1998 IHSAA STATE FINALS

Class A

November 27, 1998

RCA Dome, Indianapolis

 

North White (12-3)

13

0

0

20

--

33

Sheridan (14-1)

14

20

7

15

--

56

 

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

North White -- Isaiah Benakovich 33 pass from Shaun Murphy (Corey Hunt kick), 8:55

Scoring Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 3:05

 

Sheridan -- Chuck Henry 2 run (Brett Clayton kick), 8:15

Scoring Drive: 3 plays, 2 yards, :45

 

North White -- Josh Auxier 26 pass from Shaun Murphy (kick failed), 4:33

Scoring Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 3:37

 

Sheridan -- Chuck Henry 4 run (Brett Clayton kick), 2:22

Scoring Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 2:11

 

2nd Quarter

Sheridan -- Tony Bailey 46 run (Brett Clayton kick), 7:58

Scoring Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:10

 

Sheridan -- Tony Bailey 3 run (Brett Clayton kick), :55

Scoring Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:36

 

Sheridan -- Kyle Timme 5 pass from Travis Delph (kick failed), :08

Scoring Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, :36

 

3rd Quarter

Sheridan -- Chuck Henry 1 run (Brett Clayton kick), 3:32

Scoring Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 3:40

 

4th Quarter

Sheridan -- Travis Delph 1 run (Brett Clayton kick), 10:26

Scoring Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards, 3:02

 

North White -- Shaun Murphy 1 run (Corey Hunt kick), 8:07

Scoring Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 2:19

 

North White -- Shane Bilyeau 17 pass from Kyle Brooks (Corey Hunt kick), 3:39

Scoring Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 2:05

 

Sheridan -- Billy Lliorea 3 run (Brad Greeman run), 2:10

Scoring Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 1:29

 

North White -- Kyle Brooks 44 run (pass failed), :05

Scoring Drive -- 5 plays, 64 yards, 2:05

 

 

Team Statistics

North White

 

Sheridan

17

First Downs

21

35/101

Rushes/Yards

52/350

228

Passing Yards

114

11/24/1

Passing Comp./Att./Int.

7/12/0

59/329

Plays/Total Net Yards

64/464

150

Return Yards

156

4/37.0

Punts/Avg.

1/46.0

2/30

Penalties/Yards

4/45

2/1

Fumbles/Lost

3/3

24:20

Time of Possession

23:40

 

Individual Statistics

Rushing

North White -- Brooks 3-42; Segal 9-27; Murphy 14-16; Titus 5-13; Hites 1-2; Applegate 1-1; Hendress 1-0 Thomas 1-0.

Sheridan -- Henry 30-183; Prater 11-101; Bailey 4-51; Delph 5-10; Lliorea 1-3; DeVol 1-2.

 

Passing

North White -- Murphy 8-17-176; Brooks 3-6-52; Benakovich 0-1-0.

Sheridan -- Delph 7-12-114.

 

Receiving

North White -- Elizalde 4-87; Benakovich 2-44; Auxier 1-26; George 2-41; Bilyeu 1-17; Tribbett 1-13.

Sheridan -- Timme 6-104; Henry 1-10.

 

Tackles

North White -- Murphy 9; Titus 7; Sherrick 6.

Sheridan -- Bailey 10; Rood 4; Sample 4.

 

Sacks

North White -- None.

Sheridan -- Bailey 4; S. Sample 1; G. Faussett 1.

 

Interceptions

North White -- None.

Sheridan -- Timme 1.

 

Fumble Recoveries

North White -- Coonrod 1; Na. Hendress 2; I. Benakovich 1.

Sheridan -- S. Sample 1.

 

CLASS A GAME NOTES

 

Most State Championships

Sheridan collected its sixth state championship in football (all in Class A) with its victory over North White. The Blackhawks previously won the big trophy in 1980, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1992. Carmel's five state championships now ranks as second most. Each of Sheridan's championships came under the guidance of 33-year veteran coach Bud Wright who sports a 264-102-2 record at the school. The Blackhawks finished as the Class A runner-up in 1994 to North White.

 

Sheridan, Indianapolis Cathedral Making Seventh State Finals Appearances

Sheridan and Indianapolis Cathedral are making their seventh appearances in the IHSAA Football State Finals this weekend which ranks as the second most in state history. The Blackhawks and Fighting Irish are now tied with Franklin Central for the most appearances in the state finals. Hobart's 11 appearances is the state leader.

