Can Triton’s Experience Lead To 2022 Gridiron Success?
August 14, 2022 at 9:15 p.m.
Can Triton’s Experience Lead To 2022 Gridiron Success?
By Chip Davenport-
Rodney Younis (50-103 in his 15th year), the Trojan’s head coach, is pleased with the number of athletes he’s carrying this season, especially for a school whose graduating classes tend to range between 60 and 75 students.
“We will be playing predominantly seniors and juniors with experience,” Younis said. “We have 50 players out, which is great for a 1A school. We believe this will help us with depth.”
The Trojans, who were 2-5 last season in Hoosier North Athletic Conference action, return sufficient starters on each side of the ball if they can improve their ball security in 2022 to avoid setting up opponents for short field scoring drives.
The Trojans turned the ball over 21 times including 6 interceptions last season. The defense will work on getting in opponents’ backfields more often, looking to improve on only 24 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2021.
“We have many returning starters who have gained confidence (and) experience,” Younis noted. “We believe this will help us shore up costly turnovers and penalties… this will continue to be an emphasis week in week out.”
Junior quarterback Cole Shively will enter his third season as the starting field marshal. Younis sees the promise of an improved passing performance from his signal caller, who completed 42 of 98 pass attempts (42.9%), connected on 6 touchdown passes, and added 164 rushing yards to his offensive output.
“Cole has worked really hard this offseason. If our (offensive line) can give him time he can have a good year in the passing game. Our goal is to be balanced. We want our passing game to complement the run game.”
The time Shively needs is crucial because he was sacked 19 times in his sophomore season.
Four of the five contributing offensive linemen are seniors who return as starters from last year’s squad, Trenton Conley , Landon Lemler, Cam Shively, and Ethan Howell will provide the protection the skill positions need to improve their offensive output. Shively (245 lbs.) and Howell (235 lbs.) are big book-end tackles.
The running attack has already established itself as solid, physical, and capable of breakaway runs with the Schuh siblings returning to the backfield. Anthony (6’1 205-lb. junior), and Trace (6’1” 235-lb. senior) led the rushing attack with 1,287 yards (5.8 yards per carry), and 217 yards (4.9 ypc) respectively. The sibs scored 17 of Triton’s 21 rushing touchdowns.
They’ll be complemented by the accompanying services of junior two-way starter Javan May. The 6’2 185 lb. running back will also see action at outside linebacker.
“(He) earned a spot as a two-way starter,” Younis remarked of one of few projected sophomore starters on this year’s squad. “He has worked extremely hard in the weight room. We are excited to see what he will bring to the team.”
Returning receivers Amari Snyder (5’11” senior, 118 yards), Cole Irvine (6,0” senior, 112 yards), and Dante` Workman (6’0” sophomore, 69 yards) are ready for increased targets if Shively is given time to find them.
“Dante' Workman started as a freshman last year,” Younis said. “(H)e has the potential to be a factor on both sides of the ball.”
The sophomore will see time at free safety this year, where he totaled 23 tackles in 2021.
The 2022 squad has additional aforementioned athletes who also contributed to the Trojan defense in 2021. Lemler (linebacker, 70 tackles), Snyder (cornerback, 70 tackles), Cole Shively (cornerback, 50 tackles), Tate Schuh (nose guard, 41 tackles), Anthony Schuh (linebacker, 28 tackles) and (Cameron Shively (defensive line, 25 tackles),
Linebacker Braden Cunningham, a senior linebacker led last year’s defense with 86 tackles, followed by senior Reilly Wood’s 78 tackles. Wood also added 80 rushing yards and 62 receiving yards on offense. Evan Briles returns at defensive end with team-leading totals in tackles for loss (4), and sacks (3).
The Trojans will kick off the 2022 season traveling to Union Mills in Porter County to take on South Central this Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Triton’s conference schedule has a favorable quirk. The Trojans are hosting five of its seven HNAC opponents per the John Harrell website (LaVille, Culver Community, Pioneer, Knox, and Winamac). They’ll travel to Caston, Marshall County non-conference rival Bremen, and North Judson this year.
The Trojans will likely make their mark in the program as a band of brothers battling through the adversity of seasons past.
“Our team plays as a brotherhood,” Younis explained. “We have been through some rough times last season, with injuries and the death of a teammate. Our kids battled through the strong schedule to make it to the sectional championship. The players have worked really hard this offseason. They are ready for the challenge our strong schedule will give us.”
