The Triton football team opened their season with a 16-13 win over a very talented Kaukauna Ghosts team on Friday night.
The crowd didn’t disappoint for what most likely would be the Tritons’ toughest game until the playoffs.
“There is amazing student energy in the student section. Everybody is super excited and having a great time. This is an awesome start to the beginning of the varsity season,” said NDA teacher Deborah Gretzinger at halftime.
Christian Collins’s 27-yard rush with under two minutes to go in the first half brought the Tritons their first and only touchdown of the game.
After a productive first half from the Tritons, they led 13-0 at halftime.
The Tritons led 16-0 before the Ghosts’ offense came to life in the second half. Quarterback Bron Schaefer connected with Parker Schuh and Pierson Bauer each for their own touchdown.
After Schuh’s touchdown, the Ghosts failed to complete the 2-point attempt.
With 2:02 left in the game, the Tritons led 16-13. Kaukauna got one more chance with the ball but could not score.
Both teams had multiple good defensive plays at various points of the game that kept their team in it.
Collins finished the game with 138 yards on 38 carries for the Tritons.
Triton junior quarterback Max Pierce found James Flanigan, Joey Massey, and Kingston Allen for a few completions throughout the game.
Kicker Nick Gruesen went a perfect 3/3 on field goals and made his only extra-point attempt scoring the remaining 10 points for the Tritons.
Fox 11 interviewed Tritons’ Head Coach Mike Rader after the game.
“It wasn’t perfect. There’s a lot of things we can look at and go back and improve on…but to finish with this win is huge,” said Rader.
The Tritons had to battle on both sides of the ball on Friday, but Collins said that this game was only the first step to reaching the team’s ultimate goal of taking home the Division Two state title.
“This proves to us we have it until the final game,” Collins said. “Nov 22, that’s what we’re aiming for.”
The Tritons continue their season with another exciting matchup at De Pere next Friday night.
