PEKIN – Triton Central football’s senior class tied two program records and set another Friday in its Class 2A, Sectional 39 championship game win at Eastern (Pekin), 49-0.
The Tigers secured their fifth-straight sectional championship, meaning the Class of 2024 is 4-for-4 in winning sectional title games while the win was the 39th in the career for the seniors – setting a new program record.
Triton Central improved to 11-1 which matches the program record for wins in a season.
“This week, our goal was to get the game over with at halftime and stay healthy and I think we accomplished both of those things,” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able, who captured his sixth sectional title with the Tigers and 10th in his 30-year coaching career.
Eastern arrived at its first sectional championship game a shell of the team that tied a program record with five wins this season. Injuries left the team with just 20 players to dress Friday and face the high-powered Tigers, who rested two key offensive components and played without a third.
Without his top two receivers this season and a 4,000-yard career rusher, Triton Central quarterback Jace Stuckey went to work right away getting the offense in gear. The senior finished off the first two series of the game with 1-yard dives into the end zone for a quick 14-0 lead.
The record-setting passer connected with Anthony Dunville (photo, above), Zeke Robertson and Sam Kemper in those first two drives instead of seniors Brayden Wilkins, Ray Crawford and Mason Compton, who all sat out Friday’s win.
Stuckey connected deep downfield to Robertson (photo, above) for a 44-yard touchdown strike just before the end of the first quarter and Henry Kemper and Braden Brown (photo, below) provided three second-quarter rushing touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
Levi Dewey also added a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown and was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra-point kicks.
“It was a unique week because Mason practiced Wednesday,” said Stuckey. “He was the most likely to be back and he was gone. We were definitely playing for him.
“Offensively, we are so diverse and I think we showed that. We have a 7-man receiver and a 7-man lineman rotation, they all play so well and the chemistry is there with all of us.”
Compton (photo, above), who caught the game-winning touchdown in Triton Central’s semifinal win over Brownstown Central one week earlier, required neck surgery late this week and his playing career is over.
“It was really tough mentally because Mason Compton, I grew up with him. He is one of my greatest friends,” said Dewey. “He is close with every single person on the team. He couldn’t be a greater person and it is an unfortunate situation that is horribly scary. I’ve played football with him since seventh grade. I’ve know he’s played since elementary school and for him to have played his last game gave me the mentality that I have to play for him. I have to get this state championship for him.”
Crawford, who has nursed an ankle injury all season, and Wilkins, who was dinged up late in the Brownstown Central game, were not needed against an overmatched Musketeers squad that finished its season at 5-7.
With the win, Triton Central (11-1), ranked No. 2 in the final state coaches poll, will host No. 9 North Posey (11-1), in the regional championship game next week. The Vikings defeated Paoli, 35-14, Friday to earn the program’s fifth sectional title and first since 2005 when they lost to Jimtown in the state championship game.
“Man, we’re hungry and it’s all of us,” said Stuckey. “It’s clear and it’s all classes. The senior class wants it but that is passed down. I feel the energy. My freshman year we had a really good team but it’s a different feeling this year. I feel something different and I think we’ve got the energy to keep rolling.”
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