By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – As Sheridan’s game with Carroll Friday night at Bud Wright Stadium rolled on, the intensity level on the Blackhawks’ side continued to rise.
If Sheridan won the game, it would clinch at least a share of the Hoosier Heartland Conference championship. The Cougars made it tough, and the Blackhawks had to play all the way to the end of the game before they were finally assured of the victory.
Once Sheridan’s 28-21 win over Carroll was complete, the Blackhawks players ran out onto the field cheering, screaming, hugging and a couple helmets were thrown in the air. Seconds later, the ‘Hawks had their trophy, the first time the team had won a conference title since 2018.
“They got fired up,” said Sheridan coach Bud Wright. “I thought early, I didn’t know whether we were or not, but after we got going, they got fired up over it. I think they were ready to play.”
The Blackhawks were ready from the beginning. Less than two minutes into the game, the Cougars punted the ball. Jalen Herron caught the punt, then ran, found a couple openings, ran some more and didn’t stop until 89 yards later, when he was in the end zone for the game’s first touchdowns. Freshman Owen Bell made the extra-point kick, and he was just getting started, too.
“I thought it was very important that we got on the board early there, because they were pretty tough on defense,” said Wright.
Carroll answered right away, as the Cougars’ Clay Metzger took the kickoff return 81 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point kick tied the score at 7-7. Carroll added another touchdown early in the second quarter when Metzger ran in from five yards, giving the Cougars a 14-7 lead.
The Blackhawks had to wait until later in the second quarter to score. Peyton Cross punched the ball in from the one-yard line with 3:49 left, and Bell’s kick tied the game at 14-all. Minutes later, Herron scored again on a 10-yard run. Another Bell kick gave Sheridan a 21-14 lead, and that would be the halftime score.
Neither team scored in the third period, but the Blackhawks were making a promising drive as the fourth quarter began. That drive culminated in another touchdown for the ‘Hawks, with Herron making another outstanding effort. The junior ran 34 yards mostly down the sideline, evading a defender along the way to reach the end zone for his third touchdown of the game. Bell then put up his fourth extra-point kick of the night.
“Jalen had a heck of a good ball game, offensively and defensively,” said Wright.
Sheridan thus led 28-14 with 9:59 to go. The Cougars scored at the 8:46 mark, keeping them within a touchdown of the ‘Hawks.
Carroll seemed like it was ready to score with under two minutes to play, but there was a fumble with 1:59 left, and Sheridan recovered. During that drive, the Cougars used up their timeouts. While the Blackhwaks were held to a three-and-out, they did run a significant amount of time from the clock.
Carroll got the ball back and was able to run a couple of plays, but Sheridan stopped the Cougars both times, keeping the clock running both times. Jake Jones made the last tackle for the Blackhawks.
Wright said Carroll kept going up the middle at the end of the game, “and that’s where we wanted to them go,” because Jones, who Wright said is Sheridan’s leading defensive player, was right there waiting.
Herron finished the game with 106 yards rushing, while Cross had 58 yards.
The Blackhawks completed HHC play with a 6-1 record and are 7-2 overall. Sheridan begins Class 1A Sectional 46 play next Friday, hosting Park Tudor.
SHERIDAN 28, CARROLL 21
Score by Quarters
Carroll 7 7 0 7 – 21
Sheridan 7 14 0 7 – 28
Team Stats CHS SHS
First Downs 9 10
By Rush 7 9
By Pass 2 0
By Penalty 0 1
Rushes-Yards 35-200 46-232
Yards Passing 88 0
Comp-Att-Int-TD 4-16-0-0 0-1-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 7-2 2-1
Penalties-Yards 9-62 5-46
Punts-Average 4-36.8 6-31.3
Sheridan Scoring
First Quarter
10:14 – Jalen Herron 89-yard punt return (Owen Bell kick)
Second Quarter
3:49 – Peyton Cross 1-yard run (Bell kick)
1:47 – Herron 10-yard run (Bell kick)
Fourth Quarter
9:59 – Herron 34-yard run (Bell kick)
Sheridan individual stats
Rushing: Herron 16-106, Cross 9-58, Gavin Reners 12-34, Cale Cummings 4-27, Cole Webel 5-7.
Passing: Cummings 0-1-0.
Receiving: none.