Sheridan’s Hayden Alexander has scored a team-leading nine touchdowns for the Blackhawks. (Dwight Casler/File photo)
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
1A No. 13 Sheridan Blackhawks (6-2) at Clinton Prairie Gophers (3-5)
Sheridan heads to Frankfort to face Hoosier Heartland Conference rival Clinton Prairie in the second semifinal. The Blackhawks are 26-4 all-time vs. the Gophers and 8-2 in the playoffs. First-year head coach Jake Chesney’s squad took the regular-season matchup, 40-6.
After a Week 2 loss to Alexandria, Sheridan won four straight and now five out of six. They ended the regular season with a 20-7 home win over Carroll.
Alex Cravens leads Sheridan’s run-heavy offensive attack with 109 carries, 742 yards and eight touchdowns. Hayden Alexander is right behind with 727 on 62 rushes and a team-leading nine TDs. Jon Barnes complements, running 61 times for 327 and seven scores.
Quarterback Brock Hagan has 53 runs for 162 and three touchdowns. Hagan also has three passing touchdowns and 382 passing yards.
Jaden Dunbar leads the defense with 66 total tackles, 13 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries, three fumbles caused and one fumbled recovery. Cravens is second with 55 with three sacks and three caused fumbles. Brody Heck is third with 50 to go along with three interceptions, eight pass deflections, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.
Barnes’ 49 tackles (and fumble recovery) and Alexander’s 48 stops, as well as two picks, three pass deflections and has caused two fumbles to help pace the Blackhawks’ defense.
Clinton Prairie has faced its share of struggles throughout the season and Hoosier Heartland Conference games.
The Gophers were 2-4 in HHC play. Their three overall wins were all shutouts at Frankfort (50-0), Clinton Central (32-0) and at home over Delphi (38-0). They also hung tough at home in the opener with undefeated (10-0) 1A No. 6 Frontier before losing 37-26.
Kurt Schlicher (19-21) is in his fourth year leading the Gophers. Schlicher is 21-49 overall in seven seasons, previously at Crawfordsville from 2019-21 where he was 2-28.
Junior Gaige Kuzmicz and senior Brady Allen platoon at quarterback and combine to throw 56.6 percent (99-175) for 1,211 yards, good for 12 TDs and 12 interceptions.
Braiden Jarboe is the leading rusher with 66 runs for 462 yards and five scores. Kye Jacobs has 32 receptions, 466 yards and five touchdowns as the top receiver.
Indianapolis Tindley Tigers (1-7) at Cloverdale Clovers (6-4)
Tindley and Cloverdale have met just once and that was in the sectional last year, a 34-6 Clover win.
Head coach Melvin Graham is 20-37 in his sixth season. The Tigers have had an uphill climb all season long. Tindley doesn’t have an actual home field, so they hit the road in Week 1 and don’t play “home” games all season long.
Tindley opened with a win at Edinburgh, 28-14, but have lost seven consecutive heading into sectional play.
Quarterback Kenneth Christmon leads a pass-first offense completing 89 of 194 passes for 1,294 yards. He has eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Christmon also leads the Tigers in rushing with 29 carries for 127 yards and three scores.
Ty Yarrell is the top receiver with 31 catches, 534 yards and five TDs. Zaiden Long gives a second option with 26 receptions for 398 and a score.
With a five-team field in Sectional 46, the lone game last week was in the bottom of the bracket. Cloverdale got a home win over Clinton Central 42-14.
Head coach Tyler Lotz is 14-26 in his fourth year with the Clovers.
Cloverdale has seen some hefty wins. After two losses at Riverton Parke (33-13) and North Putnam (57-26), the Clovers turned it around with six dominating wins in their last eight games over Owen Valley (68-0), North Central (Farmersburg) 55-6, South Decatur (47-3), Brown County (67-0), West Vigo (55-3) and last week’s sectional opener against Clinton Central, 42-14.
Quarterback Landon Duncan is 79 of 146 (54.1 percent) with 1,126 yards and 12 TDs and eight interceptions.
Keshaun Taylor is the leading rusher with 1,338 on 162 rushes with 22 TDs and Trey Schabel leads in receiving with 324 yards. Schabel and Tre Henderson each have three TD catches.
