Brown runs wild in Triton Central's 37-6 win over Speedway

FAIRLAND – Tim Able knew it was time to see what Braden Brown could do in the Triton Central offense.

On Friday against Speedway with a share of the Indiana Crossroads Conference at stake, the Tigers found out what Brown can do for them.

The junior running back had three touchdown runs of at least 45 yards and punished the Sparkplugs with 303 total rushing yards in Triton Central’s 37-6 victory Friday at Mendenhall Field.

“He has a game speed that is pretty impressive,” said Able, who led the Tigers to just their second ICC title in his 12 years in Fairland. “Summertime we used him more as a blocking back and a receiver type. You have to be able to run the ball and we didn’t want to put all that pressure on (quarterback) Sammy (Collier).

“Then Chase Chandler got hurt so we needed him more as a H-back. Then (Braden) got hurt with a little calf thing so we backed off on him. He’s very healthy now which is really good.”

Brown was given very few carries early in the season which means the wear and tear of a 9-game season is not there. Speedway learned that firsthand Friday.

Brown (photo) took the fourth snap of the game 47 yards for his first of four rushing touchdowns. He finished off a 7-play drive early in the second quarter with a 1-yard run into the end zone.

On the next series, he got to the Triton Central sideline and raced past everyone for a 77-yard score. He had another 45-yard scoring run in the third quarter that helped set the final score.

When his night was finished, Brown had 24 carries for 303 yards, which is a top-five performance in program history.

“I’ve been getting in the lab in the offseason and doing track, helping my body by lifting … I’ve been working really hard with my teammates to be in the best physical health I can be in,” said Brown after the win.

Brown has seen varsity time the last two seasons as a late game running back when the outcome was already decided. He assumed it would lead to more opportunities this season.

“Last year, I was asking coach because we lost a running back (to graduation), am I going to end up playing running back,” explained Brown. “He said, ‘I am going to get you in at running back.’ And he’s been working me in practices and just helping me a lot over the years telling me what to do and how to do it. He has really molded me into the running back I was tonight.”

Brown had the game’s first three touchdowns and Nick Tormoehlen’s 23-yard field goal made it 23-0 at halftime.

Speedway’s lone touchdown came on the first possession of the second half when quarterback Connor Moreland connected with Cameren Biggs for a 50-yard strike that eventually set up a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nai Ma Har.

Just over two more minutes off the game clock, Brown raced 45 yards down the Speedway sideline for a momentum-stealing score.

“I was fatigued but really the conditioning we do in practice always helps,” said Brown. “Getting all those yards was purely off practice and conditioning that coach Able has put me through.”

With Speedway so concerned with stopping Brown, Collier connected on back-to-back passes to Zeke Robertson for 32 yards and Conner McClure (photo) for 28 yards and the game’s final touchdown.

Triton Central (7-2, 6-1 ICC) ended in a three-way tie atop the ICC standings with Indianapolis Lutheran (8-1, 6-1) and Monrovia (7-2, 6-1). It is the first conference championship for Triton Central since 2014.