South Putnam ready for regional clash with Sheridan

If the Eagles (10-2) can knock off Sheridan (7-5), they would play the winner of Providence and Milan next week in the semi-state.

South Putnam head football coach Chuck Sorrell needs no reminders about what is at stake tonight when his Eagles take on legendary coach Bud Wright and the Sheridan Blackhawks. 

While Wright has over 600 wins to his credit, Sorrell is looking to claim South Putnam's first regional championship since 2002. 

"That's a long time. This community loves football. There are thousands of people hanging around the fences tonight. Our emails have been blowing up all week about people coming to the game that played here and coach somewhere else, have played here and are out of town. We have a home field and people want to see the turf, the lights and a really good football team play against a team that if you go through history, Sheridan and South Putnam have played in the tournament and many times, back in the 80's especially, the winner of that game went on to the state championship. I don't see it any different. I think whoever wins this game has a really good shot of playing at Lucas Oil," Sorrell told The Putnam County Post. 

If the Eagles (10-2) can knock off Sheridan (7-5), they would play the winner of Providence and Milan next week in the semi-state. South Putnam's last semi-state title also came in 2002, and Mark Wildman's team fell to Southwood, 17-14, a week later in the state championship. 

"This team has worked so hard since last December. We met and talked about the Lutheran loss and it was all hands on deck getting these guys ready to win a sectional. Now we have a chance to win a regional and are playing some really good football," Sorrell said.

The game against Sheridan is the first home game in four weeks for the Eagles, and Sorrell is ready to see a packed house tonight at Mark Wildman Field. 

"We are excited to be on our turf and make Sheridan make that long travel to get us. It is huge for us. We have been practicing on this since August and we really wanted to play a home game and get these fans and all of the South Putnam community involved and see how good of a football team we are. They get to see a regional championship and it has been a long time since South Putnam has won a regional championship. I imagine there will be a lot of people, and we are excited to see them," Sorrell said. 

Since losing in back-to-back weeks to Lutheran and North Putnam, South Putnam has been on a roll, running off nine straight wins, blanking three opponents and getting it done with both an explosive offense and a stingy defense. On the season, the Eagles are averaging 40 points and surrendering 11 points a game. 

"I knew we were a good football team. We weren't quite ready for Lutheran. Say what you say, North Putnam was ready to play in week three and we weren't. Since that night, we had a come to Jesus meeting and we have really come to play every night. We have not had a bad start since that night, and our seniors have taken charge of this team. We have all coached a little harder. We have all played a little bit harder, and we have practiced a little harder since week three and it's been showing on Friday nights," Sorrell said. 

The Eagles have been led on offense by quarterback Wyatt Mullin and running back Ty Benton. 

"Wyatt has proven why he is a four year starter for us. Our offense right now is so dynamic. We can run I, we can run spread, we can run power, we can run counter, we can throw the ball deep, we can throw the ball short. I would not want to have to prepare as a defensive coach against us because we have so many weapons and when we started getting players back, it made us even better," Sorrell said. 

Defensively, South Putnam has held opponents to seven points or less seven times. Sorrell said Zach Dorsett has dominated on the defensive line, while the Eagles have also gotten solid play out Keenan Mowrey-Shields as well. 

"We've given up some rushing yards the last few weeks, but a lot of that has been in the third and fourth quarter when we've been getting some guys out. We are a bend but don't break defense and we are a big play defense. We want to make big plays. On the back end, we have four sophomores and in June and July, we were giving up touchdowns, but they have been really good for the last six or seven weeks. If you put the ball in the air, it has a chance to be intercepted," Sorrell said. 

According to Sorrell, the Blackhawks are going to look to run the football tonight against South Putnam.

"They are well coached and gap sound on offense. They are going to run power, belly and toss and we have to make sure we stay home for all three of those plays. I'm not sure how good their defense is. We will see how they match up against our spread offense," Sorrell said.