By RICHIE HALL
Sheridan’s Bud Wright Stadium has been the site of many exciting games over the years, and it can add Friday night’s Hoosier Heartland Conference win over Carroll to the list.
The game lasted until 10:09 p.m. – at 3 hours and 9 minutes, it was about as long as an NFL game. The final score was 64-56 – one man suggested the score was comparable to a high school basketball game. It was also a nice way for the Blackhawks to finish the regular season, which they did at 6-3.
“It’s more fun for the fans than it is for the coaches, that’s for sure,” said Wright.
It was obvious the game was going to be a high-scoring affair early. Sheridan got on the board just 71 seconds into the first quarter when Silas DeVaney rushed 36 yards for a touchdown. Chris Starks made the extra point kick.
But the Cougars answered just 18 seconds later. Senior Ayden Ayres blasted off 61 yards into the end zone. Carroll missed the extra point, but the shootout was on.
“I didn’t figure it was going to be a shootout until about halfway through the first quarter,” said Wright. “Then I realized that, ‘Hey, we’re going to be.’”
The first period finished with Sheridan ahead 21-14. Christian Clausen scored on a nine-yard run, then Cayden Hunter took a 70-yard pass from DeVaney into the end zone. DeVaney then made a two-point conversion run.
The Cougars did all the scoring in the second quarter, allowing them to take a 26-14 halftime lead. That set the stage for a third period that lasted quite a while, which is to be expected when both teams score 52 points in one quarter.
Both teams played great offense, and always had an answer for each other. Clausen streaked on a 65-yard run to put Sheridan back on top with 10:11 to go, then Carroll’s Jayden Harness zoomed 69 yards to get his team ahead. DeVaney’s 20-yard run pushed the ‘Hawks back in front, but Clay Metzger took off on an 85-yard kickoff return, and the Cougars were leading again.
“We could’ve put them away, I think, early and failed to do it,” said Wright. “Then they got momentum, then they played hard and we played hard. We were lucky to come out on it, I guess.”
Carroll went up 50-35 when Metzger scored on a 40-yard run with 5:13 left in the third. Sheridan answered that when DeVaney rushed 29 yards to score, then threw a conversion pass to Reece Fisher. But the Cougars got the last word of the third period when Ayres caught a touchdown pass with 2:44 left. That gave Carroll a 56-43 lead.
But the Blackhawks took charge in the fourth quarter, not allowing the Cougars a point. Sheridan’s offense stepped up as well. Gavin Renners scored at the 10:15 mark on a four-yard run, with Dylan Cork kicking the extra point. DeVaney then punched the ball in from the two with 4:28 left, tying the game.
“And then I think we had the momentum from there,” said Wright.
DeVaney had one more big throw to make, and it was the biggest throw of the game (literally and figuratively.) DeVaney tossed a pass to Fisher, who turned it into a 78-yard touchdown reception. DeVaney then threw his second conversion pass of the night to Renners. Carroll got one more chance, but the Blackhawks stopped them and got the victory.
DeVaney finished the game with 224 yards in 34 rushes, and passed for 245 yards, making 6 of 12 throws. Cale Cummings caught three of them for 82 yards.
“Cale Cummings, he’s played reserve all year,” said Wright. “Last week we moved him up to varsity and he stepped up big tonight.”
The ‘Hawks finished HHC play at 6-1, giving them second place in the conference. Eastern is the HHC champion, finishing undefeated at 7-0; a 34-0 win over Clinton Prairie clinched the perfect conference season for the Comets. Eastern finished the regular season at 9-0, its first unbeaten campaign since 1974.
Sheridan will be back at Bud Wright Stadium next week, hosting Indianapolis Lutheran in the first round of Sectional 46.
SHERIDAN 64, CARROLL 56
Score by Quarters
Carroll 14 12 30 0 – 56
Sheridan 21 0 22 21 – 64
Team Stats CHS SHS
First Downs 16 28
By Rush 6 23
By Pass 9 5
By Penalty 1 0
Rushes-Yards 20-223 63-435
Yards Passing 258 245
Comp-Att-Int-TD 14-36-1-2 6-12-0-1
Fumbles 0-0 7-2
Penalties-Yards 4-30 12-98
Punts-Average 4-35.0 3-22.7
Sheridan Scoring
First Quarter
10:49 – Silas DeVaney 36-yard run (Chris Starks kick)
3:55 – Christian Clausen 9-yard run
(kick failed)
1:48 – Cayden Hunter 70-yard pass from DeVaney (DeVaney run)
Third Quarter
10:11 – Clausen 65-yard run (Dylan Cork kick)
7:13 – DeVaney 20-yard run (Cork kick)
4:39 – DeVaney 29-yard run (Reece Fisher pass from DeVaney)
Fourth Quarter
10:15 – Gavin Renners 4-yard run (Cork kick)
4:28 – DeVaney 2-yard run (kick failed)
2:48 – Fisher 78-yard pass from DeVaney (Renners pass from DeVaney)
Sheridan individual stats
Rushing: DeVaney 34-224, Clausen 11-114, Renners 8-53, Evan Bourdon 6-48, Noah Ehrie 3-10, team 1-minus 14.
Passing: DeVaney 6-12-245.
Receiving: Cale Cummings 3-82, Hunter 2-85, Fisher 1-78.
Sheridan’s Silas DeVaney (center) makes a run with Cale Cummings (12) and Charlie Cronin (50) doing the blocking during the Blackhawks’ Friday win over Carroll. Sheridan beat the Cougars 64-56 and finished second in Hoosier Heartland Conference play. (Kent Graham)