Sports
GOTW Preview: Sheridan, Philo Prepare For MVL Battle
By: Sam Mullan
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With conferences starting to shape into what they’ll be at the end of the season, Sheridan and Philo have found themselves as some of the top teams in MVL. Last year, the Electrics went into Thornville and shut out the Generals 31-0. But that was last year.
Sheridan is coming off a big win against Maysville, who was sitting at the top of the conference before the game, giving the Generals co-ownership of the top conference spot with Tri-Valley. Sheridan head coach Paul Culver doesn’t want his players to lose focus coming into a game that could make a big difference in both the conference and the playoffs.
“Without a doubt, we’re still a young and unexperienced team,” Culver said. “We played pretty well against Maysville. How’s our team going to handle that? We’re really focusing this week, and it’ll be difficult going down to Philo. They’re really going to make it tough for us.”
With last week’s win, Sheridan has jumped from No. 15 in Division III Region 9 to No. 10. The Philo Electrics was recently ranked No. 2 in Division IV Region 13. Both teams could use the points to lock up a playoff spot.
In two of the last three games, Sheridan has had to play three of Gridiron Glory’s Player of the Year watch list members from the MVL in Blake Atkins of John Glenn and Maysville’s Jordan Hayes and C.J. Harris. Sheridan’s defense has come up in these two games as the three have combined for just 83 yards, the bulk of that coming from Atkins. Culver commended his team for defensive play last week.
“Last week was that one point during the season where things started to click,” Culver said. “The coaches had a good game plan, and the players executed well.”
This stretch of playing great running backs won’t end this week for the Generals. The Electrics have a deadly 1-2 punch of running back Nathan Delozier and quarterback Zak Sheridan. Sheridan is the last member of the Player of the Year watch list in the MVL. Culver doesn’t want to see Philo’s Sheridan to take down his own, but he knows the focus can’t just be on one player.
“We need to do the same thing we did last week,” Culver said. “Every player has a responsibility and we will be successful if we stick to that. We’re going to focus on playing the same sound defense that we stress from week to week. If we focus too hard on one guy, then someone else is going to burn you.”
Culver still views his team as one without a true leader, both offensively and defensively. However, there has been a player that he believes could become a leader for them.
“Chase Heath is the most physical player we have,” Culver said. “He makes plays for us and gets the other guys excited when he does.”
Culver will need his boys to step up again in this game to pull out the win. Sheridan and Philo will be facing off in Duncan Falls, Ohio, on Friday at 7:30 p.m.