Last-Minute Heroics Lead Triton Past Delsea

For High School football head coach Pete Goetz, career win No. 40 may be one of the most memorable wins as coach of the Mustangs.

Down 19-14 to the Delsea Crusaders with 3:25 left in the fourth quarter, Triton had a brilliantly paced 13-play, 83-yard drive that culminated with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brian Keller to Alan Richards that gave the Mustangs a thrilling 20-19 win.

“This ranks up here with some of the great wins we had here back in 2006 and 2008 when we were in the playoffs,” said Goetz. “They were unbelievably special and yet this ranks right up there with them.”

The game-winning drive for Triton (4-1) could be seen as a coming of age for Keller as a quarterback. He showed great command of the hurry-up offense and seemed to take the team on his back. Keller ran for 30 yards on the drive and threw for another 53.

“We practice (the no-huddle offense) about two to three times a week,” said Goetz. “He did an awesome job.”

Triton also converted three third-down plays on the drive, two of them third-and-long situations where Keller had to throw despite heavy pressure from Delsea. On a third-and-10 from his own 44, Keller rolled out to his right and completed a pass on the run to John Bowers for a 15-yard gain.

The second third-and-long the Mustangs converted was the 12-yard touchdown. Keller floated the ball to the left of the end zone as Richards made a running grab and made sure to get a foot inbounds to complete the catch.

“He ranks up there with some of the other great Triton quarterbacks,” said Goetz. “He needed a game like this. He's such a talent and such a great player that sometimes people don't see that he can run an offense and make the right reads at the right times.”

Delsea had success on the ground, running for 156 yards in the game. However, the Crusaders also lost two fumbles in the third quarter. The first turnover was on the third play of the second half and was recovered by Triton's Richards at the Delsea 9-yard-line. It would lead to a Josh Woods rushing touchdown two plays later that gave Triton a 14-13 lead.

The Crusaders committed a third turnover on their final drive of the game when quarterback Josh Awotunde's pass over the middle was intercepted by Jimmy Burns. The play ended Delsea's hopes at a last-minute comeback.

One year after Triton was shut out by Delsea 28-0, the Mustangs were able to win their first game over the club since joining them in Royal Division play. The win should serve as a big boost for Triton going forward.

“We needed this win,” said Goetz “We needed this win for our kids to believe in themselves. I'm just ecstatic.”

The win is also huge in the divisional race for Triton as they improve to 4-0 in Royal Division play. The only other undefeated Royal Division opponent is Timber Creek, with a record of 3-0. If Timber Creek beats Highland in early November, then the Thanksgiving game between the Mustangs and Chargers will decide the Royal Division championship.