Triton Uses Turnovers To Topple Culver

October 20, 2018 at 6:20 a.m.


CULVER – “Great kids make great plays.”

Triton football coach Ron Brown summed up his team’s play nicely, as the Trojans caused momentum-shifting turnovers for a 34-12 win Friday in a Class 1A sectional game at Culver Community High School.

“I feel very fortunate we were able to come away with the victory, because right now it’s one and done,” Brown said. “And I don’t want to be the team that’s done.”

The game’s turning point came late in the first half. With less than two minutes before the break, the Cavaliers had the ball inside the Triton 40.

That’s when Culver quarterback Tucker Fisher overthrew his target on the right side of the field, and Triton defensive back Delano Shumpert picked off the pass at the 14-yard line.

Shumpert was off to the races, and beat out his competition on the way to an 86-yard interception return that put the Trojans ahead 21-6 just before the half.

“That right there is just a momentum booster, and doing that right there kicked our whole team into gear,” Shumpert said.

Triton’s defense carried that momentum into the third quarter to force another turnover.

Though the Cavaliers once again found themselves around the Trojans’ 40, a Culver fumble was recovered by James Snyder to kill Culver’s drive late in the third.

“It goes back to too many big plays,” said Culver coach Mike Zehner.

Triton tacked on insurance scores in the fourth quarter.

Snyder’s 12-yard strike to Keegan Westafer got things going early in the quarter. After Culver scored on an 11-yard rush by Zac Ditmire, the Trojans responded with a 2-yard score by Ethan Berry that was set up by Berry’s 40-yard dash down the left sideline.

Triton started strong on Snyder’s 15-yard strike to Shumpert less than two minutes into the game for the 8-0 lead.

Culver responded with Ditmire’s run from one yard out to make the score 8-6.

However, Snyder again found Shumpert, this time for a 25-yard pass and the 14-6 lead midway through the second quarter.

Triton advanced to play Winamac in the sectional semifinal after the Warriors won 38-16 over Caston.

The winner of that game will play either North Judson, which knocked off LaVille, or South Central, which topped West Central.

However, the Trojans are focused only on Winamac.

“There’s no guarantee that we’re even gonna see (North Judson),” he said. “We gotta take care of Winamac first.”

Triton played Winamac in the last game of the regular season, and play got physical. Friday’s game also was fiery, with personal fouls called on both Triton and Culver.

Brown aims to keep his players composed in the rematch against Winamac.

“I tell them to keep their mouths shut, eat their fruit snacks, drink their juice boxes at halftime, and if they do the right thing they’ll be more for them when we get home,” he said.

The Trojans have a bigger incentive than fruit snacks and juice boxes. Cameron Scarberry, a Triton football player who died in an automobile accident last year.

Scarberry, who was a junior, had written on a piece of paper that he wanted the Trojans to be 6-3 in the regular season by his senior year, as well as to take home a sectional trophy.

“We’re trying to achieve that,” Brown said. “And this is the only year left we have to do that.”



TRITON 34, CULVER 12

T    14    7    0    13    —    34

C    6    0     0    6    —    12



    T    C

1st downs    11    15

Rushing yds    139    220

Passing yds    108    0

Comp-Att-Int    4-11-1    0-2-1

Total yds    235    220

Fumbles-Lost    0-0    1-1

Penalties/yds    5/55    1/15



First Quarter

T – Delano Shumpert 15 pass from James Snyder (Shumpert pass from Snyder), 10:08

C – Zac Ditmire 1 run (run failed), 4:30



Second Quarter

T ­– Shumpert 25 pass from Snyder (pass failed), 5:12

T – Shumpert 86 interception return (Brandon Lenker kick), :52



Fourth Quarter

T – Keegan Westafer 12 pass from Snyder (run failed), 11:56

C – Ditmire 11 run (run failed), 4:30

C – Ethan Berry 2 run (Lenker kick), 3:05



INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Triton, Ethan Berry 9-64, James Snyder 10-32, Hunter McIntyre 2-25, Delano Shumpert 1-11, Koby Mast 1-4, D’Angelo 1-3; Culver, Zac Ditmire 32-130, Jalen King 13-69, Carter Stevens 10-17, Kaleb Jones 5-12, Donavan Ziaja 1-2. Passing — Triton, Snyder 7-14-108,  3 TDs, 1 INT; Culver, Tucker Fisher 0-2-0, 1 INT.

Receiving — Triton, Del. Shumpert 3-96, Tye Orsund 1-27, Keegan Westafer 1-12, Berry 1-12, D’Angelo Shumpert 1-3.

