By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
Although No. 8 Knightstown was able to tie the game at 7 following a 71-yard bomb later in the first quarter, seventh-ranked Sheridanâ??s 322 rushing yards proved too much for Knightstown and outgoing coach Don Willard.
Another late score by the speedy 6â??1â?, 180-pound Zachery pushed a 14-7 halftime lead to the final margin of 21-7, and Sheridanâ??s 40th-year coach Larry â??Budâ? Wright had earned his seventh state title at the small Hamilton County school.
â??This is very, very special,â? said Wright, whose son, Kevin, will go for his third straight state crown Saturday when his Warren Central Warriors battle Hamilton Southeastern in the Class 5A title tilt. â??We really thought we would be here last year â??? this year a lot of people said we are a year late and a year early.
â??It really doesnâ??t make a difference because we won it! It feels very good.â?
Zacheryâ??s long run to open the gameâ??s scoring capped a six-play, 74-yard drive that took only 2:10 off the clock following a three-and-out by Knightstown on the gameâ??s first possession. After Knightstownâ??s second drive netted only 20 yards and a second punt, Sheridan appeared to be moving in for another score.
But Zacheryâ??s only pass of the first half was intercepted by sophomore linebacker Trey MColley, and Knightstown took over at its 31. On 2nd-and 12, senior quarterback Eric Freeman hit split end Michael Guinn deep over the middle for 71 yards, the only thing keeping the senior out of the end zone a saving tackle by Zachery, who doubles as a defensive back.
Senior Matt Cox scored on a one-yard dive on the next play, and the game was knotted at 7 just before the end of the first quarter.
â??They got up first, but we were able to come back with a long pass to Michael Guinn,â? said 40th-year Knightstown coach Don Willard. â??After Matt Cox got the touchdown, I thought we were in pretty good shape.â?
Things got a little defensive to start the second quarter as the next three series saw two punts and a turnover on downs as Sheridanâ??s hulking junior running back, 6â??2â?, 211-pound Scott Taylor, was stuffed on 4th-and-1 at the Blackhawk 45. A good sign for the Panthers, no?
No. On the next play, Freemanâ??s bomb deep down the right sideline intended for Guinn was intercepted by 6â??4â? senior defensive back Chris Schweigel at the Sheridan 12. An excellent chance for Knightstown to get the ball back in decent field position, no?
No. Sheridan moved the sticks on the first three plays â??? including a 37-yard jaunt up the middle by Taylor â??? and made first downs on four of the driveâ??s first five plays in reaching the Knightstown 20. Two plays later, Taylor rambled in from six yards out and, after freshman Austinâ??s Kingâ??s second of three successful extra-point kicks, Sheridan had a 14-7 lead it would take into the locker room.
â??I think the key was when they had us deep in our own territory and came back and scored late in the first half,â? Willard said. â??Our play especially in the second quarter hurt us more than anything.â?
The halftime numbers certainly pained Knightstown fans. The Panthers had run the ball 13 times for 13 yards, while Sheridanâ??s Taylor (14 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown), Zachery (nine carries for 91 yards and a score), and junior running back Dustin Colvin (nine carries, 42 yards) had rolled up 239 yards in just two quarters of play.
But Freeman had connected on 6 of 14 passes for 118 yards (Guinn had three catches for 86 yards) and, despite two interceptions, the aerial game seemed poised to keep Knightstown in it.
However, if those amusing commercials for Capital One had taught the Panther faithful anything to this point, it was that â??the answerâ??s always NO!â?
The third quarter featured four drives that ended in punts, but it was the last one that proved the costliest for Knightstown. Following a 36-yard punt by Zachery (um, he handles punting and kickoff duties as well) that pinned the Panthers inside their own 10, Knightstown moved the ball to its 20 where, on 3rd-and-10, Freeman appeared to hit senior wideout Cameron Hiner on an 18-yard gain that roused the Panther crowd.
But an illegal procedure penalty negated the momentum-turning play, and Freemanâ??s pass to Hiner on third down was just behind him, forcing a punt.
It looked as if the miscue was going to cost Knightstown dearly when Zachery (oops, forgot to mention the frosh phenom returns kicks, too) brought the 27-yard punt back 20 yards to the Knightstown 22. It was four plays later, though, that the ninth-grader would show he still has some maturing to do.
On 4th-and-5, Zachery rolled right and headed toward the sideline. His three-yard effort fell shy of the first-down marker, but what really hurt was his not noticing Taylor wide open at the 5 for what would have been the clinching touchdown.
â??Heâ??s been around the program since he was just knee high,â? Wright said. â??He has been a ball boy for six or seven years and he has just grown up with the program with his whole family.â?
