Staff
Writer
SHERIDAN
– Fans had a pretty good idea of which way the Class A Sectional 36
championship between unranked Clinton Central and No. 2 Sheridan was going to
go after the opening kickoff Nov. 7 at Sheridan.
Clinton
Central’s Josh Petty received the kickoff but fumbled at his own 30-yard line
when he was hit. Sheridan’s Tyler Hume snatched the loose ball up and ran 25 yards
for a touchdown, and the three-time defending 1A state champion Blackhawks (11-1)
were off and running to a 34-0 shutout.
Clinton
Central (8-3), which had averaged more than 55 points in its last three games, totaled
just 101 yards of offense, and none of that came from the passing game. Passing
yardage would be essential to a comeback, but Sheridan harassed quarterback
Jordan Henry into a woeful 0-of-8 evening with three interceptions.
After
Sheridan’s quick early score, Clinton Central’s Caleb Simmons returned the
kickoff to Sheridan’s 40. David Griffy ran 19 yards to the Sheridan 21 on the
next play, but that would be as close to scoring as the Bulldogs would get.
Eric
Price intercepted a Henry pass on the Bulldogs’ next possession, and Sheridan’s
subsequent nine-play march of 71 yards culminated with a 49-yard touchdown run
by Nick Zachery, the first of his four.
Sheridan’s
offense played as it usually does, but the heroes of the night were the Blackhawks’
defense and special teams. Zachery brought the score to 20-0 midway through the
second quarter when he fielded a punt on his own 27, headed to the sideline behind
a bevy of blockers, and went 73 yards for another TD.
The
Blackhawks opened the second half by going 63 yards in 10 plays, with Zachery finally
scoring on a 25-yard run to make it 27-0.
The
next Bulldog possession reached the Sheridan 37. But a first-down pass by Henry
landed right in the arms of Zachery, and he went the other way for 68 yards and
yet another touchdown to bring the score to 34-0.
The
Blackhawks rushed for 271 yards on 51 carries, Zachery leading the way with 119
yards. The Indiana University-bound senior standout did not attempt a pass on
the evening as Sheridan coasted.
Next
up for Sheridan in the Blackhawks’ quest for a fourth straight state title is
next weekend’s regional championship at No. 10 Pioneer (10-2), a 28-7 Sectional
35 conqueror of North Miami.
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