Triton Defeats Pioneer For First Time Ever In 35-12 Win
September 24, 2022 at 3:30 a.m.
Triton Defeats Pioneer For First Time Ever In 35-12 Win
By Connor McCann-
“I’m so proud of the boys,” Triton head coach Rodney Younis said. “We were going against a physical team and it was tough but our kids hung strong and stepped up when we needed them to.”
Triton began the game with the ball and weren’t able to do much with it. Pioneer had one goal early on in the game: slow down Triton’s Anthony Schuh. For the first few drives, the team executed that plan to perfection. Schuh was stopped in the backfield three times on the first two drives as the team was forced to settle for 3-and-outs.
After the Trojan punt, the Panthers looked to be in business. A missed tackle by a Triton defender on Pioneer’s first play from scrimmage would open up the sidelines for a 55-yard gain. But while the Trojan defense would bend, it would not break. Backed up with the Panthers in the red zone, Triton would come up with two key tackles for loss, one on fourth down, to stop the drive dead in its tracks.
After another quick series for the home team, Pioneer would get the ball back. Once again, a missed tackle would result in a chunk play for the Panthers. But again, Triton would hold firm with its back against the wall. With Pioneer driving and in Trojan territory, the team in blue would once again find a big stop. Adamant on scoring a touchdown and not settling for three points, the Panthers would go for it on 4thand 17. They would be stopped.
“I’ve been proud of both of our lines all year, especially on the defensive side,” Coach Younis said. “I think tonight they did an exceptional job of bottling up everything.”
The Trojans would get their first first-down of the game on their third possession. After feeding Schuh as much as possible on the first two series, quarterback Cole Shively would get involved with his legs. Triton would use an unbalanced line that saw two or three linemen lining up almost behind Shively to provide additional blocking.
The formation would come into play on a big fourth down play for the Trojans. The team would convert on a Shively run up the middle, but would not come away with any points. A few plays later, Shively would be forced to retreat towards the sidelines on a 3rddown passing play. Unwilling to sacrifice the yardage, Shively threw a ball in the direction of receiver Dante Workman, but the pass was picked off.
The sloppy QB play would transfer over to the other side as Pioneer QB Cayden Hill would recover his own fumble and be called for intentional grounding on back-to-back plays. The ensuing punt would go into the hands of Workman, and he would take it 20+ yards and into Pioneer territory.
With halftime quickly approaching, Triton would take advantage of the short field. The team would grind the ball down the field with a ground and pound offense. With three seconds left in the first half and the Trojans at the ten-yard line, Shively would find Schuh in the back of the end zone for the first points of the night.
On the team’s first possession of the second half, Triton was victim to some sloppy play. A holding call would negate a first down and eventually result in a punt. On the very next play, the Panthers would find some wiggle room and turn it into a 60-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion would fail and the Trojan lead would shrink to one.
Triton would answer. A great kickoff return by Wayne Reichert gave the home team a great starting position again, but once again a big run by Shively would be negated due to a hold. This time it would not matter, as a few plays later, the quarterback would turn a 22-yard run into six points. Shively finished the day 2-6 for 18 yards and a touchdown while contributing two scores and 153 yards.
“Props to Cole for keeping us in the ball game when not a lot else was working tonight,” Younis said.
Shively’s second score would come on Triton’s next possession to extend the team’s lead to 21-6 thirty seconds into the fourth quarter. With a two touchdown lead and Pioneer punting once again after the Trojan score, things seemed to be wrapping up. But on the team’s next drive, Schuh would cough up the ball and the Panthers would pounce on it. A chunk play not long after would put Pioneer at the three, where the visitors would punch it in.
It would not take long for Schuh to redeem himself. On the next sequence the junior back would finally find a hole and take the ball 44 yards to the house. Shively would come down with an interception on the defensive side of the ball on Pioneer’s next drive, giving Schuh an opportunity for a double.
He would take advantage. Starting the run by cutting to his right, Schuh would put down a defender with a nasty stiff arm and cut back the other way. Running a good 20 yards before reaching the line of scrimmage once again, Schuh would have just one defender to beat, which he did with another stiff arm. With 90 yards on his final two carries of the night, Schuh would finish with 148 yards and the two scores.
“Anthony is one of those guys that is going to get a lot of attention from his opponents and tonight they had a great game plan for him,” Younis said. “Eventually though, he’s going to wear them down.”
With the lead at 35-12 and just minutes left on the clock, there was nothing left to do for the Trojans other than celebrate. Students stormed the field just moments after the whistle sounded to celebrate the school’s monumental victory.
