Experience will not be a problem for this year’s edition of the Sheridan football team.
Larry “Bud” Wright, who begins his 56th season as coach of the Blackhawks tonight (and 57th overall) when his team travels to Western Boone, said Sheridan has a nice number of players returning from last season returning, with many of them seniors.
“Most of them are three-year starters,” said Wright.
Sheridan got to see some of those veteran players in action last Friday when the ‘Hawks hosted Crawfordsville in a scrimmage at Bud Wright Stadium. There was, unfortunately, one key player not on the field: Senior quarterback Silas DeVaney was injured during the summer and will not be able to play this season.
Sheridan also graduated Cameron Hovey, who totaled over 1,500 yards rushing last season. But the Blackhawks have two capable runners at the ready: Junior Peyton Cross, who rushed for nearly 500 yards as a sophomore, and senior Gavin Reners, a two-way player who also had some decent running games last season.
“Reners is a little over 200 (pounds), Cross is a little over 200,” said Wright. “That’s two pretty good-sized backs back there. That helps out.”
With DeVaney out, two sophomores are expected to jump into the quarterback duties, Mason Robinson and Zach Bales. Wright said those 10th-graders “are learning and getting better.”
“We’ll see how they come along,” said Wright. “We got a really good line in front of them. Hopefully the sophomore quarterbacks will learn quick.”
The offensive linemen are veterans, with three-year senior starters Jacob Ricci and Gabe Holler, and two-year senior starter Ethan Moistner. Junior Keagan Hampton and Gavin Petro are also two-year starters.
Sheridan’s defense also has experience under its belt, with five three-year starters. Senior Presten Weir will play at strong safety, Cale Cummings and Reners are listed at middle linebacker, Cross will play defensive tackle and Christian Clausen is at defensive back.
“We’re moving our kids all around, trying to find the best position for them,” said Wright. During the scrimmage week, Wright said the coaching staff “moved about two or three kids to different positions. Hopefully we’ll find the right combination.”
Other probable starters are senior Cole Webel at tight end and defensive end, senior Cayden Hunter at wide receiver and safety, junior Jacob Jones at running back and nose tackle, senior Noah Ehrie at outside linebacker and Aiden Garrison at defensive back.
The Blackhawks will get a good test for their first game, as Western Boone is the three-time defending Class 2A state champion. The Stars move up to Class 3A this year due to the success factor.
“They got a lot of returning kids from the state championship team,” said Wright.
Sheridan jumps into Hoosier Heartland Conference play in Week 2, when it hosts Clinton Central.