By OWEN BELL
Sheridan High School Student
The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
Growing up in Sheridan has always been about football: every Friday night I would go to the games to watch the Blackhawks. Watching them win their sectional in 2012, I had thought that would be cool to do someday.
Watching the games on Friday nights was not the best part of growing up around Sheridan football. The best part was waking up on Saturday mornings and getting to go play on the high school field where the high schoolers got to play the night before. The only problem was that it was never under the lights like the high school games were. After the games, my buddies and I would talk about how one day we get to play under the lights on Friday nights.
Little did we think we would be in a position to win the first sectional since the one we had watched in 2012.
The Sheridan football team won the Class 1A Sectional 45 against Hagerstown 75-36 this year. This was their first sectional championship since 2012. The game took place Nov. 4 at Hagerstown. Despite Hagerstown being over an hour away, many of the Sheridan fans made the drive to support the Blackhawks. Some would say Sheridan had more fans than Hagerstown did. I think this very well could be true.
Sheridan claimed its first sectional title since 2012, beating Hagerstown 75-36. (Photo provided)
Sheridan, being a small town, may seem as if there wouldn’t be many people at football games, especially with a drive over an hour; however, the small town brings people together this way. It makes you feel the whole town has your back and is cheering for you. Walking out of the locker room at Hagerstown and seeing the number of fans that made the trip to watch the Blackhawks compete for their first sectional championship since 2012 really made us want it more.
When the game kicked off, quickly Sheridan knew the task would not be easy. Hagerstown scored on its opening drive. It wasn’t but a play later when senior Peyton Cross brought the first Sheridan offensive snap to the endzone. From there, the first half would be back and forth, but Sheridan went into halftime with a 31-30 lead, despite not playing to the standard they had been since the Week 1 loss to Western Boone.
During halftime, adjustments were made, and the team came out with a whole new mindset. This showed as the Blackhawks scored quickly. By the end of the game, the Blackhawks had completely turned the game around and defeated Hagerstown 75-36 for their first sectional championship in 10 years.
After the game, parents, fans, and cheerleaders quickly made their way to the field to celebrate the sectional win.
After the Blackhawks were done getting pictures and talking with friends and family, they got on the bus for the ride home. Many would think the bus ride would be full of music, conversions, or other activities, but in this case, it was not. It was a quiet ride home until we reached State Road 38 and Lamong. Here the football team received a police escort back to the school. Arriving back to Sheridan at 11:20 p.m., you wouldn’t think a lot of people would be out, but there were quite a few people lining the streets of Sheridan.
Once the Blackhawks arrived at the school there were more fans there to congratulate them. This again is a way the town came together to support the football team. Winning a sectional championship and having the whole town to cheer you on is a feeling that one is lucky to ever experience in a lifetime.