Reporter Sports Editor
The Sheridan football team was all over the place this summer.
The Blackhawks did their fair share of scrimmaging during the vacation months, taking on schools of different varieties and sizes. Sheridan is taking this week off, but will be back at it on Monday as the official practices begin.
Bud Wright, soon to begin his 52nd year of coaching the ‘Hawks (53rd year overall) listed all of the opponents his Sheridan team scrimmaged over the summer, and it was a lengthy one. The Blackhawks went down to Indianapolis for a scrimmage with Arlington, but other than that stayed mostly in the north-central part of the state.
The Blackhawks had scrimmages against Southwood, Frankfort, North Miami, Tri-County, Traders Point, Kokomo, Eastbrook and Logansport.
“We tried to get a variety,” said Wright. That enabled Sheridan to see different teams and different outlooks.
“I’m happy the progress we’ve made so far,” said Wright. “We’re coming along decently.” The coach said that “things are beginning to fall into place” and that the ‘Hawks have “accomplished a lot.”
There is some good experience returning for Sheridan. Leading the way will be senior Joey Callahan, who rushed for 2041 yards last season, with an average of 5.7 yards per carry. Callahan scored 18 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Drake Delph is also back. He threw the ball well last year, totaling nine touchdowns, and could also score on the run, with seven TDs. Delph had well over 1000 all-purpose yards, with 650 yards passing and 468 more on the ground.
Two more seniors, Gunner Williams and Brody Perry, will also figure into the offensive scheme, as will junior Rhett Williams. Gunner Williams had 18 catches last season, with Perry and Rhett Williams both scoring three receiving touchdowns.
Senior Tanner Swindle and juniors Karl Whaley and Jesse Kolb are also back; Kolb was a defensive standout, making 92 total tackles. Also returning are senior Hunter Pflugh, junior Nick Burnell and sophomore Chris Starks, all of whom had solid defensive seasons.
“We got several kids back on both sides of the ball,” said Wright.
Sheridan’s schedule is a little different this season, due to changes in the Hoosier Heartland Conference. The league was formerly 10 teams, split up into two five-team divisions, with the two leaders playing at the end of the season for a conference championship.
But this season, three schools (North White, Tri-County and Frontier) left the HHC, leaving seven schools in the league. So, the conference has gone back to a traditional schedule, with the teams all playing each other to determine the champion.
Sheridan’s first two opponents are the same, old rivals Western Boone and Clinton Central (also an HHC opponent). The Blackhawks were already playing all but one conference team before this year. The missing team was Clinton Prairie; Sheridan picked up Prairie for its Week 5 contest.
Another new opponent is South Decatur, who the Blackhawks welcome for their Week 9 game. Tipton completes Sheridan’s non-conference schedule with a Week 7 game.