Triton will play at North Judson next Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
“I’m so proud of the boys,” Triton head coach Rodney Younis said. “We were going against a physical team and it was tough but our kids hung strong and stepped up when we needed them to.”
Triton began the game with the ball and weren’t able to do much with it. Pioneer had one goal early on in the game: slow down Triton’s Anthony Schuh. For the first few drives, the team executed that plan to perfection. Schuh was stopped in the backfield three times on the first two drives as the team was forced to settle for 3-and-outs.
After the Trojan punt, the Panthers looked to be in business. A missed tackle by a Triton defender on Pioneer’s first play from scrimmage would open up the sidelines for a 55-yard gain. But while the Trojan defense would bend, it would not break. Backed up with the Panthers in the red zone, Triton would come up with two key tackles for loss, one on fourth down, to stop the drive dead in its tracks.
After another quick series for the home team, Pioneer would get the ball back. Once again, a missed tackle would result in a chunk play for the Panthers. But again, Triton would hold firm with its back against the wall. With Pioneer driving and in Trojan territory, the team in blue would once again find a big stop. Adamant on scoring a touchdown and not settling for three points, the Panthers would go for it on 4thand 17. They would be stopped.
“I’ve been proud of both of our lines all year, especially on the defensive side,” Coach Younis said. “I think tonight they did an exceptional job of bottling up everything.”
The Trojans would get their first first-down of the game on their third possession. After feeding Schuh as much as possible on the first two series, quarterback Cole Shively would get involved with his legs. Triton would use an unbalanced line that saw two or three linemen lining up almost behind Shively to provide additional blocking.
The formation would come into play on a big fourth down play for the Trojans. The team would convert on a Shively run up the middle, but would not come away with any points. A few plays later, Shively would be forced to retreat towards the sidelines on a 3rddown passing play. Unwilling to sacrifice the yardage, Shively threw a ball in the direction of receiver Dante Workman, but the pass was picked off.
The sloppy QB play would transfer over to the other side as Pioneer QB Cayden Hill would recover his own fumble and be called for intentional grounding on back-to-back plays. The ensuing punt would go into the hands of Workman, and he would take it 20+ yards and into Pioneer territory.
With halftime quickly approaching, Triton would take advantage of the short field. The team would grind the ball down the field with a ground and pound offense. With three seconds left in the first half and the Trojans at the ten-yard line, Shively would find Schuh in the back of the end zone for the first points of the night.
On the team’s first possession of the second half, Triton was victim to some sloppy play. A holding call would negate a first down and eventually result in a punt. On the very next play, the Panthers would find some wiggle room and turn it into a 60-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion would fail and the Trojan lead would shrink to one.
Triton would answer. A great kickoff return by Wayne Reichert gave the home team a great starting position again, but once again a big run by Shively would be negated due to a hold. This time it would not matter, as a few plays later, the quarterback would turn a 22-yard run into six points. Shively finished the day 2-6 for 18 yards and a touchdown while contributing two scores and 153 yards.
“Props to Cole for keeping us in the ball game when not a lot else was working tonight,” Younis said.
Shively’s second score would come on Triton’s next possession to extend the team’s lead to 21-6 thirty seconds into the fourth quarter. With a two touchdown lead and Pioneer punting once again after the Trojan score, things seemed to be wrapping up. But on the team’s next drive, Schuh would cough up the ball and the Panthers would pounce on it. A chunk play not long after would put Pioneer at the three, where the visitors would punch it in.
It would not take long for Schuh to redeem himself. On the next sequence the junior back would finally find a hole and take the ball 44 yards to the house. Shively would come down with an interception on the defensive side of the ball on Pioneer’s next drive, giving Schuh an opportunity for a double.
He would take advantage. Starting the run by cutting to his right, Schuh would put down a defender with a nasty stiff arm and cut back the other way. Running a good 20 yards before reaching the line of scrimmage once again, Schuh would have just one defender to beat, which he did with another stiff arm. With 90 yards on his final two carries of the night, Schuh would finish with 148 yards and the two scores.
“Anthony is one of those guys that is going to get a lot of attention from his opponents and tonight they had a great game plan for him,” Younis said. “Eventually though, he’s going to wear them down.”
With the lead at 35-12 and just minutes left on the clock, there was nothing left to do for the Trojans other than celebrate. Students stormed the field just moments after the whistle sounded to celebrate the school’s monumental victory.
Triton will play at North Judson next Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
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