By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
Cloverdale Clovers (7-4) at No. Sheridan Blackhawks (7-2)
The Blackhawks and Clovers have met twice and both have been in the playoffs. Sheridan won both of those meetings, most recently last year’s sectional championship, 42-14. The other was in the first round of the 1998 sectional, a 55-0 Hawks win.
Sheridan has won six of its last seven, averaging 32.4 points during that span and yielding just 13.
In his first season, head coach Jake Chesney is looking for his first sectional trophy and it would be the Blackhawks’ fourth straight sectional crown.
It’s quite a balanced backfield with junior Hayden Alexander leading the way with 897 yards on 79 rushes (11.4 per carry average) and 11 touchdowns.
Alex Cravens is just behind Alexander with 835 yards and 10 TDs on 130 carries. Jon Barnes complements well with 401 yards and eight scores. Quarterback Brock
Hagan has also ran well with 175 and three touchdowns, along with 444 passing yards and four TDs through the air.
Jayden Dunbar’s 72 tackles and 13 sacks tops the defense. Barnes has 65 stops, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Alexander has 58 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions, three pass deflections and caused two fumbles.
Brody Heck leads the secondary with four interceptions, nine pass deflections, fumble recovery, caused a fumble and blocked a field goal. Chance Spencer also has three picks and two fumbles recovered.
Cloverdale head coach Tyler Lotz is 15-26 in his fourth season.
The Clovers had no trouble with Tindley last week in the semifinal, 61-6. Winners of five of its last six, Cloverdale is playing its best football currently.
Weeks 6-8 produced dominating wins where they outscored South Decatur, Brown County and West Vigo by a combined 169-6. The Clovers ended the regular season with a 43-0 loss at No. 2 South Putnam.
Cloverdale quarterback Landon Duncan has 1,219 passing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Junior Keshaun Taylor has 1,470 yards on 178 carries (8.3 average) on the ground with 25 touchdowns. Trey Schabel leads the receivers with 363 yards and five TDs.
Ashton Evans has 98 tackles, three interceptions, fumble recovery and three blocked punts. TJ Hamilton totals eight sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. Mason Mourning has four interceptions to top the secondary.
*If Sheridan wins, the Blackhawks will be on the road at either South Putnam or Riverton Parke. If Cloverdale wins, the Clovers would host Riverton Parke or be at South Putnam.