Records: Triton 7-3, Culver 2-8

CULVER – “Great kids make great plays.”

Triton football coach Ron Brown summed up his team’s play nicely, as the Trojans caused momentum-shifting turnovers for a 34-12 win Friday in a Class 1A sectional game at Culver Community High School.

“I feel very fortunate we were able to come away with the victory, because right now it’s one and done,” Brown said. “And I don’t want to be the team that’s done.”

The game’s turning point came late in the first half. With less than two minutes before the break, the Cavaliers had the ball inside the Triton 40.

That’s when Culver quarterback Tucker Fisher overthrew his target on the right side of the field, and Triton defensive back Delano Shumpert picked off the pass at the 14-yard line.

Shumpert was off to the races, and beat out his competition on the way to an 86-yard interception return that put the Trojans ahead 21-6 just before the half.

“That right there is just a momentum booster, and doing that right there kicked our whole team into gear,” Shumpert said.

Triton’s defense carried that momentum into the third quarter to force another turnover.

Though the Cavaliers once again found themselves around the Trojans’ 40, a Culver fumble was recovered by James Snyder to kill Culver’s drive late in the third.

“It goes back to too many big plays,” said Culver coach Mike Zehner.

Triton tacked on insurance scores in the fourth quarter.

Snyder’s 12-yard strike to Keegan Westafer got things going early in the quarter. After Culver scored on an 11-yard rush by Zac Ditmire, the Trojans responded with a 2-yard score by Ethan Berry that was set up by Berry’s 40-yard dash down the left sideline.

Triton started strong on Snyder’s 15-yard strike to Shumpert less than two minutes into the game for the 8-0 lead.

Culver responded with Ditmire’s run from one yard out to make the score 8-6.

However, Snyder again found Shumpert, this time for a 25-yard pass and the 14-6 lead midway through the second quarter.

Triton advanced to play Winamac in the sectional semifinal after the Warriors won 38-16 over Caston.

The winner of that game will play either North Judson, which knocked off LaVille, or South Central, which topped West Central.

However, the Trojans are focused only on Winamac.

“There’s no guarantee that we’re even gonna see (North Judson),” he said. “We gotta take care of Winamac first.”

Triton played Winamac in the last game of the regular season, and play got physical. Friday’s game also was fiery, with personal fouls called on both Triton and Culver.

Brown aims to keep his players composed in the rematch against Winamac.

“I tell them to keep their mouths shut, eat their fruit snacks, drink their juice boxes at halftime, and if they do the right thing they’ll be more for them when we get home,” he said.

The Trojans have a bigger incentive than fruit snacks and juice boxes. Cameron Scarberry, a Triton football player who died in an automobile accident last year.

Scarberry, who was a junior, had written on a piece of paper that he wanted the Trojans to be 6-3 in the regular season by his senior year, as well as to take home a sectional trophy.

“We’re trying to achieve that,” Brown said. “And this is the only year left we have to do that.”



TRITON 34, CULVER 12

T    14    7    0    13    —    34

C    6    0     0    6    —    12



    T    C

1st downs    11    15

Rushing yds    139    220

Passing yds    108    0

Comp-Att-Int    4-11-1    0-2-1

Total yds    235    220

Fumbles-Lost    0-0    1-1

Penalties/yds    5/55    1/15



First Quarter

T – Delano Shumpert 15 pass from James Snyder (Shumpert pass from Snyder), 10:08

C – Zac Ditmire 1 run (run failed), 4:30



Second Quarter

T ­– Shumpert 25 pass from Snyder (pass failed), 5:12

T – Shumpert 86 interception return (Brandon Lenker kick), :52



Fourth Quarter

T – Keegan Westafer 12 pass from Snyder (run failed), 11:56

C – Ditmire 11 run (run failed), 4:30

C – Ethan Berry 2 run (Lenker kick), 3:05



INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Triton, Ethan Berry 9-64, James Snyder 10-32, Hunter McIntyre 2-25, Delano Shumpert 1-11, Koby Mast 1-4, D’Angelo 1-3; Culver, Zac Ditmire 32-130, Jalen King 13-69, Carter Stevens 10-17, Kaleb Jones 5-12, Donavan Ziaja 1-2. Passing — Triton, Snyder 7-14-108,  3 TDs, 1 INT; Culver, Tucker Fisher 0-2-0, 1 INT.

Receiving — Triton, Del. Shumpert 3-96, Tye Orsund 1-27, Keegan Westafer 1-12, Berry 1-12, D’Angelo Shumpert 1-3.

Records: Triton 7-3, Culver 2-8
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