Triton quarterback Jalen Evans runs for a 76-yard touchdown.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton, the No. 28 seed in the East bracket, shocked No. 5 C.B. Aycock with a 53-28 road win in the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A football playoffs Friday night. The Hawks made some history in the process.
Triton coach Ben Penny noted that it was the fifth playoff win for the program. Triton’s last postseason triumph came exactly 11 years earlier, 42-13, at home against Southern Nash on Nov. 4, 2011. The win also accounted for the highest point total ever in a playoff game for Triton, which led 32-14 at the half.
“We got a little sloppy there in the second half,” Penny said. “When you’ve only won five playoff games, … you have to learn how to win them, because we plan on winning a couple more. We’ve got to tighten some of those things up.
“But we came out focused and ready to play. We’re not looking forward to tomorrow right now. We’re not looking forward to basketball or whatever else we’ve got going on. We know that’s going to be there when we’re done playing football. And I am proud of this group right here. This crowd right here is ready to roll.”
A pair of seniors led the way for the Hawks (6-5). Jalen Evans completed 2-of-9 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions, ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns on three carries and had an interception on defense. Eligah Holmes ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and had two receptions for 51 yards with a score.
“I’m proud of both of those guys,” Penny said.
A.J. Dewar ran for 49 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. J.J. Cowan ran for 35 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Cowan also returned an interception for a touchdown. Camauri McDougald ran for 35 yards on five carries. Wyatt Avery had a five-yard run.
Senior Daniel Frederick ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and had a two-yard reception to lead the Golden Falcons (9-2).
“He’s probably the best running back we’ve seen all year long,” Penny said. “That kid’s special. He got some things here and there on us, but for the most part, the defense rallied together and kept him contained. I’m proud of them for executing the game plan.”
On the game’s opening drive, Triton took a risk that paid off as on fourth-and-seven, Evans completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Holmes. The extra point was no good.
Evans found the end zone again later in the quarter, this time on the ground, as he ran for a 76-yard touchdown. Carter Daughtry kicked the extra point.
Early in the second quarter, Aycock forced Triton to punt for the first time. But the Hawks scored anyway when Cowan returned an interception for a touchdown. Daughtry kicked the extra point.
The Golden Falcons responded by finally getting on the scoreboard on a 2-yard Frederick run. Bryson Fitzgerald kicked the extra point.
Triton answered with Cowan running for a 2-yard score, but the extra point was blocked.
Aycock scored one more time before halftime on a 15-yard Frederick run, with Fitzgerald adding the extra point, to cut the lead to 32-14 at the break.
Triton opened the second half with Evans recovering a kickoff just before it looked to be heading out of bounds. The Hawks capitalized on the extra possession by scoring on a 24-yard Evans run. Daughtry kicked the extra point.
Triton added two more scores in the fourth quarter when an Evans interception led to a 5-yard Dewar touchdown run and Cowan scored on an 11-yard run. Daughtry made both extra points.
Aycock took advantage of a fumble to score on a 14-yard pass from Andrew Matthews to D.J. Prince and scored again on a 4-yard Jabarrius Artis run after recovering the onside kick. Fitzgerald made both extra points.
Aycock tried one more onside kick, but Nate McKoy recovered for Triton and the Hawks were able to run the clock out.
“We talked about momentum and how important momentum is,” Penny said. “And they’ve seen how important momentum is. We’ve blown a lot of leads in the last couple of years and we’ve seen how important momentum is. And tonight they kept it and kept rolling with it.”
Triton travels to No. 21 Hunt (7-4), which edged No. 12 Smithfield-Selma, 3-0, on Friday night, in the second round of the playoffs on Thursday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“The same plan,” Penny said. “Get into the film this weekend, work hard and get everything figured out what we’ve got to execute starting Monday. When this football team is a healthy football team, it’s a good football team and we haven’t been that way all year long. Hopefully we’re doing it at the right time of year.”
Eligah Holmes makes a move on the way to the Hawks’ first TD.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
James Shaw (33) makes a tackle for a loss at C.B. Aycock.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Ross Stevens (43) makes a stop for Triton in a 53-28 win Friday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
J.J. Cowan returns an interception for touchdown for Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Kenny McKoy applies a hit on an incompletion in the first round.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
