In the season finale for both teams, the Mariner Tritons outlasted the Ida Baker Bulldogs 21-14 Friday night at Tony McKenna Field.

It was a hard-fought game with both offenses running the ball most of the time. The Tritons ran 48 on their 61 plays. The Bulldogs ran it 33 times in 42 plays. That’s just about 80 percent rushing for both teams.

The smash-mouth contest was evident right away as the Tritons took the opening kickoff from their own 19-yard line and ran 20 plays before Donovan McAmis bulled in from two yards out on a fourth-down play. During the drive the Tritons compiled seven first downs and ate up more than 10 minutes on the clock.

“That’s what we wanted to do,” said Tritons coach Chris Siner. “We wanted to take the ball and set the tone.”

“I looked up, and where had the quarter gone?” said Baker coach Brian Conn.

Baker answered Mariner’s opening drive with a similar one of its own. Travon Clarke returned the kickoff 37 yards and the Bulldogs started at their own 48.

Twelve plays later, quarterback Sean Francis punched it in from the 1 on fourth down. Francis was instrumental in both of the Bulldog touchdowns. He played the entire game despite being injured last week.

“He cracked his ribs last week, but that was not going to keep him out of this game,” said Conn. “He’s been a starter for three years, and a big part of what we’ve done.”

Later in the second quarter, assisted by a pass interference call against Baker, the Tritons scored on a six-yard run by Tyler Pigott. The half ended with the Tritons leading 14-7.

The Bulldogs came out strong in the second half. They got another fine kickoff return, this time by Justin Johnson who ran it 34 yards to the Bulldog 48. They drove to the Tritons’ 20, but had to settle for a field goal try. Cody Kluesner’s kick was blocked.

After exchanging fumbles, the Tritons scored on a seven-play drive with Pigott running it in from 20 yards out.

“I just followed my blockers to the hole, and then made a move on the safety,” Pigott said.

“He is able to bounce off tacklers and make plays,” Siner said. “He is a leader by the way he plays the game.”

The Bulldogs answered again. In the fourth quarter, a 38-yard scamper by Brandon Cruz gave the Bulldogs first-and-goal just inside the 10.

Three plays later they faced fourth-and-goal at the 11. Francis rolled to his left with two of his receivers going that way, then turned and threw back to his right to a wide-open Cecil Fitch for the score. That pulled them within a touchdown.

The Bulldogs got the ball back one more time on their own 20. On fourth-and-six, Francis completed a pass to Fitch again, but Kenny Moore tackled him just short of the first-down marker.

Baker finished the season at 0-10.

The Tritons (3-7) closed out the season by winning three of their last five games.

“He (Siner) came into a terrible environment and did all he could,” said Pigott. “And it showed in how we finished off the second half of the season.”

Ida Baker 0 7 0 7 – 14

Mariner 7 7 7 0 – 21

First Quarter

M – Donovan McAmis 2 run (John Teeter kick)

Second Quarter

IB – Sean Francis 1 run (Cody Kluesner kick)

M – Tyler Pigott 6 run (Teeter kick)

Third Quarter

M – Pigott 20 run (Teeter kick)

Fourth Quarter

IB – Cecil Fitch 20 pass from Francis (Kluesner kick)