Triton, Culver Appear Similar
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
The Trojans (4-6) and the Cavs (6-4) square off Friday at Culver Community High School at 7 p.m. to decide who will play in the Class 1A Sectional 33 championship next week against either South Central (Union Mills) or Whiting.[[In-content Ad]]Experience-wise, the Trojans have the advantage having won the last two sectional titles, while Culver hasn't reached a sectional championship since 2001. However, Culver did get the best of Triton back on Sept. 4 at home, winning the Northern State Conference game 20-6.
"That was back in Week 3, and we were really feeling things out," Triton coach Rodney Younis said. "We had 10 starters to replace on defense, and a number of the guys were still figuring out where they fit. Since then, five guys that played defense in that game are playing a different position or not playing."
In that loss, Triton trailed 13-6 when it had a touchdown called back. Culver then added another touchdown of its own, pushing the lead to 20-6, making the win look more lopsided than it may have been.
"It's a real toss up," Culver coach Andy Thomas said. "The team that digs deep and makes less mistakes will win."
After looking at the stats, the game will almost surely be decided by the team with less mistakes as the key players seem have had identical seasons.
At quarterback, Triton junior Dane Kennedy has completed 56 of 103 passes for 794 yards, six touchdowns and nine picks. On the other side of the ball, Culver freshman Collin Stevens has completed 55 of 101 passes for 794 yards, six touchdowns and nine picks.
That's right, outside of one more completion and two more attempts by Kennedy, the stats are identical.
"He's definitely done a good job for us," Younis said of Kennedy. "If the offensive line gives him time, he's as good as they get. The big thing is not taking the big loss."
The running back position isn't that much different either.
Triton senior Adam Creighbaum has 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns this year, while Culver junior Michael Salary has rushed for 1,040 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"We look the same," Younis said. "They have good players with a kid who's just a stud. It's the same with us, with Adam Creighbaum."
Creighbaum showed his skill set in last week's 27-14 win over Winamac, scoring on runs of 1 and 59 yards, while adding a 79-yard touchdown reception.
"Anytime you have a kid like Adam Creighbaum, you have a kid that can score from any place," Thomas said.
And Thomas has the same kind of kid with Salary, who's averaging 8.3 yards per carry, while also catching 16 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns.
"He's gifted," Thomas said of Salary. "He has great balance and is hard to take down. He also has great speed for a big kid at 6-foot, 210 (pounds)."
"The game will come down to slowing down the other team's stud," Younis said.
Looking to slow down Salary will be three young defensive players on the Triton line.
"We're young on the defensive line," Younis said. "We have Shelby Wright, who's a sophomore, freshman Seth Glingle and Erik Hoffman, a sophomore. We have three young pups out there, but they're three guys that get after it."
Along with dealing with Salary, the Trojans defense will also have to deal with running back Sam Hendrickson rushing for 237 yards and four touchdowns and Stevens has run for 139 yards and three scores.
With the similarities between the two teams, it may be Triton's big-game experience that tips the scale its way.
"(The experience) will help us," Younis said. "We have a few guys that played significant minutes last year, and the others were at least a part of it.'
While his team hasn't played in a sectional championship since 2001, Thomas isn't looking ahead of Triton.
"We're just worried about Triton," he said. "This has been a nice rivalry over the last three or four years. There's always a nice crowd and a nice following. It should be a great environment to play a sectional game with the winner going on to play in the sectional final. This is an exciting time for our school and I'm sure it's an exciting time for (Triton) too."
The Trojans (4-6) and the Cavs (6-4) square off Friday at Culver Community High School at 7 p.m. to decide who will play in the Class 1A Sectional 33 championship next week against either South Central (Union Mills) or Whiting.[[In-content Ad]]Experience-wise, the Trojans have the advantage having won the last two sectional titles, while Culver hasn't reached a sectional championship since 2001. However, Culver did get the best of Triton back on Sept. 4 at home, winning the Northern State Conference game 20-6.
"That was back in Week 3, and we were really feeling things out," Triton coach Rodney Younis said. "We had 10 starters to replace on defense, and a number of the guys were still figuring out where they fit. Since then, five guys that played defense in that game are playing a different position or not playing."
In that loss, Triton trailed 13-6 when it had a touchdown called back. Culver then added another touchdown of its own, pushing the lead to 20-6, making the win look more lopsided than it may have been.
"It's a real toss up," Culver coach Andy Thomas said. "The team that digs deep and makes less mistakes will win."
After looking at the stats, the game will almost surely be decided by the team with less mistakes as the key players seem have had identical seasons.
At quarterback, Triton junior Dane Kennedy has completed 56 of 103 passes for 794 yards, six touchdowns and nine picks. On the other side of the ball, Culver freshman Collin Stevens has completed 55 of 101 passes for 794 yards, six touchdowns and nine picks.
That's right, outside of one more completion and two more attempts by Kennedy, the stats are identical.
"He's definitely done a good job for us," Younis said of Kennedy. "If the offensive line gives him time, he's as good as they get. The big thing is not taking the big loss."
The running back position isn't that much different either.
Triton senior Adam Creighbaum has 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns this year, while Culver junior Michael Salary has rushed for 1,040 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"We look the same," Younis said. "They have good players with a kid who's just a stud. It's the same with us, with Adam Creighbaum."
Creighbaum showed his skill set in last week's 27-14 win over Winamac, scoring on runs of 1 and 59 yards, while adding a 79-yard touchdown reception.
"Anytime you have a kid like Adam Creighbaum, you have a kid that can score from any place," Thomas said.
And Thomas has the same kind of kid with Salary, who's averaging 8.3 yards per carry, while also catching 16 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns.
"He's gifted," Thomas said of Salary. "He has great balance and is hard to take down. He also has great speed for a big kid at 6-foot, 210 (pounds)."
"The game will come down to slowing down the other team's stud," Younis said.
Looking to slow down Salary will be three young defensive players on the Triton line.
"We're young on the defensive line," Younis said. "We have Shelby Wright, who's a sophomore, freshman Seth Glingle and Erik Hoffman, a sophomore. We have three young pups out there, but they're three guys that get after it."
Along with dealing with Salary, the Trojans defense will also have to deal with running back Sam Hendrickson rushing for 237 yards and four touchdowns and Stevens has run for 139 yards and three scores.
With the similarities between the two teams, it may be Triton's big-game experience that tips the scale its way.
"(The experience) will help us," Younis said. "We have a few guys that played significant minutes last year, and the others were at least a part of it.'
While his team hasn't played in a sectional championship since 2001, Thomas isn't looking ahead of Triton.
"We're just worried about Triton," he said. "This has been a nice rivalry over the last three or four years. There's always a nice crowd and a nice following. It should be a great environment to play a sectional game with the winner going on to play in the sectional final. This is an exciting time for our school and I'm sure it's an exciting time for (Triton) too."
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