Triton Central football embracing change with debut of Hoosier Legends Conference

FAIRLAND – Change lies ahead for Triton Central football.

The four public school members of the Indiana Crossroads Conference announced their departure from the Indianapolis-based conference to create the Hoosier Legends Conference, which starts this fall.

Triton Central, Beech Grove, Monrovia and Speedway will compete in the HLC with Indian Creek and Tri-West in 2025-26 and add Shelbyville and Greenwood in 2026-27 to create an 8-team conference comprised of all public schools.

“It will be an interesting transition with two teams still not going to be in the (conference),” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able (photo), ready to begin his 13^th season in Fairland and 32^nd season overall. “We have a really heavy schedule this year with some really talented teams early. There is a lot of tough competition there. I am looking forward to it. It’s a big challenge for us.”

Triton Central, who finished 9-3 last season, will have four non-conference games this season. That total will drop to two in the fall of 2026 when the Golden Bears and Woodmen join the HLC.

Following its preseason scrimmage with Milan on Aug. 15, Triton Central will open the 2025 season on Aug. 22 at Batesville. Able confirmed the Bulldogs will remain on Triton Central’s schedule in 2026.

The home opener at Mendenhall Field is Aug. 29 with Hamilton Heights.

The other non-conference games are against Lebanon on Sept. 26 in Fairland and at ICC member Indianapolis Scecina on Oct. 17 in the regular-season finale.

Triton Central’s first HLC contest could be its most challenging of the season. The Tigers travel to Tri-West on Sept. 5. The Bruins finished last season 8-5 and feature junior quarterback Jack Sorgi, who is committed to the University of Louisville.

“I think change is a great thing. It gives you a different experience,” said Triton Central senior lineman Seth Richardson (photo). “I think going into these new opponents, we will get to see a new brand of football. I know Tri-West has a great reputation. I look forward to playing that kind of competition. And I look forward to playing Indian Creek again.”

Triton Central faces familiar opponents on Sept. 12 (home vs. Monrovia) and Sept. 19 (at Speedway) before hosting Lebanon and Indian Creek (Oct. 3).

The final two games of the regular season are at Beech Grove (Oct. 10) and Scecina (Oct. 17).

“We will definitely be ready for tournament time,” said Abel. “Our competition will be good each week. We know we have to pick it up a little bit and I feel like we have. We have a heavy senior-junior team with a lot of experience at a lot of positions.”

For the second straight season, Triton Central will break-in a new signal caller following the graduation of Sam Collier (1,427 passing yards and 18 touchdowns), who will play collegiately at Hanover College.

For more on Collier’s decision, click the link: https://www.giant.fm/shelby-county/news/sports-news/triton-central-quarterback-commits-to-hanover-college/

Matthew Wilkins (photo), a six-foot junior, steps under center after consecutive strong campaigns at the junior varsity level.

All-State selections Braden Brown (752 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) and Zeke Robertson (367 receiving yards, six touchdowns) return as skill position players along with Bo West, Brayden Whitlow and the returning Henry Kemper, who missed last season with an injury.

Able has won 110 games in 12 seasons at Triton Central and had a streak of five straight sectional championships snapped by Lapel last season.

The Tigers started last season 2-2 against its first four opponents again this season then won its final five regular-season games by an average margin of 26 points.

“I think it’s a good change because change is always good,” said junior lineman Dallas Clarke (photo) when asked about the new conference. “Just seeing new competition, they are bigger schools. I think seeing new competition is good for us and prepares us better for the sectional.”

“It definitely looks tougher this year, but I think we are prepared,” said Robertson.

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