Rodney Younis' Eleven

By Daniel Riordan, Times-Union Sports Writer

In the movie "Ocean's Eleven", an all-star cast led by George Clooney attempts to do the impossible: rob three casino's in one night.

In Bourbon, a group of 11 seniors led by coach Rodney Younis is trying to do what was thought to be impossible in years past: win a football sectional at Triton.

If the Trojans beat host Southern Wells Friday night, it would mark the first sectional final appearance for Triton in school history.

Unlike "Ocean's 11," however, Younis' group of seniors aren't stars. They're a group of role players with one common goal in mind, to change the minds of critics.

Triton is known for its successes in baseball and basketball. Until recently, the football team was not much more than a way to keep in shape for winter sports.

That changed when Younis came in.

"We knew it was going to be different because he expected a lot more of us than the old coaches had," said co-captain Zac Chittum. "From day one he started telling us all the stuff that we were able to do."

Chittum shares captain honors with fellow seniors Ben Bell, Bryon Overmyer and Daniel Stichter.

"He was the first coach to believe in our class. As a group we could all do things. We've got some good athletes but we don't have any superstars. We just work as a team," said Stichter.

"We were tired of hearing that football is going to lose every game," said Overmyer.

Since Younis took over, when this group of seniors was sophomores, the Trojans have won 11 games and had two straight four-win seasons, a feat that hasn't been achieved since 1988.

The turning point in the Trojans' season came with a 14-13 loss to LaVille. The defeat had the possibility of breaking the spirit of Triton but it did the converse.

"Since that game, we realized we could play with similar schools. We have confidence in ourselves now. We can play against anybody," said Stichter, who has 42 tackles on the season for the Trojans while battling injury.

Triton is 2-1 since that game with its lone loss coming at the hands of Jimtown. The Trojans fell to the Jimmies' 28-0 but were able to move the ball for the first time in Younis' tenure.

A bounce back came in the form of a 41-7 drubbing of North Miami in the first round of sectional play.

The next challenge for the Trojans is Southern Wells. The Raiders are 6-4 on the season and three years removed from a Class A state championship.

Triton and Southern Wells are very similar. Both are quick on the outside and rely heavily on a running game.

Overmyer and Bell lead the Trojans on the ground. Overmyer, who has been obscured a bit this year because of the quantity of area running backs, has rushed for 1115 yards on 193 carries. Bell has added a potent second option out of the backfield with 506 yards rushing.

Southern Wells' big threat and Triton's main focus is running back Daniel Stauffer. Stauffer has rushed for 1344 yards in his first year at tailback in a revamped offense. Stauffer has battled some injuries having carried the ball only six times the last two games of the regular season.

"We feel that we're a mirror image of one another. The way we run the football, the way they run the football, the speed. They have a young line, we have a young line. Defensively, they look pretty good at times and other times they give up big plays, same as us. I feel it's a real evenly matched game," said Younis.

Lefebvre acknowledges the similarities between the two teams and believes the key to the game lies on offense.

"The team that can establish what it wants to do offensively will be the team that is going to win," said Lefebvre.

The Raiders' schedule, much like Triton's in that it's peppered with bigger schools, has served in preparing them for the playoffs.

"Year in, year out, we feel we've played teams that have challenged us and prepared us for the state tournament," said Raider head coach Mark Lefebvre.

Southern Wells also has faced some adversity of the field. Last year, the Raiders finished 3-7 after numerous player dismissals.

A far cry from 2001 when this year's group of seniors stood on the sidelines as freshmen and watched Southern Wells capture a state title.

The incentive for the Raiders' senior class is to build on tradition.

For Triton seniors, it comes to building tradition with players who are contributing more than just leadership.

Triton's top four runners - Overmyer, Bell, quarterback Cory McClarnon and Richard Davis - are all seniors and have combined for nearly 2300 yards on the ground.

McClarnon has struggled at times behind center but looms as a dangerous weapon both with his arm and his feet.

On defense, seniors lead the way as well.

Davis leads the team in tackles with 67 while Overmyer is second with 65. Chittum is tied for the team lead in sacks with Ian Richardson, and Bell leads the team with three fumble recoveries.

This group of seniors has gone through everything from Little League and school plays together.

Now they hope to go somewhere no other Triton football team has gone, and they'll do it as a team.

"They are the heart and soul of our team, statistic-wise they have everything. But the biggest thing about these guys is they have no jealousy. They don't care who has the ball. It's just a whole team effort," said Younis.

And these players genuinely get along with each other.

"We're most definitely a close-knit group. We've been hanging out together since we were little," said Overmyer

Triton is 4-6 overall on the season and finished 2-5 in the Northern States Conference.

The incentive to win their fifth game is there for the Trojans.

"They know that if they can win this game they'll have a chance to play for a sectional championship at home. That would mean a lot to these seniors," said Younis.

It may be Bell, the team's second leading rusher and third in tackles for the Trojans, who says it best.

"This game means everything to us. Triton has never been in a sectional final. This is what we worked so hard for in the offseason. This is something we've been waiting for all season. We're ready," said Bell.