Knightstown managed a decent drive in getting to midfield on the ensuing possession, but Freemanâ??s 4th-and-6 pass was incomplete, allowing Sheridan to take over with just over six minutes to go.
Dagger time. Facing a 4th-and-3 from the Knightstown 43, Zachery dropped back to punt â??? and promptly tucked the snap and took off for the left sideline, his four-yard dive just past the first-down marker giving the Blackhawks new life. Following six that straight Taylor runs moved the ball to the Panther 3, Zacheryâ??s bootleg around left end found the end zone and sealed the deal.
â??He has done an excellent job for us,â? Wright said of the track, basketball, and football player. â??He is a heck of a football player â??? actually, he is a heck of an athlete.
â??He can do it all. He is just a great athlete.â?
Added the freshman (one last thing â??? he led the team in tackles with nine, including seven solos): â??It was great tonight! I never thought I would be able to do this, this year. I thought maybe next year but certainly not this season.
â??I play a big role and I know I have a lot to do, but I have coach Wright and a great coaching staff that helps me and I want to thank them. Our offensive line opened up some great holes and they play so well all the time. We couldnâ??t do anything without them.â?
Knightstown, which lost in the sectional opener a year ago to Cambridge City Lincoln to end the year at 4-6, finished its Cinderella season at 14-1. Freeman ended up 13 for 26 for 196 yards and the two picks, while Cox was the leading rusher with 37 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. The Panther defense was paced by McColley (12 tackles) and senor linebacker Bridger Hannon (10).
Sheridan, meanwhile, improved to 13-2 â??? its two losses coming in this yearâ??s opener (32-13 at Western Boone) and the regular-season finale (28-6 at home to West Lafayette the week after defeating high-powered Rensselaer, 35-32, in the best game this writer saw all year). Taylor finished with 143 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown, with Zachery rushing 22 times for 121 yards and two scores and Colvin carrying 12 times for 58 yards.
Wright moves up all-time coaching list with title #7
So now that Wright has improved to an impressive 7-1 in state championship games (the lone loss came back in 1994 to North White, 34-7), how does he rank in the all-time coaching list?
Although the spot may last less than 24 hours (Roncalli coach Bruce Scifres will be vying for his seventh championship with the Rebels in Saturdayâ??s Class 4A title game vs. Lowell), Wright moves into second place all-time among coaches with multiple state crowns. He trails only the great **** Dullaghan, who managed an incredible eight titles with Carmel (one) and Ben Davis (seven) before retiring two seasons ago.
â??We got down and had a couple of bad years,â? said Wright, who has led Sheridan to state championships in 1980, â??84, â??87, â??88, â??92, â??98, and now 2005. â??I knew I had a good group coming (last yearâ??s senior class) and I was not sure if I wanted to go through a four-year cycle with them. I decided to go through that cycle with them.
â??I credit last yearâ??s seniors with bringing this program back where it belongs.â?
Despite the loss, Willard goes out in style
As mentioned, this was Willardâ??s last game at the helm of the Panthers after going 217-180 in 39 years. Even in defeat, the coaching veteran received a huge round of applause during postgame award ceremonies.
â??Right now it seems like another game, but next week when I think about it, it will be more than just that,â? Willard said. â??Iâ??ve had 39 great years at Knightstown High School.
â??(This) was a fantastic season. We didnâ??t think we would win 14 games. We started out thinking weâ??d be pretty good and then we got going and we were finding ways to win. We just came up one game short.â?
Knightstown RB Cox honored with Eskew Mental Attitude Award
Knightstown senior running back/outside linebacker Matt Cox is the 2005 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award for Class A football presented by the IHSAA Executive Committee. The award goes to a senior nominated by his principal and coach who excels in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.
The award is named in honor of Eskew, who served as the IHSAAâ??s third commissioner from 1962-76. Under Eskewâ??s leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.
Cox, who helped Knightstown to its second state finals berth and first since 1997, led the state in scoring with 228 points, and he ranked sixth in rushing touchdowns (31) and eighth in rushing yards (2,050). Ranked 11th in his senior class, the National Honor Society student and student council president served as a delegate to Hoosier Boysâ?? State as well as volunteering for Special Olympics and Riley Childrenâ??s Hospital.
â??Matt is a very dedicated individual who sets high goals for himself and possesses the attributes of perseverance, unselfishness, and courage in order to achieve those goals,â? said James Diagostino, Knightstownâ??s principal. â??Matt persevered through two ACL surgeries during his sophomore and junior years to come back and lead the team through this memorable year.â?
Said Willard: â??Heâ??s a great kid and a good leader.â?
The son of Rodney Cox and Kara Peggs plans to attend the Naval Academy or Purdue and is the first Knightstown player to win the Eskew Award in football.
So what do you think? Share your thoughts in our forum.
Processing your request, Please wait....
