half against Brownstown Central in the sectional semifinal game at Bud Mendenhall Field could prove to be an ominous sign.
The Braves, ranked No. 3 in the Class 2A state coaches poll, took the lead three times in the second half but each time the No. 2 Tigers responded.
“Who would flinch first?” continued Able of his flashback. “Brownstown Central came out and scored and we didn’t flinch. That was a good sign. The kids kept fighting and fighting and responding. That was a good team that beat us up. They are pretty good.”
Triton Central answered Brownstown Central touchdowns with touchdowns of their own in the second half. The Braves regained the lead once again with a field goal with two minutes, 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
“We had plenty of time left and all of our timeouts,” said Able. “I didn’t want to score too quickly. That’s why we were running inside and outside.”
A penalty with just over 60 seconds left on the clock put Triton Central in a perilous third-and-long situation. That’s when Able harkened back to a halftime conversation.
“At the half we talked about the double move play to get Mason (Compton) open,” said Able. “Jace (Stuckey) put it on the money. Mason brought it in.”
Compton faked out his defender with a setup move then streaked to the end zone and hauled in a perfect pass from Stuckey to give Triton Central a 21-17 lead with 1:06 left.
Brayden Wilkins (No. 2) scored two second-half touchdowns for Triton Central Friday against Brownstown Central.
After a Levi Dewey kickoff pinned Brownstown Central inside its own 15-yard line, the Braves were forced to throw the ball.
“They had to pass which is exactly what we wanted,” said Able.
Sam Kemper stepped in front of a Micah Sheffer pass and returned it to the end zone for a game-sealing 28-17 victory to propel the Tigers into a sectional championship game for the 11th-straight season – all under the direction of Able.
“We played the four quarters that we had not yet put together,” he said. “It was not perfect but we played like we’re capable of. You have to do it each and every week. Enjoy the win Saturday morning then let it go and get on to the next team.”
The next team is unheralded Eastern (Pekin) – a team Triton Central defeated 58-0 in its sectional opener two seasons ago. The Musketeers were winless that 2021 season – and the year before.
In the prior four seasons to 2023, Eastern won a total of two games under head coach Luke Dean.
“You could tell they were young but they had some kids,” said Able of the 2021 meeting. “They don’t play the competition we play. The kids have two more years in their program now. The coach has done a fine job with the program.”
The Musketeers are 5-6 with the most wins in a single season for the program since back-to-back 5-win seasons in 2011 and 2010. They steamrolled Switzerland County Friday, 44-0, behind the 176-yard, 2-rushing touchdown performance of junior running back Brayden Jones.
“They are as big a team as we have played,” said Able. “They have a really good running back. The quarterback is an athlete. We’ve got to create big plays. This will not be an easy one.”
Jones, six-foot, one inches and 224 pounds, has rushed for 1,336 yards this season and a team-leading 15 touchdowns.
“He is a physical downhill runner,” said Able. “He creates contact. We’ve got to hit him hard and early.”
Quarterback Cody Banet (6-1, 160), another junior, has completed just under 50% of his pass attempts for 1,032 yards and seven TDs.
“He is good. That’s what makes them good,” said Able. “They can run and pass.”
Offensively, senior Nathan McBride has rushed for 531 yards and eight TDs while senior Kaden Temple has a team-leading 39 receptions for 537 yards and four TDs. Junior Garrett Drury has 21 catches for 247 yards.
Defensively, Triton Central must account for Caleb King, a 6-5, 240-pound senior, who has 56 tackles – including 17 tackles for loss and nine quarterback sacks.
Eastern’s resurgent year could lead to greater things in 2024, and that makes them a dangerous underdog Friday.
“We don’t worry about their perspective,” said Able. “We need to take care of our business. That starts in practice, studying film, knowing what they will do.”
Triton Central’s advantage is experience. The senior class has been part of three straight sectional championship seasons and they have tied the program record for career wins with 38 – set by the class of 2022.
“They don’t want to be the one to break the streak,” said Able of the program’s run of four consecutive sectional titles. “They know what it takes … every week they’ve got to bring it again … building to Friday.”
With the win over Brownstown Central Friday, Able (photo) secured win No. 100 at Triton Central. He is 100-36 in his 11 seasons in Fairland and 225-134 in 30 years of being a head coach.
“It’s a longevity thing. It means you have hung around long enough,” said Able. “It takes the support of the administration, the community and the kids working and the parents helping. There is so much to running a football program for one person to take credit for.”
Steve Bush photos
QUICK FACTS:
Class 2A, No. 2 Triton Central at Eastern (Pekin)
Game time: 7 p.m. at Eastern (Pekin) High School, 1100 N. Eastern School Road in Pekin, Ind.
Broadcast: GIANT fm will air a pregame show with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown from Eastern High School at 6 p.m. with the game to follow on 96.5 fm, 106.3 fm or the GIANT fm app.
Tickets: Tickets are $7.
TC student theme: Whiteout.
2023 record: Triton Central 10-1, Eastern (Pekin) 5-6.
Head coaches: Tim Able, 100-36 in 11th year at Triton Central, 225-134 in 30th year overall; Luke Dean, 18-73 in ninth year at Eastern, 39-113 in 15th year overall.
Sagarin ratings: Triton Central 72.73, No. 1 in Class 2A; Eastern (Pekin) 28.43, No. 42 in Class 2A. Triton Central is a 42-point favorite.
Last meeting: Triton Central defeated Eastern (Pekin), 58-0, in the sectional quarterfinal round of the 2021 season. Shelby County Post game recap available at: https://shelbycountypost.com/sports/600687
Class 2A, Sectional 40: Paoli (10-1 record, 52.38 Sagarin rating, No. 16 in Class 2A) at Class 2A No. 9 North Posey (10-1, 71.07 Sagarin rating, No. 2 in Class 2A). North Posey is a 21-point favorite. If TC and North Posey win sectional titles, Triton Central will host North Posey in the regional championship game on Nov. 10; If TC and Paoli win sectional titles, Paoli would host the Tigers for the regional championship.
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