BOURBON - The Triton Trojans lost a hard-fought game 21-20 to the LaVille Lancers Friday in a Northern State Conference battle. Triton fell to 3-4 overall.

After the Trojans punted the ball on their first possession the Lancers went into a clock control offense. Chris Swihart of Laville capped a 15-play drive by scampering two yards to draw first blood. The extra point put the Lancers up 7-0 with 1:36 left in the first quarter.

Triton took over on its own 17-yard line after the kickoff return. Trent Furnivall ran the ball for 15 yards on his second touch of the game. Furnivall then threw to Chad Kaufman for 31 yards on a fake reverse play. On the next play Furnival ran 37 yards through the defense of Laville. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.

"(Trent) Furnivall did a great job for us tonight. He stepped up when we needed him tonight. On the touchdown run he definitely earned the last twenty yards," said Triton coach Rodney Younis.

Laville used more than seven minutes to score on a touchdown pass from Aaron Bettcher to Ian Webb from seven yards out. The extra point kick put the Lancers up 14-7. Swihart carried the ball eight times for 29 yards to keep the clock ticking.

Troy McIntyre led the Trojans on a three-play drive capped by a 58 yard touchdown pass to Furnivall to tie the score at 14. Mcintyre went 2 for 2 for 68 yards, including a 10-yard pass to Anthony Faucett to set up the score. Furnivall also ran the ball for seven yards to start the drive.

The Trojan defense came through and held the Lancers and forced them to punt. Nathan Hooley ran two yards to put Triton up 20-14. Triton then tried a two-point conversion that was eventually ruled incomplete. The crowd argued the call because it appeared the catch was made. One official signaled it good and another waved it incomplete. The score remained 20-14 at halftime.

"It was a judgement call. I can't fault the officials for the call," Younis said.

The second half started as though it would be a defensive struggle. Neither team could generate any offense. LaVille eventually scored on a 35 yard end around touchdown run by Adam Schnell. After the extra point was made Laville took a 21-20 lead which proved to be the winning kick.

"This was a great game for the fans but not for a coach. We played a good game tonight. LaVille just wanted the win more than we did. Tonight was just like last year's game that we lost by a blocked extra point kick. This is the second year we have lost to them by one point," Younis said.

Triton could not move the ball in the last part of the third and fourth quarters. The Lancer defense stepped up and put heavy pressure on McIntyre. He was sacked twice in the second half and pressured to throw the ball into good coverage, with the passes falling incomplete.

"They definitely stepped up the pressure in the second half. McIntyre was complaining that he couldn't see and panicked when the rush came up the middle," Younis said.

Triton travels to New Prairie Friday for another conference game.

"We will be facing a team that spreads the ball around. It won't be like this week with LaVille running the "Power I" formation. We will just need to learn from our mistakes tonight," said Younis.

Furnival finished the game with 92 yards on six carries and one touchdown. He also was 1-of-1 passing for 31 yards and scored his second touchdown on the 58 yard pass.

McIntyre ended the game with 114 yards on 6-of-11 passing, including the touchdown toss to Furnival. He also threw one interception in the game.

Triton will know who their sectional opponent on Sunday.

Younis commented. "Our goal is to win the sectional. We will learn from our mistakes." [[In-content Ad]]