Sheridan ran into the No. 1-ranked team in Class 1A on Friday, as the Blackhawks hosted Indianapolis Lutheran in the first round of Sectional 46.
The Saints got out to an early lead, then ran away with the second quarter, eventually winning 62-14. Sheridan finished its season with a 6-4 record with what coach Bud Wright called the “youngest team I’ve ever coached in 55 years.”
Lutheran scored three touchdowns in the first quarter before the ‘Hawks got on the board. Sophomore Silas DeVaney punched the ball in from the one-yard line with 1:50 left in the period, and Dylan Cork made the extra-point kick, keeping Sheridan within 21-7 at the end of the quarter.
The Saints added two more touchdowns during the first part of the second period to go up 35-7. The Blackhawks got their second score of the game at the 2:26 mark of that quarter, as Peyton Cross rushed in from the two-yard line, and Cork kicked the extra point. But Lutheran quickly scored twice in the final 2:12 of the half to lead 49-14 at the break. The Saints scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Sheridan was beset with injuries, with three players out and two more having to leave the game in the first quarter. New players had to come in to replace them.
“We had a couple freshmen, a couple sophomores in there,” said Wright. “They hadn’t played all year. You just can’t play against a good team when you don’t have people. We ran out of people.”
Cross was the leading rusher, totaling 77 yards. DeVaney completed 5 of 9 passes for 115 yards. Keenan Warren caught three of those throws for 101 yards.
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 62, SHERIDAN 14
Score by Quarters
Lutheran 21 28 0 13 – 62
Sheridan 7 7 0 0 – 14
Team Stats LHS SHS
First Downs 13 11
By Rush 9 5
By Pass 4 4
By Penalty 0 2
Rushes-Yards 21-368 45-131
Yards Passing 142 115
Comp-Att-Int-TD 7-13-0-2 5-9-1-0
Fumbles 1-0 3-1
Penalties-Yards 7-80 4-33
Punts-Average 1-18.0 4-28.9
Sheridan Scoring
First Quarter
1:50 – Silas DeVaney 1-yard run (Dylan Cork kick)
Second Quarter
2:26 – Peyton Cross 2-yard run (Cork kick)
Sheridan individual stats
Rushing: Cross 19-77, DeVaney 22-54, Evan Bourdon 1-1, Gavin Renners 3-minus 1.
Passing: DeVaney 5-9-115.
Receiving: Keenan Warren 3-101, Renners 2-14.
Sheridan’s Chris Starks takes to the field before the Blackhawks’ sectional game with Indianapolis Lutheran Friday at Bud Wright Stadium. The senior Starks is a college prospect. (Kirk Green)