By RICHIE HALL
Last year’s Sheridan football season was a solid one, with the Blackhawks finishing 9-3 and winning the Hoosier Heartland Conference championship.
While several strong seniors graduated from last year’s team, it also gives this year’s seniors a chance to step up. And many of them have the requisite experience to give Sheridan another winning season.
Nobody in Indiana football has more experience than Bud Wright, who begins his 53rd season of coaching the ‘Hawks on Friday when they host old rival Western Boone. Wright was happy with the team’s energy, speaking last week during a practice.
“So far I like the energy, but we got a long way to go,” said Wright. “Short time to get there, but we’re working on it.”
Wright said that there is a combination of experience on the team this season, ranging from 14 seniors to 11 freshmen. One of the seniors is quarterback Drake Delph, who was second in rushing for Sheridan last season with 327 yards and two touchdowns. (Now-graduated Joe Callahan led the ‘Hawks with 1,806 yards and 28 touchdowns.) Delph passed the ball well, completing 66 of 125 passes for 1,042 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Senior Nick Burnell also returns; he led the Blackhawk receivers with 17 catches, including three for touchdowns. Cameron Hovey is back as a sophomore, he scored a couple running touchdowns last year as a freshman.
On defense, Burnell dominated with a team-leading 158 total tackles, including 12 for a loss. Chris Starks, now a junior, was second in line with 111 tackles, 11 for a loss. Senior Jesse Kolb also returns.
“We’re not very big,” said Wright of his line. “We’re not real big this year. We just got to change our blocking schemes and do a little bit better job blocking.”
After Western Boone, Sheridan goes on the road in Week 2, traveling to old rival Clinton Central to begin defense of its conference championship.
Senior Drake Delph returns to the quarterback position for the Sheridan football team this season. Delph passed for 1,042 yards and 15 touchdowns last year and also ran for two scores. (Kirk Green/File photo)