Triton coach Ben Penny was pleased with a 7-6 win Friday night.

Triton overcame some adversity to win a defensive battle at E.E. Smith on Friday night, 7-6.

It was the All American Conference opener for the previously winless Hawks and Coach Ben Penny was gratified by the effort after a scoreless first half.

“I was about as proud of this team then I’ve been of any team I’ve been a part of in the last 17 years at Triton,” Penny said. “We had a lot of key guys out or banged up and so many players accepted the ‘next man up’ challenge and showed a lot of heart.

“A lot of guys saw the field on the varsity level at different positions for the first time. Our defensive line played lights out. Big Michael McNeill, Tracey Brown, and Linkin Mckoy controlled the line of scrimmage. Our special teams played about as well as we have in a long time. Jared Lopez was controlling the field position with big punts and Brayden Bates, Landon Pope, Chase Sewell, and Alan Hinson made some big plays at gunner and caused some turnovers.”

The Golden Bulls lost the handle on a punt and the Hawks got a 3-yard touchdown run from O’Brian Ward to tie the score. Jared Lopez kicked the deciding extra point.

E.E. Smith scored on a 90-yard reverse for a 6-0 lead but were unsuccessful on the conversion.

Penny credited the play of Triton’s offensive line in the second half.

The Hawks (1-3, 1-0 AAC) host Terry Sanford (2-2, 1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m.