Triton Central graduate now leading Tigers' highly successful football program

FAIRLAND – Hall of Fame coach Tim Able turned Triton Central into one of the most successful Class 2A football programs in the state.

Triton Central graduate Tim Kegley is now in charge of maintaining that success rate while garnering even more postseason honors.

The Tigers have played in 13 consecutive sectional championship games, all under Able’s direction, but lost the last two to Lapel, who will again be one of the top teams in 2A in 2026. There will not be a third sectional meeting between the programs with the IHSAA’s new postseason realignment taking effect.

The transition from Able to Kegley went smoothly. The veteran assistant coach has been on staff for eight years in Fairland. His offseason plan was well defined.

“We had a good summer. Attendance was amazing,” said Kegley (photo), who is the assistant principal at Triton Central High School. “We switched from years past going in the evenings to going in the mornings. We focused heavily on the weight room. We did a lot of classroom film and leadership. It was a lot less like football on the field and it was more strength, conditioning and the intangibles.”

Triton Central’s defense was stellar in 2025. Despite having two All-State performers in Braden Brown and Zeke Robertson, the offense was, at best, inconsistent.

The new coach has not tinkered with the defensive sets. He has simplified the offense, though, with the goal of unlocking senior quarterback Matthew Wilkins’ best abilities.

“I would characterize (last year’s offense) as a lot more wordy,” said Kegley. “Now that allows you to be a lot more dynamic in your formations. But I think whenever you are going to install something, you have to start with a baseline. It was important that our verbiage was simpler. We are trying to be dynamic in what we can do while at the same time limit our formations. That helps with processing for the kids and making sure everyone is lined up right.”

Wilkins (photo) missed time last season with an injury but returned for the postseason to get the Tigers into the sectional championship game at Lapel. He completed 99 of 173 pass attempts for 1,364 yards and 13 touchdowns before injuring his knee late in the sectional loss.

“There was a little bit of pressure in the backfield. I thought I would try and make a play,” recalled Wilkins of his final play of the 2025 season. “I ran up the (Lapel) sideline and got hit right at my feet.”

The result was a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus that led to surgery two weeks later.

The recovery went well which helped Wilkins quickly return to the field to start building chemistry with a new group of skill position players unproven on Friday nights.

“We’ve been on the field all summer getting the reps,” said Wilkins. “I am comfortable with all of them.”

Wilkins will work behind a veteran offensive line anchored by seniors Dallas Clarke and Kellan Dishman (photo) on the ends and junior Wyatt Viles in the interior.

Only senior Henry Kemper (team-leading 33 receptions, 473 yards in 2025) has extensive experience at wide receiver and running back. Wilkins will hand off to senior Cooper Marlin and junior Landon Ball and throw to juniors Dylan Showalter, Tevian Faulkner and Payton McKillop in addition to Kemper.

“We need juniors who haven’t played on Friday nights to play really well,” said Kegley of the receiving corps. “If they don’t play well, I just need them to play OK. That is very important to our success.”

Marlin (photo) had 59 rushing attempts for 181 yards last season but will be a key component on both sides of the ball this season.

Clarke (photo), who will play on Saturdays in 2027, leads a deep defensive line group.

“Basically, the whole offensive line will play defensive line at some point,” said Kegley, who also listed Chris Miller, Zayne Ficklin, Cooper Alford and Cash Copeland as part of the rotation.

“I think we will come out and punch (the opponent) right in the mouth,” said Clarke. “I think a lot of people are doubting us because of the new coach. I think people are saying we are not going to bounce back because of not having our coach.”

In 2025, then sophomore Ty Bergman (photo) donned the No. 23 jersey and was told to go lead the defense as a middle linebacker. Once his nerves settled, he led the Tigers with 94 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.

“I was really nervous. I was really trying to be myself and not worry about it, block it all out and play football,” said Bergman. “I think I did pretty well but I always think I can do better. I can always have a better season this year.”

Bergman will lead a new set of linebackers in Kegley’s 3-4 formation. Senior Weston Smith (photo) returned to the football program after taking a year off and will be paired with Bergman in the interior of the defense.

“He is big, strong and probably one of our most aggressive players,” said Kegley.

Ball and McKillop slot into the outside linebacker roles with Marlin, Kemper, Faulkner and Showalter occupying the last line of defense as cornerbacks and safeties.

Kegley is high on freshman Grant Walters.

“At some point he is going to have to play this year. I am really excited about his future,” said Kegley.

On special teams, Kail Slaughter returns as the long snapper. Luke Strong will handle punting duties early in the season with Evan Mitchell (photo) stepping into the kicking role replacing the graduated Nick Tormoehlen.

With the addition of Shelbyville and Greenwood, the Hoosier Legends Conference is now complete. All eight schools will play two non-conference contests to start the season before seven consecutive conference clashes.

Triton Central will stay at Mendenhall Field in Fairland for both its non-conference games – Batesville Friday night (kickoff at 7 p.m.) and Indianapolis Scecina on Aug. 28.

The Tigers hit the road Sept. 4 at Speedway before hosting Beech Grove on Sept. 11.

That leads to a first-ever meeting with Shelbyville on Sept. 18 at J.M. McKeand Stadium. The two programs have played at the middle school level and even worked out together during summer sessions but have never played under the Friday night lights.

“I am really looking forward to that,” said Kegley. “I think it’s good for our county. It’s good for football around here.”

Triton Central is at Greenwood on Sept. 25 for another first-time meeting.

The regular season schedule closes out with a road game at Tri-West on Oct. 9 sandwiched between home games against Monrovia on Oct. 2 and Indian Creek on Oct. 16.

The Tigers’ postseason foes in Sectional 37 are familiar. They include former Indiana Crossroads Conference rivals Indianapolis Lutheran, Indianapolis Ritter, Scecina and Covenant Christian.

The remainder of the 8-team field includes Christel House, Eastern Hancock and Park Tudor.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.