Sheridan beats Taylor, clinches share of HHC title

Add another championship to the Sheridan football team’s long list.
The Blackhawks ran their Hoosier Heartland Conference record to 5-0 Friday by trouncing Taylor 64-13. With the victory, Class 1A No. 7 Sheridan has clinched at least a share of the league title. It’s the first time the ‘Hawks have won the HHC title since 2012.
Blackhawks coach Bud Wright was happy to get the share of the conference championship, but of course Sheridan doesn’t want to settle for just a tie.
“We hope to get it outright,” said Wright. The ‘Hawks will travel to Eastern on Oct. 6 to wrap up conference play.
Against Taylor, the Blackhawks led 20-7 after the first quarter, with Joe Callahan scoring three touchdowns. Callahan used short runs to get the first two TDs, then made a 22-yard run with 14 seconds left for the third.
Sheridan then poured it on in the second period, piling on 37 points. Callahan added two more scores on the ground, with Gunnar Williams also finding the end zone from 18 yards out. Drake Delph threw a pair of scoring passes, the first to Ange Gnamkey from 35 yards, just 18 seconds into the period. Brody Perry caught the second touchdown throw with eight seconds left.
“We started out pretty slow,” said Wright. “They scored their touchdown, that woke us up.”
Sheridan’s final touchdown came in the fourth period, with Cameron Hovey running 26 yards into the end zone. Williams made five extra-point kicks, with Cole Jackson making two. The Blackhawks’ defense had another solid game as well.
“Our defense has really been stepping up,” said Wright.
Callahan finished with 126 yards. As a team, Sheridan gained 366 yards on the ground. Delph had another nice passing game, going 6-for-10 and totaling 117 yards.
The Blackhawks will travel to Tipton, which is ranked No. 7 in 2A, next Friday.