Sherman hasnƵt been in a football state championship game since 1975, and Tide coach Kevin Buzzard said there is excitement in Boone County about finally returning to the title game.
Sherman needs two more wins to get there, and a tough opponent awaits the No. 6 Tide when it meets No. 3 Wahama in a Class A quarterfinal playoff on Friday.
That game will be played at Point PleasantƵs Ohio Valley Bank Stadium after Wahama requested the venue change with the ƵSSAC, White Falcons coach James Toth said, because of field conditions at Bachtel Stadium in Mason after the weekƵs precipitation. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Although Buzzard said he prefers to play on grass rather than on the artificial surface at the home of the Point Pleasant Black Knights, field conditions are the least of his concerns against Wahama.
Finding a way to stop Connor Lambert is the foremost item on BuzzardƵs agenda.
ƵHeƵs really good, really quick,Ƶ said Buzzard, in his fourth year as the Sherman coach.
When Wahama lost quarterback/running back Sawyer VanMatre to graduation following last season, it simply turned to Trace Simpkins to fill that spot and relied on Lambert as the primary offensive weapon.
ƵLast year, (Simpkins) didnƵt play much. He needed to grow up the fastest,Ƶ Toth said of his sophomore quarterback. We werenƵt sure what we had there, but I feel like weƵre as good as we were last year.
ƵThen we have Connor Lambert, and heƵs a player that can take it to the house at any time. HeƵs a Kennedy Award candidate.Ƶ
Through 11 games, Lambert has rushed for 1,923 yards on 102 carries this season, a whopping 18.9 yards per carry. Lambert has reached the end zone 37 times on the ground.
LambertƵs presence makes WahamaƵs passing game effective. Simpkins completed 38 of 56 passes (68%) for 852 yards and 13 touchdowns. He threw three interceptions.
Wyatt Harris leads the White Falcons in receptions (12) and receiving yardage (286), but six of SimpkinsƵ TD passes have gone to Lambert, who caught nine passes for 254 yards. The other seven TD passes were spread among three other receivers.
Opening things up for WahamaƵs skill players is an offensive line that Toth said was one of the best in Class A.
Buzzard said Sherman (9-2) canƵt hope to stop the White Falcons, but rather to keep them contained. Missing tackles, he said, will result in a similar outcome to the TideƵs loss against Tug Valley in the second game of the season.
Offensively, Sherman has many skill players that Toth will have to plan defensively for too.
Quarterback Eli Pauley has been effective for the Tide, completing 53 of his 99 pass attempts (54%) for 1,179 yards and 15 TDs.
ShermanƵs answer to Lambert is Trey Lester, who leads the Tide in both rushing yardage (814 yards, nine touchdowns) and receiving yardage (476, six). Colton Jones matched Lester with six receiving touchdowns.
Dawson Green could be the TideƵs key weapon. Green led Sherman with 86 rushes on the year for 605 yards and nine touchdowns. A bruising running back who also plays middle linebacker, Green drew praise from Buzzard.
ƵDawson is playing phenomenal on defense,Ƶ Buzzard said. ƵHeƵs just playing lights-out.Ƶ
River Williams didnƵt put up the numbers that Lester did on offense, but his performance rushing the ball and as a receiver have proven useful in keeping teams from solely focusing on his teammate.
Buzzard and Toth both said the game will come down to the battle on the line of scrimmage.
WahamaƵs line of Alijah Hicks, Seth Ohlinger, Teagan Scott, Hunter Miller and Tyler Northup will be countered by ShermanƵs Jaxson Johnson, Connor Sprouse and Luke Elkins along the defensive front.
Green shares the TideƵs middle linebacker spot with Jackson Foster, while Ryan Skeens and Adam Gillispie man the outside positions trying to keep Wahama from reaching the edges.
A win by Sherman would be the first time the Tide has ever won three playoff games in a season. In 1975, the playoffs were just two rounds, with the second one being the championship game, which was played at HuntingtonƵs Fairfield Stadium.