 

Most Combined Points

Sheridan and North White combined to score 89 points, eclipsing the record for most points in a state championship game in any class. The previous overall record was 71 points in the 1996 Class 2A game between North Montgomery and Fort Wayne Luers. The previous Class A record was 70 points by Pioneer and Knightstown in 1997.

 

Blackhawks Tie State Records

Sheridan converted six PAT kicks during the game which tied the Class A record set by Sheridan in its 1988 game against Bremen. The Blackhawks also tied the overall and Class A standard for most rushing touchdowns with seven. Pioneer (Class A) and Jimtown (Class 2A) both ran for seven touchdowns during their respective championship games in 1997.

 

Sheridan's Henry Moves Up State Season Charts

Sheridan's Chuck Henry scored three touchdowns to move into 13th place on this year's scoring list. Henry finished the year with 32 touchdowns and a two-point conversion for 194 points and a 14.9 points per game average. He also moved into 14th place on this year's rushing list. He ran the ball 267 times for 2,145 yards and 29 touchdowns for a 165.0 per game average.

 

Second-Most Points Scored In Losing Effort

North White's 33 points ranks as the second-most ever scored in a state championship game in a losing effort. Fort Wayne Luers fell in a 37-34 decision to North Montgomery in the 1996 Class 2A title game.

 

Sheridan's Travis Delph Named Eskew Award Recipient

Travis Delph, a two-way starter for the Class A state champion Sheridan Blackhawks, was named the 1998 recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class A Football by the IHSAA Executive Committee.

Delph was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Blackhawks and was a two-year starter at defensive back. He also has been the school's starting center in basketball the past two seasons. Academically, he ranks eighth in a senior class of 89 students with a 3.66 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He plans to major in business, but has yet to make a college selection. Delph is the sixth Sheridan athlete to receive the Eskew Award. Only Hobart has produced as many. Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 check in Delph's name to Sheridan High School.

 

 

CLASS A QUOTES

 

North White Coach Jim Davis

"It was a tremendous run for us this year. Despite the game today, our kids and our program were able to move forward."

 

"They have a great ball club. They have a lot of seniors, a good line and have a lot of experience."

 

"Just before the half, when they put it in, was a key to the game. We had to close out the half and we didn't and that gave us a tough hill to climb."

 

"(Chuck) Henry was tough to stop. When he ran, he would start and atop and we couldn't catch him."

 

"They were a better team than we were today. I'm sure it will be a boost for us to take note of what good things we did here today."

 

"The biggest play of the game was the kickoff right after our first score. That turned things around in a hurry."

"Throwing the ball has been a big part of our offense in the past, but this year we didn't throw as much because we were able to run the ball."

 

"We got a lot of experience with this game today for our younger kids. With experience now, we'll have to do something with it and continue to improve. It's a big boost for any community to get here (State Finals)."

 

Sheridan Coach Bud Wright

"Since the tournament started, we knew no one could run on us this year. We told our kids that they would throw the ball and they hurt us a couple of times with the long pass."

 

"These guys, a year ago, dedicated themselves after getting beat by Tri-West in last year's tournament. They dedicated themselves in the weight room and we came out and were able to win it all."

 

Commenting on his sixth state championship, "It's special to win. The first one was important but each one after that, each team had to meet the challenge and that's what makes each state championship special."

 

"We were able to come back and had to answer both of their quick scores with our scores in the first quarter. Our defense after that was able to control the game somewhat."

 

"I was afraid to substitute (at the end of the game), the way they were able to pass it. We were finally able to get some substitutes in, later in the game."

 

"Our offense was able to move the ball when we wanted to."

 

Commenting on the Sheridan program, "It takes great athletes who are dedicated players who want to work hard at it."

 

Commenting on Mental Attitude Award Winner Travis Delph, "He's a heck of a football player. When he came in as a sophomore against North Montgomery (State Champions), we knew we had a heck of a leader. He's been our starter and our quarterback ever since."

 

Travis Delph, Sheridan

Eskew Mental Attitude Award Winner

 

"I'm glad Coach (Wright) gave me the opportunity to quarterback this football team. It was great to play in a game like this."

 

"Ever since eighth grade, I've wanted to win it. That was a goal."

 

"We knew our offense could put up points. We had to concentrate on offense and hope that the defense could hold them to less than we scored."