Sheridan pummels Delphi
By Todd Swank Contributing sportswriter

Take down Delphi's Michael Myers wraps up the Sheridan runner while #14 Shane Evans, #60 Jarrett Baird and #10 Cory Banes move in for the kill Friday night. The Oracles came up short 48- 0. Bill Stauffer photo

The Delphi Oracles came into last Friday night's game fresh off a victory over a ranked team (Clinton Prairie) and were looking to repeat against Sheridan. Sheridan is the fourth top ten team to face the Oracles in their first six games in what has been a rough early season schedule. Despite controlling the ball for over 27 minutes, the Oracles were unable to score in a 48-0 loss.

Delphi had the ball first and moved the ball into Blackhawk territory. It was clear that the visitor's coaching staff had instructed their defense to keep an eye open for Oracle running back Kory Banes. Delphi was able to get some yardage by faking a handoff to Banes in the line and while the Blackhawks concentrated on him, QB Justin Salyer ran around the end or passed for first downs.

Salyer completed 3 of 4 passes before the drive stalled at the 36. A fourth down attempt for a first down was unsuccessful. Delphi got the ball just over a minute later when the Blackhawks, at their 44, went for it on fourth and two. RB Austin King was hit short of the first down and the ball went back over to the Oracles. Delphi was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt. Sheridan started deep in its end of the field and drove 92 yards in 11 plays to go ahead 6- 0 with just 2 seconds remaining in the opening period. The extra point was wide left.

Sheridan had a short field early in the second quarter after compelling Delphi to punt for a good runback by the Blackhawks. A 35-yard drive culminated in another TD. Another missed extra point made the score 12-0. After stopping the Oracles again, the Blackhawks moved the ball from midfield into the end zone in just 4 plays. At the half the score stood at 19-0.

Sheridan scored on a 52-yard TD run on their first play from scrimmage to open the second half. In 20 seconds they had stretched the lead to 26-0. An interception by Matt Lewis stopped the Blackhawks at the Delphi 3-yard line. The celebration didn't last long as the Sheridan defense tackled Salyer in the end zone for a safety on the Oracles' first play. Sheridan would go on to score two more TDs in the period to take a 42-0 lead.

Coach Larry Wright of Sheridan played his reserves after a 41-yard drive in two plays gave the Blackhawks an insurmountable 48-0 lead to open the fourth quarter. Neither team came close to scoring in the final 11 minutes of the contest.

Despite the thrashing by a powerhouse team that contends for a state title nearly every year, the Oracles are improving and the people who have seen them play every week would agree. Delphi has a real chance to get their third win of the season next week at Rensselaer for an 8 p.m. start.

Leading rushers for Delphi were Banes with 24 yards, Lewis with 33 and Josh Penn had 7. Salyer completed 5 of 12 passes for 52 yards with Kyle Stonebraker catching four of those for 43 yards and Shane Evans caught the other for 9 yards.