The Triton Cobra football team lived up to their moniker with a pair of quick-strike touchdowns answering Zumbrota-Mazeppa scores to come away with a 21-12 season-opening win on Military Appreciation Night in Dodge Center Friday.

The highlight-reel play-of-the-game came in the closing minute of the third quarter. The Cougars had just driven the field, capped by Calven Voxland's one-yard touchdown plunge. A two-point conversion try missed. Triton's lead was down to 14-12. Triton junior Jaxon Sackett drifted back to his goal-line on the kick-off, made a couple of quick moves, and was off to the races up the right sideline for a 96-yard touchdown dash.

Cobras coach Mike Ellingson said afterward, "I was pretty shocked because it was a well struck kick. I feel he caught it on about the two or the three. It was over his head. He was standing on the ten. He was back. From there he's a quick kid. He gets out in the open and it's watch-out-time. He made a couple of cuts and it was fun to watch. Pretty exciting."

Senior kicker Adrian Martinez, who also plays on the first-ever varsity boys soccer team for the Cobras, drilled his third straight extra-point for the nine-point lead. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

Triton's other big play came right after ZM pulled within 7-6 with 1:31 to go in the section quarter. A touch-back left the Cobras at their own 20. On the first play from scrimmage, Parker Boe flipped the field with a 60-yard run to the Cougars' 20. After a short run-for-a-loss on the next play, Boe rumbled in from 23 yards for a 14-6 lead.

"As (junior quarterback) Mason (Barker) is getting older, he's the one that called that play. He said this play's wide open. He saw it. It was the first play coming out after that score. It goes for 60 yards right before half. You get a touchdown right at the end. That was a momentum builder going from there," said Ellingson.

Triton's first score came on their second drive of the game. A nine-play, 65-yard march up the field, ending with a 23-yard scoring strike from Barker to senior Austin Melder on the first play of the second quarter. ZM was called for pass interference on the drive, nullifying an interception.

Boe ended with nine carries for 129 yards. Melder had three receptions for 35 yards. Voxland scored both touchdowns for the Cougars.

Triton (1-1) goes to Chatfield Friday, September 13 in a game to be carried on Kat Kountry 105 FM and the Kat Kountry app. The teams met twice in 2018, including in the section semifinals with the Gophers winning both.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa (0-2) hits the road to challenge four-time defending AA champ Caledonia, who extended their winning streak to 56 games on Friday.

Listen to the Garage Force of Faribault Friday Night Blitz at 9:30 pm Friday nights on Kat Kountry 105 FM or the Kat Kountry 105 app.

 

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