Lapel stands in way of Triton Central celebrating sixth consecutive sectional title

Tim Able is convinced his 9-win Tigers have yet to play a complete game. Triton Central might need a near-perfect performance Friday to defeat surging Lapel in the Class 2A, Sectional 38 championship game in Fairland.

The Bulldogs opened the season with four wins before losing three straight to North Decatur (29-22), Rushville (18-6) and Heritage Christian (40-21) – the three most successful teams on their regular-season schedule. Lapel closed the regular season with wins over Jay County and Eastern Hancock and eliminated a pair of 9-win teams in Northeastern (43-36) and Centerville (21-0) to reach the sectional championship.

Triton Central will compete for a sectional title Friday for the 12^th consecutive season and is riding a 7-game win streak after starting the season 2-2. The Tigers opened the Sectional 38 tournament with a 62-6 win at Union County and a 24-0 victory at Shenandoah. That pair of road victories has brought the sectional championship game to Fairland.

“That means a lot. The kids always play well at home,” said Able, who now has 110 wins in his 12^th year at Triton Central and 235 career victories in his 31-year coaching career. “They elevate their level of competitiveness. Triton Central is a great community to play for.”

A strong defense typically leads to postseason success. The Tigers have allowed just two touchdowns in their last three games and have held opponents to 16 points or less seven times this season.

“Our defense has been dang solid all year,” said Able (photo). “It’s been our strength. We have to control the run game, so we know when the pass is coming.”

And even knowing when junior quarterback Devin Craig is going to throw is no guarantee for success. Craig threw for 2,777 yards and 31 touchdowns in 10 games as a sophomore. In 11 games this season, he has completed 69% of his pass attempts for 2,771 yards and 27 touchdowns.

“Their quarterback is really shifty, quick on release and hard to get a hit on,” admitted Able.

Seniors Rylie Hudson (57 receptions, 807 yards, 9 touchdowns) and Brice Burress (47 receptions, 657 yards, 7 TDs) and sophomore Jaxon Cripe (40 receptions, 617 yards, 8 TDs) have combined for 144 catches and 2,081 yards which will put added pressure on Triton Central’s defense.

“We’ve been working on this all summer and this year. This will be a huge challenge on our defensive backfield, our linebackers and our defensive line,” said Able.

An all-out focus on Lapel’s aerial game opens up opportunities for sophomore Jack Miller, who has rushed for 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

“He is exactly what they need to set up the pass game,” said Abel. “Then the pass game sets up the run game.”

Lapel starts six seniors on offense – four on an offensive line anchored by six-foot, six-inch senior Karson Kinsinger. The Bulldogs are averaging 29 points per game and have been held below 10 points just once this season, and below 21 points twice.

Triton Central will add another offensive weapon Friday with the return of sophomore running back Kade Stephens (photo) – the Tigers’ leading rusher the first half of the season before suffering an injury.

“We do have more (running backs) available,” said Able, who labeled junior running back Bo West still out with an injury. “We will use what we got. Time will tell what we need and who we will need.”

The final third of the season has seen junior Braden Brown (photo) emerge as the feature running back. He had nearly 200 yards rushing and scored all three touchdowns last Friday in the sectional semifinal win at Shenandoah.

Senior quarterback Sam Collier struggled to get Triton Central’s passing game in gear last week, but he has still produced an impressive campaign that has him sitting sixth all-time for single season passing yards with 1,783. He needs 98 more yards to move into fifth ahead of Jordan Crouse (1,880 yards in 2016).

Sophomore offensive lineman Kellan Dishman will miss another week with injury, but seniors Andrew Bailey (photo) and Colton Crawford will be available. And Crawford (6-2, 225), who was named to the All-Indiana Crossroads Conference Team this week, will be active defensively.

“He is so physical, athletic, active, hard-nosed and relentless on the field,” said Able. “He is a heck of a football player. He has size and speed and heart. He has all the intangibles on top of all the natural measurables.”

There are two common opponents this season for Lapel and Triton Central. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 29-20 win over Hamilton Heights and won at Shenandoah in week three, 41-21. Triton Central needed overtime to take down Hamilton Heights, 17-14, in week two. The Tigers eliminated Shenandoah last Friday, 24-0.

The Sagarin Ratings offer little insight into predicting a winner – labeling the Sectional 38 championship game a toss-up. So, any prediction goes back to intangibles then – turnovers and execution for four quarters to find success.

“We still have not played four quarters like what we can and this week it is important to do that now,” said Able. “One bad quarter can cause you not to play another week.”

If Triton Central captures the program’s 10^th sectional title – and sixth straight – it will play the regional championship game on Nov. 15 at the Sectional 37 champion – either Monrovia (9-2) or Indianapolis Lutheran (10-1). Those three teams shared the Indiana Crossroads Conference championship this season with 6-1 records.

Lapel at Triton Central

Site: Mendenhall Field in Fairland.

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Broadcast: GIANT fm will air a pregame show at 6 p.m. from Mendenhall Field with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown on 96.5 fm, 106.3 fm, 1520 am or online at GIANT.fm. Radio coverage of the game will follow at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $7 online at https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=101323

2024 records: Lapel 8-3; Triton Central 9-2.

Coaches: Tim Miller, 83-66 in 13^th year at Lapel; Tim Able, 110-39 in 12^th year at TC, 235-137 in 31^st year overall.

Series record: Triton Central has won all eight meetings with Lapel.

Last meeting: Triton Central defeated Lapel at Lucas Oil Stadium, 35-7, on Sept. 19, 2015.

Sagarin rating: Lapel 59.2 (116^th in state, 10^th in Class 2A); Triton Central 56.74 (125th overall, 11^th in Class 2A).

Sectional 37 Championship: Monrovia (9-2) at Indianapolis Lutheran (10-1). If Monrovia wins, Triton Central would play the regional championship at Monrovia. If Lutheran wins, Triton Central would travel to Lutheran for the regional championship game.

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