The IHSAA football sectionals begin tonight, although not for every team in Hamilton County.
Since the Class 5A and 6A schools get the first week of sectionals off, five of the county’s eight football-playing schools will not be in action. Meanwhile, the county’s three smaller schools take to the field tonight, and all of them are ready to get going with the tournament.
The only game in the county tonight will be at Sheridan. The Class 1A No. 5 Blackhawks host Union City to start play in Sectional 45, with a kickoff time of 7 p.m. In Class 3A Sectional 28, both county teams are on the road: Guerin Catholic plays at Oak Hill, while Hamilton Heights travels to Maconaquah. Both those games have 7 p.m. kickoffs.
SHERIDAN VS. UNION CITY
This will be the first time in 10 years that Sheridan has played the Indians. The previous meeting between the two teams took place Oct. 26, 2012 in the sectional semi-finals. Union City was the host, but the Blackhawks were the winners, 40-6.
The Indians finished the regular season 2-7, and were 2-6 in the Tri-Eastern Conference. Union City’s wins came against Knightstown 26-12 and Cambridge City Lincoln 39-6. The Indians lost to Tri 68-12, Monroe Central (the only non-conference opponent) 38-0, Hagerstown 56-14, Northeastern 47-0, Union County 55-14, Centerville 63-8 and Winchester 44-6.
Junior Alec Spence is UC’s regular quarterback, and he has thrown for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Quincy Middaugh is the top receiver with 11 catches, including one of the touchdown receptions. Sophomore Jace O’Connor caught the other TD pass.
Two more sophomores lead the Indians’ rushing. Bradin Daniels has gained 353 yards and scored once, while Brayden Huggins has totaled 264 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Daniels leads the defense with 66 tackles.
Sheridan is 8-1 for the season. The Blackhawks dropped their opener to Western Boone 35-12, but haven’t lost since. Sheridan’s regular season culminated last week in a 19-18 victory at Carroll, which gave the ‘Hawks a second consecutive Hoosier Heartland Conference championship.
Senior Peyton Cross has had an outstanding season, rushing for 1,497 yards and 18 touchdowns. Junior Zach Bales is next in line with 522 yards and eight TDs, while senior Jacob Jones has 360 yards and seven scores.
Sophomore quarterback Caleb Alexander has thrown four touchdown passes, while junior Trent DeCraene has the most receptions with nine. Bales has made 107 tackles, followed by Jones with 93 stops. Jones leads in tackles for loss with 13, while Bales has 11 TFLs.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS VS. MACONAQUAH
Hamilton Heights is headed up to Maconaquah for a Sectional 28 first-round game between two old conference rivals.
Both schools were members of the Mid-Indiana Conference before the league disbanded after the 2014-15 school year. The two teams last met on Sept. 6, 2014 with the host Huskies winning 22-8.
Maconaquah now plays in the Three Rivers Conference, and finished play in that league 6-2 this season. The Braves beat Wabash 31-20, Northfield 27-26, Whitko 53-8, Peru 30-13, North Miami 28-26 and Manchester 26-18, while dropping games to Tippecanoe Valley 57-14 and Rochester 38-14. Maconaquah is 6-3 overall, its only non-conference game was a Week 2 loss to Lewis Cass, 20-14.
The Braves have a good quarterback in junior Braxton Birner. He has completed 215 of 322 pass attempts for 2,461 yards and 28 touchdowns. Two sophomores are tied for the most receptions: AJ Kelly and Fuddy Kile both have 73 catches. Kile has more touchdown receptions, with 14 to Kelly’s eight.
Junior Ty Galvan leads the rushing with 425 yards and three scores. Sophomore Ethan Farnell is on top of the defense with 82 tackles.
The Huskies are 7-2 for the season and have won their last four games. That includes a Hoosier Conference playoff win over Lafayette Central Catholic, a top 10 team in 2A, in the league’s third-place game. Heights beat the Knights 41-21.
Junior quarterback Bodie Derrer has had a great season, going 105-of-177 through the air for 1,527 yards and 20 touchdowns. Sophomore Tyler Champion had 40 receptions, 11 of them for scores.
Senior Trey Ehman is on top of the rushing with 896 yards and 10 TDs. Senior Vincent Harley leads the tackles with 74.
GUERIN CATHOLIC VS. OAK HILL
Guerin Catholic will play a brand-new opponent when it travels to Oak Hill for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
This will be the first meeting between the two schools, both of which are named the Golden Eagles. Oak Hill is unbeaten for the season at 9-0 and receiving votes in the 3A poll, while Guerin Catholic is 5-4 and ranked No. 9 in 3A.
Oak Hill zoomed through the regular season unchallenged, starting with wins over Eastern 41-3 and Southwood 58-7. Oak Hill plays in the Central Indiana Conference, and easily won the championship with victories over Eastbrook 35-0, Mississinewa 45-22, Madison-Grant 35-6, Frankton 40-0, Alexandria 55-7, Blackford 49-0 and Elwood 56-0.
Senior Kyle Turanchick has dominated the ground for Oak Hill, with 1,710 yards and 35 touchdowns. Junior Levi Trexler is the team’s quarterback, and he is 45-of-65 through the air with 719 yards and six scores.
Senior Lucas Hasty is the top receiver for Oak Hill, with 20 catches and three touchdowns. Junior Avery Mills is on top of the defense with 92 tackles.
Guerin Catholic finished the regular season on a winning note, beating Culver Academies 42-0 last Friday at the Eagles Nest. Sophomore quarterback Malcolm Houze has thrown for 980 yards and 10 touchdowns during the season, with senior Will Fremion making 45 catches, nine for touchdowns. Junior Jack Cherry has 38 receptions, including three scores.
Senior Justin Zdobylak leads the rushing with 700 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Luke Moody is the defensive leader with 85 tackles.