A.J. Dewar, shown earlier, had a sack for a safety and ran for two touchdowns for Triton.
(Photo/HighSchoolOT)

Triton’s varsity football team evened the score for a road loss last year and bounced back from the disappointment of a setback last week with a 36-28 nonconference win over visiting Sanderson on Friday night.

The Hawks (2-1) fell, 56-55, to the 4-A Spartans in 2022 on a late 2-point conversion, but built a lead that proved too much to overcome in 2023.

Triton was coming off a 28-14 home loss to nonconference rival South Johnston.

“We were concerned coming in due to practicing only one day this week,” said Hawks coach Ben Penny. “Sanderson is a very good and well-coached team. Our guys came out focused and played one heck of a game.

“We took last week’s loss to heart. This was a different Triton team tonight. That’s due to our leadership.”

Sanderson (2-1) led 7-0 before a sack for a safety by A.J. Dewar got Triton on the board. The Hawks went ahead to stay on a 30-yard touchdown run by J.J. Cowan and expanded the advantage to 15-7 on a 5-yard run by Cowan.

The Hawks were on top, 22-7, at the half with a 13-yard scoring run by Camauri McDougald.

Dewar went 55 yards for a TD on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter and added a 10-yard tallying tote for a commanding 36-7 lead.

“We’ve got to finish better.” Penny said. “We gave up three TDs at the end of the game to make it interesting.”

Triton will go into a bye week with a better sense of its identity and strengths.

“Outstanding job by our senior backs and defensive line,” Penny said. “Can’t say enough about how we responded after last week’s heartbreaking loss.”

The Hawks will open All American Conference play at home against E.E. Smith on September 15.