Triton Central's biggest challenge lies ahead in Class 2A, No. 3 Indianapolis Lutheran

With its toughest opponent yet awaiting, Triton Central will need a complete performance from its entire roster to secure the program’s 14th consecutive sectional championship game appearance.

The Tigers (4-6) travel to former Indiana Crossroads Conference (ICC) foe Indianapolis Lutheran (9-0) Friday for a Class 2A, Sectional 37 semifinal round game with the No. 3 ranked Saints.

The two programs have not met since Sept. 6, 2024, when Triton Central ended Lutheran’s 45-game win streak.

For first year head coach Tim Kegley (photo), the challenge is elevating his team’s performance to match the level of unbeaten Lutheran and apply pressure to a roster that has coasted through its 2026 schedule.

“I don’t think their undefeated record is in our kids’ heads,” said Kegley. “People can have opinions based on records. We have to show up and play as best as we can. They haven’t been in very close games. Let’s make them uncomfortable and put their kids in situations they haven’t been in this year.”

With the four public school departures from the ICC in 2025, Lutheran rolled through its four conference opponents this season while seeing its strength of schedule rating drop to 247th in the state. By comparison, Triton Central’s strength of schedule, which includes seven games against Hoosier Legends Conference opponents, is 118th.

The Saints have trailed an opponent at the end of the first quarter just once all season, and they have not trailed at halftime. They have not played a full game without a running clock since a 28-14 win over Ritter on Sept. 18.

Triton Central has only played three games this season against 2A opponents, going 3-0 with wins over Scecina (30-3), Monrovia (28-27) and Scecina (49-23) again last Friday in the sectional opener. That win ended a two-game losing streak to 3A top 10 foes Tri-West (45-12) and Indian Creek (35-7).

“It was good to get back on the winning side and see some kids finally get to play,” said Kegley.

Senior Cooper Marlin (photo) broke his collarbone in practice two days before the first game of the season. On Friday against Scecina, he carried the ball five times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. With Marlin, Landon Ball and Tevian Faulkner in the backfield, Kegley believes the Tigers will be able to control possessions against one of the best defensive units in the state (allowing 6.3 ppg).

“We’ve got four running backs (including Henry Kemper) we can use and all have different positive attributes,” said Kegley. “That allows us to stay fresh. And the quarterback (Matthew Wilkins) can make them pay.”

Wilkins suffered a shoulder injury in the loss to Indian Creek but recovered well enough to take the field in the sectional opener. He completed 7-of-9 pass attempts for 163 yards and three touchdowns— all to Kemper which helped him break Dakota Nelson’s record for receptions in a season.

Now with 69 receptions, Kemper is 20 yards away from breaking Brad Schultz’s record for receiving yards in a season (1,122).

“We (the coaches) have been giving updates to Dakota,” said Kegley of the former standout receiver who is now an assistant coach on staff (photo Friday with Kemper). “We knew he was watching. We knew it would be close with about 3-4 weeks to go. (The record is) a good thing for Henry and it’s a good thing for the program. And Dakota has been so gracious through the whole process.”

Protecting Wilkins, who has now thrown for 2,057 yards and 21 touchdowns, will be vital for Triton Central’s offensive line that will deal with Lutheran’s 3-3 stack of impressive defensive linemen who allow the linebackers to get into the backfield.

“They have three pretty good defensive linemen that let three linebackers put a lot of pressure with slants and angles,” said Kegley. “They will bring pressure that is difficult (to read) because we don’t see that week in and week out. That will provide a challenge.”

For the first time since 2004, Triton Central’s defense is averaging more points allowed than the TC offense is averaging. Now it must slow down a Saints offense putting up 41.8 ppg in somewhat limited action.

Junior quarterback Austin Ridenour is completing over 70% of his pass attempts with his two favorite targets being junior Rodney Freeman and senior Kelan Ford.

“(Ford) seems electric. They want to get him the ball in space,” said Kegley.

Senior Braylon Ridner leads the Saints in rushing yards and touchdowns.

The other Sectional 37 semifinal Friday has No. 5 Eastern Hancock (10-0) at Indianapolis Ritter (5-5).

If Triton Central wins, the sectional championship game would be played at either Eastern Hancock or Ritter.

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