No. 9 Triton favored to win elusive sectional title
Hopefully no one is sleeping on the Triton Trojans. If they are, they’re making a big mistake.
The ninth-ranked Trojans are the overwhelming favorite to win Sectional 41 in Class 1A.
Triton began the state playoffs with a dominating 71-6 victory over winless North Newton.
In that sectional win, senior quarterback/free safety Cole Shively had a night to remember.
He led the offensive onslaught, which put up 58 first-half points.
Shively played only one half yet threw five touchdown passes and for 219 yards, plus ran for a score and rushed for 76 yards.
Triton amassed more than 500 yards of total offense, including 286 on the ground. It averaged better than 10 yards per carry.
Yes, the Trojans didn’t waste any time showing the 1A field that they’re a force to be reckoned with this playoff season.
Triton enters Friday sectional semifinal showdown against Culver Community sporting a 7-3 record.
That 7-3 record, however, is slightly deceiving.
The Trojans are undefeated against 1A teams, going 6-0 and winning those games by some 33 points per contest (42.7-9.2)
Their only losses this season have come to LaVille, Bremen and Knox. All three of those teams are still alive in sectional play and LaVille and Knox are ranked among the top 10 in Class 2A and 3A, respectively.
Triton is led by Shively. He has thrown for more than 1,300 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. Plus, he’s the team’s second-leading ground gainer with 620 yards and 11 TDs.
As if that wasn’t enough production from No. 2, he is the team’s second-leading tackler with 58 stops (25 solo).
Sophomore running back Vincent Prater is the team’s top rusher with 683 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior Donte Workman is Shively’s favorite receiver, having caught 28 balls for 731 yards and eight touchdowns.
Sophomore inside linebacker Colton Reynolds leads the way on defense. He has 69 tackles, including a team-best eight for loss.
The Triton players and head coach Zach Whitaker will tell you their only focused on the next opponent, which happens to be Culver, a team the Trojans defeated 58-6 a little over a month ago.
If Triton avoids the upset, it will get the winner of the 4-6 South Newton-6-4 North Judson tilt. Triton took care of North Judson 40-7 on Sept. 29.
It goes without saying Triton has an excellent chance at winning its first sectional championship since 2018 and just its fourth sectional title ever.
The Trojans though want more … a lot more.
You see Triton has never won a regional. To do so this year, it might have to get by No. 5 Park Tudor, while one of the top three-ranked teams could be waiting in the semi-state (No. 2 Adams Central or No. 3 Carroll).
First things first however, Shively and Co. want to take care of business, which means disposing of the Cavaliers on Friday and winning a sectional crown Nov. 3. That would be quite an accomplishment for a program that has had just five winnings seasons this century.
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