Fourteen years later, Sheridan finally evened the score with Seeger.
The Class 1A No. 6 Blackhawks took care of the visiting Patriots 40-7 Friday night at Bud Wright Stadium. The two teams last met in 2004 at Seeger in the regional championship, with the Patriots winning.
But this year, Sheridan was in control from the beginning. The ‘Hawks scored 20 points in the first quarter, then led 33-0 at halftime.
James Manis was the star of the show. He scored four touchdowns, each of them on huge runs. In the first quarter alone, Manis made TWO 84-yard runs into the end zone – one just 59 seconds into the game, the other with 2:09 left. In between, Manis scored on a 47-yard run.
In the second quarter, Manis got his fourth touchdown, from 61 yards. He carried the ball just 14 times, but gained 322 yards. That’s an average of 23 yards per carry, and the first time in a while that a Blackhawk has rushed for over 300 yards.
“It’s the first time since Hoover,” said Wright, referring to Austin Hoover, who played his senior season for the ‘Hawks in 2014. Hoover rushed for 466 yards in a sectional game back on Oct. 31, 2014.
While Manis did the majority of the scoring, other Sheridan players stepped up as well. Jesse Kolb caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Drake Delph in the second quarter. Nick Burnell punched in a one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth period.
“I thought we played pretty good,” said Wright.
The Blackhawks are now 6-1 for the season. This week was a break from Hoosier Heartland Conference play, but Sheridan will be playing its final – and biggest – conference game of the season next week at Bud Wright Stadium. The ‘Hawks host Eastern, and both teams are unbeaten in the HCC: Sheridan is 5-0, while the Comets beat Tri-Central 55-7 on Friday to move to 4-0.
Sheridan senior Luke Chesney (56) sacks the Seeger quarterback during the Blackhawks-Patriots game Friday at Bud Wright Stadium. (Si DeVaney III)
Freshman Silas DeVaney (15) intercepts a pass from Seeger in the first half. (Si DeVaney III)