Jalen Evans is headed to the end zone for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Triton picked up its first varsity football win of the season 34-15 over visiting non-conference rival South Johnston on Friday night.

Triton coach Ben Penny said his team learned from mistakes the Hawks made in a 49-31 loss to Jordan the week prior. Triton had a 24-6 lead at the half against the Falcons.

“We learned a lesson,” Penny said. “When you’ve got a veteran team that’s very smart, very intelligent, they’re going to learn from their mistakes. We had guys come up and make plays. And (Jalen Evans) put on one of the best clinics I’ve ever seen in this stadium tonight by keeping the ball in our hands and making plays.”

South Johnston coach Lee Webb said he was proud of his team for battling all the way to the end.

“There’s something special about our guys,” Webb said. “They fight to the end. The scoreboard says one thing, but their heart says another. Offensively, defensively, special teams, our guys didn’t quit. Just kept on it. Kept at it. My hat’s off to Triton. They’re a very good team and it was their night tonight.”

Junior Camauri McDougald ran for 128 yards on 16 carries and senior Jalen Evans completed 4-of-9 passes for 97 yards, with no interceptions, and ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns on four carries to lead the Hawks (1-1).

“I was just keeping my team up,” Evans said. “Keeping my head through the game. Don’t let any of my teammates get down. If they score, everybody stay up.”

All four of Evans’ pass completions were to different receivers. A.J. Dewar had a 32-yard reception, Anthony Jones had a 24-yard reception, James Shaw had a 21-yard reception and J.J. Cowan had a 20-yard reception.

“(Having multiple targets) helps me out a lot,” Evans said. “It means I don’t have to run every time. I can see my teammates and just let them show out.”

Cowan ran for 43 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Eligah Holmes ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Dewar ran for 38 yards on 10 carries.

Junior Riley Adams completed 12-of-22 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, and junior Aiden Williams ran for 105 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and had two receptions for 30 yards to lead the Trojans (1-1).

Kalib Brown had four receptions for 78 yards. Jamarieyon McDougald had four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Zack Sellers had a four-yard reception. Brandon Giles ran once for three yards. Cole Parker had a two-yard reception.

Triton scored 21 unanswered points in the first half on a one-yard Cowan run and 40- and 29-yard runs from Evans. Christian Siliezar kicked the extra point after all three.

South looked to score just before halftime but was stopped at the one-yard-line on fourth down. But on the next play, Triton was unable to get out of its own end zone and the Trojans recorded a safety.

Triton’s defense started the second half with a Cowan interception, but South took the ball back when Lucas Layman recovered a fumble. That led to the Trojans scoring on a 19-yard pass from Adams to Jamarieyon McDougald. Alex Lee kicked the extra point.

Holmes ran for a four-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Siliezar kicked the extra point.

South responded with Williams running for an 11-yard touchdown, but the extra point attempt missed.

Triton finished out the scoring with a late two-yard touchdown run from Cowan. But there was a bad snap on the extra point.

Triton is at Sanderson (2-0) and South Johnston is at Southern Lee (0-2) next Friday night.

Lance Parker (21) makes a stop for South Johnston.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Nate McKoy and Ross Stevens (right) get a sack for Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Camauri McDougald carries with J.J, Cowan (5) and Zachary Denning (10) ready to block.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

South’s Kalib Brown makes a pass reception Friday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Jamarieyon McDougald crosses the goal line on a 19-yard scoring reception.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Eligah Holmes runs for Triton in a 34-15 win over visiting South Johnston.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Aiden Williams scores on an 11-yard run for the Trojans.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)

Anthony Jones runs for Triton after making a catch.
(Dunn Area Sports Phpto/John Lucas)