Sheridan shines in second half of sectional championship
Sheridan ended a long sectional drought on Friday, and the Blackhawks did it running away.
Class 1A No. 5-ranked Sheridan played at Hagerstown for the Sectional 45 championship, and broke free from the Tigers in the second half, pouring in 44 points to win the sectional title 75-36. The ‘Hawks thus won their first sectional since 2012 and their 20th overall.
Hagerstown scored first on Sheridan to lead 8-0, but the Blackhawks quickly responded with a 57-yard touchdown run by Peyton Cross. Both teams scored again in the quarter, with Sheridan’s Jake Jones adding a 48-yard TD run. A two-point conversion run from Caleb Alexander helped to keep the Blackhawks within 15-15 at the quarter’s end.
Cross took off for two more touchdowns in the second period, one from 57 yards in the quarter’s first minute, and the other a 20-yard rush with 54 seconds left in the half. Sheridan made two-point attempts after both scores, and that put the Blackhawks up 31-30 at halftime.
The second half was all Sheridan. Alexander started the scoring by streaking 65 yards for a touchdown just 52 seconds into the half, and later scored on a 19-yard run. Cross finished the quarter with a short run, and the ‘Hawks led 54-30 after three.
But Sheridan wasn’t done yet. Jones cruised to two more long touchdown runs, from 35 and 59 yards. Then Keegan Hampton took a 70-yard interception in to score with 3:30 left in the game. This was the second defensive score of the game; Sheridan got a safety in the third period.
Sheridan’s Jake Jones rushed for three touchdowns during the Blackhawks’
sectional championship game. (Si DeVaney III)
Owen Bell made all seven of his extra-point kicks. The 75 points were the most the Blackhawks had scored in a game since Oct. 24, 2014, when Sheridan put up 75 on Tindley during a first-round sectional contest.
Cross finished the game with 228 yards, followed by Jones with 143 and Alexander with 110.
The Blackhawks are 11-1 and will host unbeaten and No. 3-ranked North Decatur next Friday for the Regional 23 championship.
SHERIDAN 75, HAGERSTOWN 36
Score by Quarters
Sheridan 15 16 23 21 – 75
Hagerstown 15 15 0 6 – 36
Team Stats SHER HAGE
First Downs 15 16
By Rush 12 2
By Pass 2 10
By Penalty 1 4
Rushes-Yards 37-480 31-62
Yards Passing 42 307
Comp-Att-Int-TD 2-2-0-0 18-36-2-3
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 8-73 11-55
Punts-Average 1-22.0 3-32.7
Sheridan Scoring
First Quarter
9:34 – Peyton Cross 57-yard run (Owen Bell kick)
2:38 – Jake Jones 48-yard run (Caleb Alexander run)
Second Quarter
11:08 – Cross 57-yard run (Cross run)
0:54 – Cross 20-yard run (Jones pass from Zach Bales)
Third Quarter
11:08 – Alexander 65-yard run (Bell kick)
9:23 – Safety
7:14 – Alexander 19-yard run (Bell kick)
0:46 – Cross 2-yard run (Bell kick)
Fourth Quarter
11:43 – Jones 35-yard run (Bell kick)
7:45 – Jones 59-yard run (Bell kick)
3:30 – Keegan Hampton 70-yard interception return (Bell kick)
Sheridan individual stats
Rushing: Cross 26-228, Jones 5-143, Alexander 5-110, Bales 1-minus 1.
Passing: Alexander 2-2-42.
Receiving: Hampton 2-42.