Senior class guided Triton Central football to another 10-win season

Triton Central’s sixth season since 2018 with at least 10 wins came despite several obstacles.

“If you told me at the beginning of the year we’d win 10, I would have been happy,” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able, now 120-42 in 13 seasons in Fairland and 245-150 in 32 years overall. “The two losses we had unfortunate injuries in those games. It was against two good teams. It’s not like we got beat by someone that isn’t good. We were right there … could have beat both teams.”

The Tigers’ only losses in their 10-2 season came in week six to Lebanon, 21-14. Quarterback Matthew Wilkins suffered a shoulder injury late in the first half and missed the next three games. Lebanon finished 10-3 and captured the Class 4A, Sectional 20 title on Nov. 7.

That same Nov. 7, Triton Central lost at No. 3 Lapel, 28-15. All-State receiver Zeke Robertson did not play in the second half after suffering a collarbone injury. Wilkins also left the game in the fourth quarter after a knee injury.

Lapel, now 13-0, will host top-ranked Brownstown Central (13-0) Friday in a Class 2A semistate championship game.

Little did Able know his team’s week three win at Tri-West in the very first Hoosier Legends Conference game would be a microcosm of the season to come.

Led by Louisville quarterback recruit Jack Sorgi, Tri-West was part of preseason talks of being a Class 3A state title contender. Triton Central lost Robertson and starting lineman Seth Richardson to injuries but was sparked by a Braden Brown 93-yard touchdown run to capture the traveling trophy (photo) and pin the first loss, 17-14, on a Bruins squad that entered the game averaging 41 points per game.

From there, Triton Central kept stacking wins with a strong defense and productive special teams. The Tigers reached 5-0 before the home loss to Lebanon and the loss of their starting quarterback.

Brown, an All-State running back in 2024, was moved to quarterback and helped Triton Central top Indian Creek, 17-14, and Beech Grove, 24-20, to earn the HLC title, and secure a regular-season finale win over Indianapolis Scecina, 27-7.

“Brown did a good job changing the offense,” said Able, who asked the senior to operate out of the wildcat position and throw when necessary. “I don’t know how many teams could make that transition. Then we changed back.”

Wilkins (photo) returned in time for the postseason. Richardson and Robertson were back as well. Junior lineman Kellan Dishman (shoulder) and senior running back Bo West (concussion) were both sidelined for the season by then.

The Tigers hit the road to face Centerville and escaped with a late touchdown pass from Wilkins to Robertson for a 22-19 victory.

What followed was one of the more shocking outcomes of the postseason. Northeastern’s first ever meeting with the Tigers was one it would rather forget. The Knights, who entered the sectional semifinal round with a 9-1 record, turned the ball over four times in the first half and had three more drives end on failed fourth down conversion attempts. Meanwhile, Triton Central was a perfect 7-for-7 on offensive possessions to take a 49-0 halftime lead.

The Tigers allowed a late touchdown before time expired in a 49-6 victory.

Lapel ended Triton Central’s five-year run as sectional champions in 2024 at Mendenhall Field and did not allow the Tigers to start a new streak in 2025.

Now Able (photo) sets out to replace a senior class that won 40 games over their four seasons.

Richardson is a big loss along both sides of the line of scrimmage. Grant Kegley, Nolan Murray and Brayden Lathrop also are lost to graduation.

Wilkins, who will be sidelined with a serious knee injury until the spring, will need to find comfort with a new set of skill position players with the loss of Brayden Whitlow, Zeke Robertson, Conner McClure, Devon Gurganus and Braden Brown.

Brown’s 1,701 rushing yards goes into the record book as the third best season all-time. He is fifth with 2,518 career rushing yards. The 126 points he scored this season tied for sixth best all-time; his 210 career points is sixth best on the career list.

Cooper Marlin (photo), Triton Central’s second-leading rusher this season with 181 yards on 59 carries, will pick up more workload next season.

Four receivers with a combined 75 receptions for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns must be replaced. Junior Henry Kemper (photo) finished the season with the most receptions (33) and receiving yards (473). Kemper also has experience at running back. Able kept Kemper out of the backfield this season following missing the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury.

“We will get it all figured out,” said Able. “Right now we’re trying to get the kids in the weight room more. We are young (now) and not physically as strong.”

There is plenty of varsity experience to lean on in the junior class including Wilkins, Kemper, Marlin, Luke Strong (photo) and Dallas Clarke.

“We have a lot of sophomores (to be) that are natural leaders like Nolan Thompson and Knox Coen,” said Able.

Sophomore Wyatt Viles (photo) anchored the offensive line at center this season and, along with Clarke, will be the foundation of the 2026 offensive line.

Able anticipates Ty Bergman, the defense’s leading tackler with 94 this season, to have more of a role offensively next season along with Luke Strong, who will be a receiver and the backup quarterback.

2026 Schedule

The Hoosier Legends Conference will expand to eight teams in 2026 with the addition of Shelbyville and Greenwood. That will alter Triton Central’s schedule significantly.

The first two weeks of the season will be the Tigers’ non-conference games. Triton Central will host Batesville (3-7 in 2025) on Aug. 21 and Indianapolis Scecina (5-5) on Aug. 28.

The Tigers’ HLC schedule opens Sept. 4 at Speedway (1-9). Beech Grove (4-7) will be in Fairland on Sept.11 – one week ahead of the very first meeting between the Tigers and Shelbyville (5-6) at McKeand Stadium on Sept. 18.

The final half of Triton Central’s schedule will prove difficult.

“It will make us ready for the tournament,” said Able. “It is what it is. It’s always tough playing anyway.”

The Tigers are at Greenwood (2-8) on Sept. 25 for another first-time meeting then return home to face Monrovia (4-7) on Oct. 2. The final two games are at Tri-West (7-4) on Oct. 9 and home against Indian Creek (8-4) on Oct. 16. The Bruins and Braves were the conference runner-up and third-place finisher in 2025.

If Able and the Tigers start the season 4-0, he will be seeking career win No. 250 at Shelbyville, who will be celebrating its 100^th season of football as well as Homecoming on Sept. 18.

“The big thing for us is we can’t get involved in the distractions,” said Able. “I know both teams will be excited for the opportunities.”

The HLC schedule will change yearly, according to Able, by rolling over. In Triton Central’s case, its week nine game against Indian Creek will move up to week three in 2027 while its week three game against Speedway drops to week four. The remainder of the schedule will shift one week later as well.

“I like the way they are going about it,” said Able. “It makes it less boring.”

Able is excited to see how the full HLC schedule will play out. He noted the 2025 All-HLC team featured 13 juniors and two sophomores on the 24-player squad.

Triton Central had five All-HLC selections – four seniors and junior Dallas Clarke.