New quarterback to lead Class 2A, No. 10 Triton Central into showdown with Class 3A, No. 13 Indian Creek

Class 2A, No. 10 Triton Central will play its biggest game of the season with a quarterback that has never played the position at the high school level.

Quarterback Matthew Wilkins suffered a right shoulder injury late in the first half in Friday’s 21-14 loss to Lebanon. The junior will miss the remainder of the regular season with the goal of returning in time for the postseason.

Senior Conner McClure (photo), who last played quarterback in eighth grade, will direct the offense this week against Class 3A, No. 13 Indian Creek.

A win for Triton Central (5-1, 3-0 Hoosier Legends Conference) would clinch at least a share of the conference championship.

A loss would create a three-way tie atop the HLC standings with Indian Creek (4-2, 1-1 HLC) and either Class 3A, No. 8 Tri-West (5-1, 2-1) or Monrovia (3-3, 2-1 HLC).

Tri-West is at Monrovia Friday.

“We will get the work done and make adjustments,” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able.

Senior Bo West was slated to be the backup quarterback this season but is still dealing with a concussion that has him sidelined. Sophomore Dylan Showalter (photo) played quarterback in the second half against Lebanon Friday and is an experienced signal caller but has very limited varsity experience.

“(Showalter) did a nice job (last week),” said Able. “He did spring ball (at quarterback) and knew the offense as well as anybody. He always stuck around and did extra reps after practice.”

Showalter will be the backup quarterback against Indian Creek.

Triton Central will have to rely on its ground game with Braden Brown (121 carries, 742 yards, seven touchdowns) and Cooper Marlin (photo) to keep pressure off the new quarterback. All-State receiver Zeke Robertson (18 catches, 241 yards) returned to action against Lebanon but was only effective on defense while still sporting a cast on his broken hand.

Senior lineman Seth Richardson (photo) is progressing toward a return to the lineup Friday after suffering a calf injury in week three’s win at Tri-West.

Special teams had been a strength through the first five weeks, including delivering a pair of game-winning field goals in the final seconds at Batesville and Tri-West, but struggled against Lebanon, missing on two field goal attempts and allowing a kickoff return touchdown right after the Tigers tied the game at 14-all on a Brayden Whitlow punt return for a touchdown.

“Those are hard lessons on special teams. We messed up the holds on two field goal attempts and couldn’t get the ball up in the air. There were eight points we didn’t get,” said Able referring to both field goal attempts and the two-point conversion play he would have run had Triton Central scored in the game’s final minute.

Indian Creek arrives at Mendenhall Field Friday on a two-game losing streak after a stellar start to its second season under head coach Max Goodin. Those two losses though came at Class 2A, No. 3 Lapel and Class 3A, No. 8 Tri-West.

“They are good at throwing and running the ball. They have had some injury problems too, but they are good, quick and smart,” said Able of the Braves. “We’ve got to be ready.”

Goodin inserted freshman Evan Clark into the starting quarterback role last season and he produced 1,476 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. In six games this season, he has completed 57% of his pass attempts for 926 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

Clark’s favorite targets are senior Jaxon Ramey (26 receptions, 504 yards, five touchdowns) and sophomore Hunter Worley (13 receptions, 148 yards, one touchdown).

Clark also averages five yards per carry on 54 attempts and has rushed for five touchdowns. That is second on the team behind junior Drew Pingleton (110 rushes, 528 yards, six touchdowns).

With eight starters back from a 5-6 squad, the Braves are averaging 32.2 points per game — 13 more than Triton Central’s average with its starting quarterback who has thrown for 936 yards and five touchdowns this season.

CLASS 3A, NO. 13 INDIAN CREEK (4-2) AT CLASS 2A, NO. 10 TRITON CENTRAL (5-1)

SITE: Mendenhall Field in Fairland.

GAME TIME: 7 p.m.

BROACAST: GIANT fm (96.5 fm, 1520 am, 106.3 fm, or online at giant.fm) will air the game live from Mendenhall Field. The pre-game show with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown begins at 6 p.m.

COACHES: Max Goodin, 9-8 in second year at Indian Creek; Tim Able, 115-41 in 13^th year at Triton Central, 240-139 in 32^nd year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Indian Creek, 71.12, 58^th overall, eighth in Class 3A; Triton Central, 64.93, 93rd overall, 10th in Class 2A; Indian Creek is a 3-point favorite.

LAST MEETING: Triton Central defeated Indian Creek, 49-35, on Sept. 15, 2023.

AROUND THE HLC: Beech Grove (1-5, 0-2) at Speedway (0-6, 0-3); Class 3A, No. 8 Tri-West (5-1, 2-1) at Monrovia (3-3, 2-1).

CLASS 2A, SECTIONAL 38: No. 11 Northeastern (6-0), No. 3 Lapel (6-0), No. 10 Triton Central (5-1), Winchester (5-1), Centerville (4-2), Shenandoah (4-2), Eastern Hancock (3-3), Union County (1-5).

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