By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – The Sheridan football team got exactly the tournament start it wanted Friday night when the Blackhawks hosted Hagerstown to begin Sectional 45 play.
The ‘Hawks, ranked No. 10 in the IFCA Class 1A poll, took care of the Tigers 41-0 at Bud Wright Stadium. Sheridan’s running game and defense set the tone in the first half, and that carried the Blackhawks through to victory and a place in the sectional semifinals.
“It was a nice start,” said Wright.
Hagerstown got the ball first, but Dayne Voege made an interception 30 seconds into the game, and Sheridan began its first offensive drive. It lasted over six minutes, with Eli Kolb, Zach Bales, Nolan Page and Owen Bell taking turns making short runs down the field. An 11-yard pass from Bell to Page got the ball to the two-yard line, and Bales took it in for the score.
The Blackhawks’ second scoring drive followed the same pattern. During the five-minute march down the field, Bales had the majority of the runs, culminating in a one-yard punch into the end zone early in the second quarter. Bell made both extra-point kicks, and Sheridan was on top 14-0.
“We put some new sets it, done some different things, and I think took them by surprise,” said Wright.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks’ defense was playing superb. Sheridan did not allow the Tigers any plays for positive yards during their first three drives, and it took until the middle of the second quarter for Hagerstown to get a first down.
“I think we played one of the better defensive games we played all year,” said Wright. It was Sheridan’s third shutout of the season.
The offense continued to roll in the second quarter. Bales blasted off for a 66-yard run to get the ball to the two, and Bell finished the job with a run into the end zone.
Sheridan’s fourth touchdown of the game followed an interesting sequence. Hagerstown made an interception, but fumbled the ball and the Blackhawks recovered on the Tigers 27. Bell threw to Trent DeCraene for an 11-yard pass, then sent a 16-yard throw into the end zone, which Page easily caught. Bell’s kick made the halftime score 27-0.
Sheridan quarterback Owen Bell (15) scored a second-quarter touchdown for the ‘Hawks.
Pictured at left is Cole Mackintosh (63). (Joshua Herd)
“They were looking to go over the middle, because the last couple times we ran that formation, we went over the middle with it,” said Wright. “And we went to the outside this time with it.”
Sheridan opened the second half with a bang, as Eli Kolb took the first play from scrimmage 56 yards for a touchdown. Both teams then exchanged punts, but Page stepped up to intercept a Hagerstown pass, and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. Bell kicked both second half extra points. Following Page’s touchdown, the game went to a running clock and quickly finished from there.
Bales totaled 106 yards rushing, with Kolb adding 97 yards. Bell finished 4-for-7 with 87 yards passing. DeCraene’s two receptions totaled 60 yards, while Page got the other two catches for 27 yards.
Sheridan improved to 7-3 with the win and hosts Tindley next Friday in the Sectional 45 semifinals.
SHERIDAN 41, HAGERSTOWN 0
Score by Quarters
Hagerstown 0 0 0 0 – 0
Sheridan 7 20 14 0 – 41
Team stats HAG SHER
First Downs 6 13
By Rush 5 10
By Pass 1 3
By Penalty 0 0
Rushes-Yards 29-64 40-245
Passing Yards 23 87
Comp-Att-Int-TD 4-14-2-0 4-7-1-1
Fumbles-Lost 4-3 2-1
Penalties-Yards 0-0 6-53
Punts-Average 4-35.3 3-53.7
Sheridan Scoring
First Quarter
5:22 – Zach Bales 2-yard run (Owen Bell kick)
Second Quarter
10:34 – Bales 1-yard run (Bell kick)
8:20 – Bell 2-yard run (kick failed)
0:07 – Nolan Page 16-yard pass from Bell (Bell kick)
Third Quarter
11:37 – Eli Kolb 56-yard run (Bell kick)
8:13 – Page 42-yard interception return (Bell kick)
Sheridan individual stats
Rushing: Zach Bales 15-106, Eli Kolb 11-97, Bell 6-26, Page 4-8, Trent DeCraene 1-7, Alex Cravens 2-2, Caleb Alexander 1-minus 1.
Passing: Bell 4-7-87.
Receiving: DeCraene 2-60, Page 2-27.