By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
And just like that, we are in regional play and down to three county schools remaining in the football state tournament.
Tomorrow night, Sheridan heads down to Greencastle for their seventh all-time playoff meeting with the South Putnam Eagles. The Blackhawks own a 4-2 mark in those matchups.
The ‘Hawks and Eagles haven’t met up since the 2016 sectional. That game was won at home by Sheridan, 49-12. That was a revenge game for the Blackhawks, as South Putnam won in the first-round sectional matchup in 2015, 56-22.
Prior to those meetings, it had been since 1993 that they faced each other and that was in the sectional semifinal, a Sheridan home win 33-7.
Bud Wright is now 463-215 in his 59th season at Sheridan and 464-218 overall in 60 seasons as a head coach.
Class 1A Regional: Sheridan Blackhawks (7-5) at No. 6 South Putnam Eagles (10-2)
Sheridan is clicking at the right time and Bud Wright’s teams are built for the tournament. Starting off 0-2, they won three consecutive games to start Hoosier Heartland Conference play. The ‘Hawks have righted the ship after losing three of four to end the regular season and are winners of three in a row heading into regional action.
One of the best playoff teams in Indiana, regardless of class, the Blackhawks are 109-35 all-time since the state tournament began in 1973. They are in search of their 16th regional championship in program history.
The ‘Hawks have won nine semi-state crowns and with nine state championships, the last in 2007, Sheridan has its sights on a 10th state title.
Sheridan’s three playoff wins have been dominating by a total of 134-40 at Clinton Central and Clinton Prairie, followed by a home game for the sectional crown over Cloverdale.
Owen Bell (567 passing yards) and Brock Hagan (257) have both seen significant time under center and combined for 10 touchdown passes.
Alex Cravens leads the Blackhawks in rushing with 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 223 carries. Jon Barnes (597, 7 TDs) and Jaylen Arnold (566, 3 TDs) have provided backfield depth. Jacob Hall has also rushed for 290 and six touchdowns and Bell five scores.
Dayne Voege leads a trio of pass catchers with 10-plus receptions with 17 for 375 yards and six TDs. Caleb Alexander 10 for 200 (3 TDs) and Chance Spencer 10 for 144 and a touchdown.
The Blackhawks are one of three HHC teams trying to win a regional. Taylor (7-5) hosts No. 1 North Judson in the north in Class 1A. In Class 2A, Eastern (8-4) is on the road at three-time 1A runner-up Adams Central (11-1).
Eagles’ head coach Chuck Sorrell is 51-17 in his sixth season at South Putnam. Overall, Sorrell is 55-43 in nine seasons, including a 4-26 stint in three years at South Vermillion from 2011-13.
The Eagles tied North Putnam with a 4-1 Green Division record in the Western Indiana Conference and are the lone WIC team remaining in the state tournament.
South Putnam had a rough start to the season, but got it figured out really quick. A win over Speedway (28-20) was followed by two losses to 2A No. 2 Indianapolis Lutheran (34-12) and North Putnam (23-22). The Eagles have since won nine games, scoring 428 points and averaging 47.5 points per game during the current streak, while scoring no less than 32 per contest.
Wyatt Mullin leads the South Put offense at quarterback. The senior has 1,723 passing yards, completing 108-187 (57.8 percent). He has 25 TD and just one interception. Mullin also has 480 on the ground.
Sophomore Ty Benton is the top rusher with 1,216 yards and 22 touchdowns. Another sophomore Bransyn Ensor is the leading receiver with 35 receptions and 744 yards to go with nine TDs. Senior Wyatt Switzer has caught 25 for 425 and six scores.
In its program history, South Putnam has 13 sectional, six regional and two semi-state championships. They won the 1986 Class 1A state title over North Judson, 28-21.
*If Sheridan wins, it will host the semi-state if Providence wins, but if Milan beats Providence, Sheridan would be on the road at Milan. If South Putnam wins, the Eagles will be on the road at Providence or Milan.
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