Blackhawks hope to make splash in Class 1A

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

Sheridan head coach Larry “Bud” Wright just keeps cementing his legacy and hopes to add another Class 1A state championship onto the water tower heading west on State Road 47. Wright is entering his 59^th season (456-210) and 60^th overall (457-213) and sits as the state of Indiana’s all-time winningest coach, also ranking him ninth in the United States.

The 2023 season saw the Blackhawks (10-4) advance past the regional round for the first time since 2012. Sheridan hosted the semi-state and was fortunate to play four of their five playoff games at home. Unfortunately, the Hawks lost in the semi-state against eventual Class 1A state champ Indianapolis Lutheran, 56-14.

Senior Owen Bell is back to lead the offense at quarterback. He slid into that role last year as a junior, throwing nine touchdowns and 804 yards through the air and also ran for three scores. Bell is also the kicker and made 57 of 61 extra-point attempts and was 2-for-5 on field goals with a long of 32 yards.

It’s never easy to replace one or two running backs, but Sheridan is one program that seems to do that with ease, year after year. Bud Wright and his staff will look for the next capable backs to replace the 2,034 yards and 32 TDs combined from Eli Kolb and Zach Bales last season.

Sophomore Hayden Alexander (62 yards, TD), Bell (61, three TDs), junior Alex Cravens (51 yards), sophomore Brody Heck (46) along with junior Jon Barnes (41) and senior Caleb Alexander (19, one TD) are the returning rushers for the Blackhawks.

Since the Hawks are not known for their passing and more for their rushing attack, Sheridan’s returnees have zero receiving yards. When they do pass, it will be someone new catching passes from Bell.

Defensively, Cravens is the leading tackler that comes back with 89 tackles (43 solo) and also had two interceptions, a fumble recovery and blocked punt.

Barnes had 78 stops (37 solo), senior Dayne Voege (36 tackles) and junior Chance Spencer (73) both had two interceptions in 2023.

Sheridan opens up the season at home against the Western Boone Stars on Aug. 23. Week 2 puts the Blackhawks on the road at North Miami on Aug. 30. September starts at home against Tri-Central on Sept. 6 in a Hoosier Heartland Conference opener and then two consecutive games in a row in Clinton County, at Clinton Central on the 13^th and the 20^th visiting Clinton Prairie.

The homestretch of the seasons has Sheridan hosting the Taylor Titans on Sept. 27. They’ll head north to face the Delphi Oracles on Oct. 4. The regular season’s home finale brings in Eastern on Oct. 11 and then the Blackhawk’s finish the regular season up near Lafayette for the second game in three weeks at Carroll on Oct. 18.