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After Culver back sets school record, Cavs set sights on stopping Triton back
BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Culver (2-2, 0-2 Hoosier North) at Triton (3-1, 1-1), 7 p.m.
West Central came into last week’s game at Culver averaging 38 points per game, but the Cavs’ defense pitched a shutout in an 18-0 win.
Culver held the Trojans to just 1.6 yards per carry.
“It felt like we did a good job of being a physical football team,” Culver coach Mike Zehner said. “It’s something we talked about and stressed all week. … I thought we did a nice job rallying to the football and getting hate to the ball. Anytime you produce six turnovers, that’s a good night.”
But the greater story for Culver might have been Shane Shuman breaking 2002 grad Ron Jelinek’s school rushing record and surpassing the 3,000-yard mark for his career in the process. That included a 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“We talked about it a little bit there that week,” Zehner said. “(Assistant) coach (Justin) Croy’s done a nice job with the artwork he’s put on social media, but he had said, ‘Hey, I got one ready whenever he does break it. We can put it on there and post it and stuff.’ … We don’t have great records when it comes to those stats and stuff, but we talk with a historian like Tom Bendy, who’s been around Culver football probably longer than anyone and has been a part of every sectional championship and kind of came up with a list and did some research and this and that, but I think Shane has really set himself apart. We’ve had a lot of good running backs come through Culver, even in time when I graduated.”
Facing Triton junior running back Anthony Schuh might be an even greater challenge.
Schuh has 811 yards rushing in four games on 15.3 yards per carry. He had 220 yards and five touchdowns on a 51-10 win over Bremen last week.
“It’s pretty impressive to watch him on film,” Zehner said. “He finds the hole. He’s just got another speed. He’s tough to bring down. He kind of reminds you of a Mike Alstott – a fullback but he’s got breakaway speed too. What he can do on a football field is really impressive to see.”
Culver is 2-5 against Triton since Zehner became coach in 2016. Triton is ranked No. 11 in Class 1A this week. These teams are also Class 1A, Sectional 41 rivals.
