BOURBON - To say that Friday's game between Triton and Culver was a ground game would be an understatement. The two teams combined for 13 passing attempts and only two completions as Culver rolled over the Trojans 34-7.

Culver rushed 46 times for 314 yards, while Triton went for 110 on 36 carries.

The night started out rough for Triton on Culver's opening drive. The Cavaliers marched down the field, rushing the ball nine straight times with Kyle Burke capping the drive with a 29-yard scamper. On Triton's first possession, two straight errant snaps pinned the Trojans back at their own 10. On the next play, Triton quarterback Nathan Setser was picked off by Culver's Ricky McCarty.

With starting quarterback Kenny Miller injured and Setser playing hurt, the Trojans were in no position to be in passing situations.

The Cavaliers quickly converted the turnover into points as junior tailback Jeremy Stotler charged through the middle of the Trojan defense for a 13-yard TD run.

After Triton turned the ball over for a second straight series, this time on a fumble, Culver quarterback Joe Keller got into the scoring action with a 21-yard run.

Triton finally settled down in the second quarter, but the damage was done. The Trojans finally broke into the scoring column when Setser snuck into the end zone from a yard out.

Despite a slight shift in momentum, the Trojans weren't able to capitalize.

Despite keeping the ball for 11 plays, the drive was halted when Jake Burnett, who replaced Setser at QB, was unable to connect with a receiver on a fourth-and-long.

Again Culver wasted no time in capitalizing. After a 10-yard run by Burke, Jeremy Stotler struck once more. This time with a 79-yard run.

"They outplayed us. That's what it came down to, they outplayed us. They played harder then we did. And they made the plays, we didn't," Triton coach Rod Wildman, who coached at Culver for three seasons, said.

After his team surprised everyone last year with a .500 record, Triton lost three players to graduation who combined for over 1,300 yards of offense. So, Wildman has had to change his expectations for this year's squad. While the win column is still a priority, it's also now important for him to see what kind of character his team has.

"We have to see what kind of heart they have coming off a tough loss like they did it last week," Wildman said. "So, these guys have to learn that they have to do it every Friday."

Triton (1-2, 0-1) hopes to rebound from this week's loss as it hosts Bremen Friday.

CULVER 34

TRITON 7

Culver 20 0 8 6 - 34

Triton 0 7 0 0 - 7

T C

First Downs 6 10

Rushing yards 36-110 46-314

Passing Yards 0 53

Comp-Att-Int 0-7-2 2-5-0

Total Offense 110 367

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 0-0

Punts-Avg 3-25 2-29

Penalties-yards 1-5 7-50

First Quarter

C- Kyle Burke 29 run (Evan Young kick)

C- Jeremy Stotler 13 run (Young kick)

C- Joe Keller 21 run (Kick failed)

Second Quarter

T- Nathan Setser 1 run (Matt Wanemacher kick)

Third Quarter

C-Stotler 79 run (Ron Jelinek run)

Fourth Quarter

C-Jelinek 1 run (kick failed)

Individual Leaders

Rushing - Triton, Tad Hayes 9-55, Setser 10-49, Andy Price 8-9, Jake Burnett 7-10. Culver, Stotler 19-152, Burke 19-101, Keller 6-41.

Passing - Triton, Setser 0-1-1 0, Burnett 0-6-1 0. Culver, Keller 2-5-0 53.

Receiving- Culver, Stotler 1-31, Carlson 1-21 [[In-content Ad]]