Lapel ended Triton Central’s five-year run as sectional champions in 2024. For the Tigers to start a new streak, they will have to go through the unbeaten Bulldogs Friday night.
Class 2A, No. 3 Lapel (11-0) hosts No. 7 Triton Central (10-1) in the Sectional 38 championship game. The winner will face either No. 6 Indianapolis Lutheran (10-1) or Heritage Christian (7-4) in a regional championship game on Nov. 14.
To reach its 13th consecutive sectional championship game, Triton Central scored in the game’s final seconds to defeat Centerville, 22-19, then scored 49 points in the first half to cruise past Northeastern, 49-6.
Northeastern arrived in Fairland 9-1 but a nightmarish first half on Halloween led to an early finish for the Tigers. The Knights committed four turnovers and had three drives end on failed fourth-down conversions in the opening two quarters. All seven drives were followed by Triton Central touchdowns, including a 92-yard touchdown run by Braden Brown – his second rushing touchdown of at least 90 yards this season.
“We finally played like we’re capable of,” said Triton Central head coach Tim Able (photo), who admitted the Knights were reeling from an injury to one of its top receivers earlier in the week and dealt with a first-quarter suspension for its top running back. “The matchup was a little different. It was one of those personnel things. We played like we can. And our special teams were back where they were at the beginning of the season.”
Able credited the often-used kickoff team for limiting Northeastern’s starting field position. He started to praise the punt coverage team then realized it didn’t take the field until the second half when the outcome was already decided.
“That’s the first time all season I’ve relaxed in the second half,” said Able of his team’s season-high for points scored and largest margin of victory. The Tigers won just one game this season by more than two touchdowns and six wins have been by seven points or less.
Those wins have come from producing strong second-half performances. Lapel also has had the ability to steal wins in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the final 2:37 to defeat Indian Creek, 29-26, in week five. And they held off a solid Eastern Hancock squad, 21-20, in the regular season finale then scored a touchdown with 10 seconds left last Friday to defeat the Royals again, 26-22.
Lapel quarterback Devin Craig (right) during a recent visit to Indiana Wesleyan University in Marian, Indiana. Also pictured is New Palestine's Garrett Ranes.
Lapel is led by record-setting quarterback Devon Craig, who torched Triton Central for 267 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 27-17 sectional championship game win in 2024.
“It’s been on our minds all year,” said Able of a rematch with Lapel. “It’s come up multiple times. Last year, they took us out. Hopefully, we can get a little payback.”
In the second semifinal win at Eastern Hancock, Craig’s final touchdown pass to Andrew Evelo set a new program record for touchdown passes in a season (34). The senior also surpassed 10,000 career passing yards.
“When you’ve got a quarterback like him, the more he throws is when they get better,” said Able.
Craig’s ability to avoid the pass rush and extend a play is what makes him dangerous. Two of his top receivers in 2024 graduated but sophomore Liam Ko and junior Jaxson Cripe have joined Evelo, a senior, to form a lethal trio. Each have at least 42 receptions and more than 525 receiving yards. Cripe has a team-leading 15 touchdown catches.
Lapel has a 1,000-yard rusher as well in junior Jack Miller (1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns).
“(Miller) is very quick and elusive,” said Able. “You can’t dive at him. He darts here and there.”
Triton Central’s defense has already dealt with multi-faceted quarterbacks this season like Tri-West’s Jack Sorgi, Centerville’s Jace Hollendonner and Northeastern’s Marshall Phillips. The key is to force the signal caller into a passing down and distance then be prepared for chaos.
“They have a lot of weapons,” said Able. “We need to figure out what they like to do with them.”
Lapel will have a similar challenge – keep Braden Brown (photo) from running wild and not let the TC receiving corps reach the end zone.
Brown (1,627 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns; 12 receptions, 175 yards, three touchdowns) scored five touchdowns last Friday against Northeastern.
Zeke Robertson (28 receptions, four touchdowns) and Henry Kemper (26 receptions, 382 yards, two touchdowns) have nearly identical statistics. Conner McClure and Brayden Whitlow (photo) each have 15 receptions for a combined 404 yards.
Quarterback Matthew Wilkins (photo) is completing 60% of his passes this season. With four touchdown passes against Northeastern, the junior now has 11 this season with just three interceptions.
“I hope it’s like last week – that was fun,” said Able. “It’s a hope and a wish.”
Notes: Brown’s 30-point performance against Northeastern matched what five other Tigers have accomplished in a game. Jayson West (1989), Thad McClusky (twice in 1996), J.R. Vannoy (2004), Jonah Thacker (2012) and Erick Hebauf (2020) each scored 30 points in a game, which is fourth best in program history. West has the record of 38 points scored against Speedway in 1989. … Brown’s 120 points this season is seventh best for a single season. The record is 210 set by Jonah Thacker in 2014. … Wilkins is 187 yards from securing a top 10 performance for passing yards in a season. … Brown’s 1,627 rushing yards is third best for a single season behind Jonah Thacker (2,235 in 2014) and Thad McClusky (2,086 in 1996). He is currently sixth in career rushing yards – 25 yards short of passing Brian Moline’s total of 2,468. … Triton Central captured the inaugural Hoosier Legends Conference championship this season. Lapel could attempt to do the same in 2026 when it joins the newly formed Eastern Crossroads Conference along with Eastern Hancock, New Castle, Shenandoah, Centerville, Delta and Northeastern. The ECC could start as soon as the 2026-2027 season but could be pushed back to 2027-2028.
CLASS 2A, NO. 7 TRITON CENTRAL (10-1) AT CLASS 2A, NO. 3 LAPEL (11-0)
SITE: The Boneyard at Lapel High School.
GAME TIME: 7 p.m.
BROADCAST: GIANT fm (96.5 fm, 1520 am, 106.3 fm and online at Giant.fm) will air the game live Friday. The pre-game show with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown will air at 6 p.m. with coverage of the game to follow.
COACHES: Tim Able, 120-41 in 13th year at Triton Central, 245-139 in 32nd year overall; Tim Miller, 95-67 in 14th year at Lapel.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Triton Central, 63.46, 91st overall, 11th in Class 2A; Lapel, 67.34, 68th overall, seventh in Class 2A. Lapel is a 7-point favorite.
LAST MEETING: Lapel ended Triton Central’s five-year streak as sectional champions with a 27-17 win in Fairland on Nov 8, 2024.
CLASS 2A, SECTIONAL 37: Class 2A, No. 6 Indianapolis Lutheran (10-1) at Heritage Christian (7-4). If Triton Central and Lutheran win, the regional championship game will be played at Lutheran. If TC and Heritage Christian win, the championship will be at Mendenhall Field in Fairland.
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