Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
Blake Ress, Commissioner
_________________________________________________________________________
November 23, 2007
SHERIDAN CLAIMS RECORD
NINTH STATE TITLE
Sheridan claimed its IHSAA record
ninth football state championship defeating Rockville, 34-28,
in the Class A state championship game. The win was the 36th in a
row for the Blackhawks, good for fourth place on the
all-time state list, and 18th consecutive state tournament
victory.�
Sheridan captured a state record 9th
state football championship. �Head coach
Bud Wright is the state’s winningest active
coach with a mark of 337-144 in 43 years overall, and 42 of those years at
Sheridan.� Sheridan also became the first
team to win the Class A state championship three
straight years.
Rockville (14-1) jumped out to a
quick 7-0 lead when junior quarterback Matt King connected with senior wide
receiver Daniel Martin on 62-yard touchdown pass.� The lead was short lived however, as Sheridan
(15-0) junior Nick Zachery took the ensuing kickoff
87 yards for a touchdown, making the score 7-7 less than two minutes into the
game.� Coach Herb King’s Rox retook the lead 14-7 on a 12 yard rush by senior
running back Zach Clapp that capped an eleven play, 67 yard drive that took over
five minutes off the clock.
Sheridan cut into the Rockville
lead, moving the ball 67 yards in 85 seconds as quarterback Nick Zachery hooked up with Corey Hamersley on an 18 yard
touchdown strike.� Sheridan missed the
point after however, making the score 14-13 Rockville, where it stood at the
half.
Sheridan struck quickly to begin the
second half as Zachery received the snap and
scampered 39 yards for the score, giving the Coach Bud Wright’s Blackhawks their first lead of the game 20-14.� Sheridan extended their lead to 27-14 when Zachery rushed 40 yards on the first play after an
interception by junior linebacker Carlton Summe.� Rockville countered with a 48 yard drive that
ended with a six yard touchdown pass from King to Clapp, making the score 27-21
Sheridan.�
Zachery continued his scoring ways rushing
for his third touchdown of the day, needing just one play to gallop 61 yards,
extending Sheridan’s lead to 34-21.�
Rockville cut the lead to 34-28 with 2:19 to play with an impressive 17
play, 95 yard scoring drive that ended with a three yard touchdown pass from
King to junior wide receiver Aaron Bridge.�
The Rox onside kick was unsuccessful however,
and Sheridan was able to run out the clock.
Zachery accounted for all of
Sheridan’s touchdowns (3 rush, 1 pass, 1 kickoff return), while amassing
340 all-purpose yards and 61 yards passing.
Rockville’s Zach Clapp was
named the 2007 Phil N. Eskew mental attitude award
winner following the game.
ROCKVILLE’S
ZACH CLAPP NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Following
the contest, Rockville’s Zachary Clapp was named the winner of the Phil
N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class A football by
members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
Clapp is
the first student-athlete from Rockville High School to ever win an IHSAA
mental attitude award.
Academically,
Clapp ranks near the top of his senior class of 64 students. He has been a
member of the honor roll every semester thus far and is on track to earn an
Academic Honors Diploma. Clapp plans to study political science but is
undecided on a college choice at this time. He has been a member of the
school’s Service Club, the National Honor Society and the Interact Club.
Athletically,
he was tabbed an All-State defensive lineman last year in Class A by the state
football coaches association and is a three-time selection to the All-Wabash
River Conference team. During his four years as a starter, he has served the
last two as team captain.
The award
is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated
by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude,
scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. It is named in honor� of the IHSAA’s
third commissioner who served the association from 1962-76 and who helped
initiate the state tournament in 1973.
He is the
son of Leonard and Sun Clapp of Rockville.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate
partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Rockville High School in the name of
Clapp.
Sheridan Quotes
Sheridan Head Coach Bud Wright
“I am
very proud of the way came back on them (Rockville).� They were a lot stronger than we
thought…a very good team.� It was a
great ballgame.”
“In
the first half, we had a couple of kids who weren’t playing up to their
ability.� At halftime we challenged them
to get better and they played much better in the second half.� We were making good, physical contact but
were just not driving people (blocking) and opening holes.� We got better as the game went along.”
On Junior Quarterback Nick Zachary
“We
rely on Nick a lot.� After Perkins was
injured, Nick had to carry the load even more.�
I’ve coached some really good players over the years and Nick
ranks right up there.� He can do just
about anything on a football field.� He
can play any position and is a strong kid for a quarterback.”
On Sheridan’s 9th
Football State Championship
“Each
one is a different game, a different year, but all of them are special.� You just hope, wish, and work at it and it
happens.� Winning a state championship is
our goal every year.”
Rockville Quotes
Rockville Head Coach Herb King
“The
difference in the game was a couple of turnovers that hurt us.� But really the difference was #7
(Sheridan’s QB Nick Zachery).� He is an outstanding athlete and player for
them.� We did not have an answer for
him.”
“We
got a step slower on defense in the second half.� That’s when #7 (Zachery)
hurt us.� In the first half we played
with a lot of heart, fire, and aggressiveness.�
I think we caught them a little off guard.� They probably thought we wouldn’t be
this good.”
“We
did a great job of keeping our composure.�
Our team overcame obstacles all year to get here.� Even in the ball game when it seemed things
weren’t going our way, our team kept on doing what they were supposed to
do.� I would think nothing less from
these young men.”
“That
last drive was 17 plays in a little over 2 minutes.� We worked the clock like we were supposed
to.� But we just couldn’t overcome
some of the problems we had earlier in the game.”
“Our seniors
played hard all year long.� They were the
heart and soul of our team.� There are
1,800 people in Rockville.� I guarantee
you none of them are at home today.”
On mental attitude award winner Zach
Clapp
“He
is just an outstanding young man.� He is
the heart and soul of what we ask all of our players to do.� He is tough and hard nosed and he’ll do
anything for anybody.”
VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY
Visit our
friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state
championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the
CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE
For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Couldn’t
be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official
souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in
person at the IHSAA Office (