Rodney Younis (50-103 in his 15th year), the Trojan’s head coach, is pleased with the number of athletes he’s carrying this season, especially for a school whose graduating classes tend to range between 60 and 75 students.
“We will be playing predominantly seniors and juniors with experience,” Younis said. “We have 50 players out, which is great for a 1A school. We believe this will help us with depth.”
The Trojans, who were 2-5 last season in Hoosier North Athletic Conference action, return sufficient starters on each side of the ball if they can improve their ball security in 2022 to avoid setting up opponents for short field scoring drives.
The Trojans turned the ball over 21 times including 6 interceptions last season. The defense will work on getting in opponents’ backfields more often, looking to improve on only 24 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2021.
“We have many returning starters who have gained confidence (and) experience,” Younis noted. “We believe this will help us shore up costly turnovers and penalties… this will continue to be an emphasis week in week out.”
Junior quarterback Cole Shively will enter his third season as the starting field marshal. Younis sees the promise of an improved passing performance from his signal caller, who completed 42 of 98 pass attempts (42.9%), connected on 6 touchdown passes, and added 164 rushing yards to his offensive output.
“Cole has worked really hard this offseason. If our (offensive line) can give him time he can have a good year in the passing game. Our goal is to be balanced. We want our passing game to complement the run game.”
The time Shively needs is crucial because he was sacked 19 times in his sophomore season.
Four of the five contributing offensive linemen are seniors who return as starters from last year’s squad, Trenton Conley , Landon Lemler, Cam Shively, and Ethan Howell will provide the protection the skill positions need to improve their offensive output. Shively (245 lbs.) and Howell (235 lbs.) are big book-end tackles.
The running attack has already established itself as solid, physical, and capable of breakaway runs with the Schuh siblings returning to the backfield. Anthony (6’1 205-lb. junior), and Trace (6’1” 235-lb. senior) led the rushing attack with 1,287 yards (5.8 yards per carry), and 217 yards (4.9 ypc) respectively. The sibs scored 17 of Triton’s 21 rushing touchdowns.
They’ll be complemented by the accompanying services of junior two-way starter Javan May. The 6’2 185 lb. running back will also see action at outside linebacker.
“(He) earned a spot as a two-way starter,” Younis remarked of one of few projected sophomore starters on this year’s squad. “He has worked extremely hard in the weight room. We are excited to see what he will bring to the team.”
Returning receivers Amari Snyder (5’11” senior, 118 yards), Cole Irvine (6,0” senior, 112 yards), and Dante` Workman (6’0” sophomore, 69 yards) are ready for increased targets if Shively is given time to find them.
“Dante' Workman started as a freshman last year,” Younis said. “(H)e has the potential to be a factor on both sides of the ball.”
The sophomore will see time at free safety this year, where he totaled 23 tackles in 2021.
The 2022 squad has additional aforementioned athletes who also contributed to the Trojan defense in 2021. Lemler (linebacker, 70 tackles), Snyder (cornerback, 70 tackles), Cole Shively (cornerback, 50 tackles), Tate Schuh (nose guard, 41 tackles), Anthony Schuh (linebacker, 28 tackles) and (Cameron Shively (defensive line, 25 tackles),
Linebacker Braden Cunningham, a senior linebacker led last year’s defense with 86 tackles, followed by senior Reilly Wood’s 78 tackles. Wood also added 80 rushing yards and 62 receiving yards on offense. Evan Briles returns at defensive end with team-leading totals in tackles for loss (4), and sacks (3).
The Trojans will kick off the 2022 season traveling to Union Mills in Porter County to take on South Central this Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Triton’s conference schedule has a favorable quirk. The Trojans are hosting five of its seven HNAC opponents per the John Harrell website (LaVille, Culver Community, Pioneer, Knox, and Winamac). They’ll travel to Caston, Marshall County non-conference rival Bremen, and North Judson this year.
The Trojans will likely make their mark in the program as a band of brothers battling through the adversity of seasons past.
“Our team plays as a brotherhood,” Younis explained. “We have been through some rough times last season, with injuries and the death of a teammate. Our kids battled through the strong schedule to make it to the sectional championship. The players have worked really hard this offseason. They are ready for the challenge our strong schedule will give us.”
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