Unbeaten Lapel fights off Triton Central for Sectional 38 championship

LAPEL – One of the state’s top passers had two key runs on a fourth quarter drive that led Class 2A, No. 3 Lapel to a second straight sectional championship.

No. 7 Triton Central battled back from a 21-0 deficit to get within 21-15 Friday at Lapel. Devin Craig converted a fourth-and-one run for a first down on the next drive and three plays later escaped the Tigers defense for a 14-yard touchdown run that netted the Bulldogs a 28-15 victory.

Lapel (12-0) will travel to Indianapolis for a regional championship game next week against No. 6 Lutheran (11-1). The Saints defeated Lapel, 35-0, in the 2024 regional championship game.

Craig threw for 222 yards in the win but only 30 yards came in the second half when Triton Central (10-2) swung the momentum in its favor.

Conner McClure intercepted Craig near midfield and Triton Central needed five plays for Matthew Wilkins to connect with Kemper to cut the lead to 21-15.

Lapel moved to midfield on its next drive but stalled out for the fourth consecutive series and Triton Central had a chance to take the lead. Quarterback Matthew Wilkins was under pressure all game long and was sacked again on third down of the series and the Tigers were forced to punt.

A good punt return put Lapel at the Triton Central 24 but an incomplete pass on second down and a short run by Jack Miller on third down set up fourth-and-1. Craig took a designed run to his right and gained five yards and set up first and goal at the 10.

Miller gained one yard on first down and Craig threw an incomplete pass on second down. Following a false start penalty, Craig rolled out to his left to look for a receiver and saw a lane open back to his right. He broke free and scored with 8:32 to go.

Triton Central marched down the field and with the help of a pass interference call on fourth down and a personal foul on another fourth down play, got into position to score.

Wilkins threw his third interception of the game to Liam Ko near the goalline. The sophomore had dreams of scoring a touchdown only to be stripped of the ball at his own 30.

Triton Central got a first down and one last chance to cut into the lead.

Wilkins scrambled and ran for 13 yards but took a hard hit and left the game with a left leg injury. Braden Brown took over at quarterback and completed passes to Devon Gurganus and Kemper to get the Tigers down to the 1-yard line.

Triton Central was stuffed on the next play, and an unsportsmanlike penalty was called moving the Tigers back to the 16 where Brown was intercepted by Quade Hall to end the comeback attempt.

Brown finished the game with 20 carries for 75 yards. Wilkins completed 13 of 28 passing attempts for 160 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions before leaving the game.

Kemper finished with seven receptions for 92 yards.

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