BOURBON — With an extra week to mend and prepare, Triton heads into an IHSAA Class 1A sectional football game at Northfield.

Kickoff for the semifinal contest at Dawes Field in Wabash is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29.

Triton, which received a first-round bye, is 3-6. Northfield, which won 35-14 at Fremont in first-round sectional play in Week 10, is 7-3.

“It was a good week for us,” said Triton coach Rodney Younis of the bye. “We were able to get some kids healthy, work on some things on us, clean up some of the mistakes we’ve been making, add some wrinkles to the offense and defense.”

The Trojans absorbed a 27-7 loss at Winamac in the regular-season finale in Week 9.

Heading into the postseason, Triton statistical leaders include sophomore Cole Shively (36-of-85 for 390 yards and five touchdowns) in passing, sophomore Anthony Schuh (173 carries for 1,072 yards and 11 TDs) in rushing, junior Amari Snyder (12 receptions for 119 yards) in receiving and junior Brayden Cunningam (83) in total tackles.

Anthony Schuh (66 points) paces the Trojans in scoring.

Junior Evan Briles (3) leads Triton in sacks. Anthony Schuh, senior Tyler Amsden, junior Landon Lemler have recovered two fumbles each.

The Trojans hold averages of 16.1 on offense and 24.1 on defense. High-water marks are 35 points in wins against Caston and Culver Community.

Triton is 1-4 on the road in 2021. Opponents have a 50-32 record.

In the last 35 years, Northfield leads the series against Triton, 18-14. The last time the two teams met was Oct. 25, 2019 in Bourbon with the Norsemen winning 21-8.

Northfield, coached by Brandon Baker, is led offensively by senior Jake Halderman (41-of-80 for 640 yards and 10 TDs) in passing, senior Jayden Goshert (179 carries for 1,051 yards and nine TDs) in rushing, junior Dylan Ross (11 receptions for 229 yards and two TDs) in receiving and senior Jacob Snyder (133) in total tackles.

Against Fremont, Halderman passed for 113 yards and two TDs. Goshert rushed 17 times for 170 yards and one TD. Ross caught three passes for 69 yards and one TD.

The Norsemen gained 516 yards — 403 on the ground.

“They run the triple option on offense,” says Younis. “We’re going to have to be disciplined (on defense) and play assignment football. “Fortunately, we’ve seen this offense this season a couple of times already. They definitely have some weapons.

“Defensively, they’ve an aggressive team. It’s going to be important that we sustain our blocks and once we get into the ‘Red Zone’ we put points on the board.”

Goshert (54 points) paces Northfield in scoring, Snyder (16) in tackles for loss. Snyder and junior Malachi Higgins have recovered two fumbles each.

Northfield holds averages of 26.9 on offense and 17.1 on defense. The team piled up 48 points in besting Maconaquah and 41 to beating Wabash.

The Norsemen are are 3-1 at home in 2021. Opponents have a 42-51 record.

This is the eighth straight season of .500-or-better football for the Norsemen — all on Baker’s watch.

In looking at the season to date, Younis notes the improvement of his younger Trojans.

“We’ve been placed in positions where we had to play some kids that probably, technically weren’t ready for varsity play yet,” says Younis. “But they got thrown into it and as the season went on they showed improvement.

“It just helps us with our depth — not only for this year — but for the future.”

A win Friday gives Triton a shot at its fourth sectional title (the Trojans earned hardware in 2007, 2008 and 2018) while Northfield can go for its second (the Norsemen reigned in 2015). The other side of the bracket features Southwood (5-5) at Adams Central (9-1).

John Harrell’s prediction for Friday’s Triton-Northfield clash: Northfield, 28-21.