Playoff preview: Sheridan, Bloom-Carroll gearing for physical affair

THORNVILLE — Sheridan lineman Reece Hale felt he was looking in the mirror when watching footage of Bloom-Carroll's football team.

"They play the same way we do," Hale said. "They're just a lot bigger than us."

The Bulldogs' size was something which fellow Muskingum Valley League foe Tri-Valley struggled against during their Division III, Region 11 quarterfinal matchup last week. Sheridan faces them tonight in a semifinal matchup at Lancaster's Fulton Field.

The running tandem of 6-3, 220-pound Andrew Marshall and Dylan Armentrout combined for 173 yards on 31 carries, while the Bulldogs were 5-of-7 on third down conversions. Their defense, with Marshall and 210-pound middle linebacker Chase Plantz leading the way, shut the Scotties out until the 1:36 mark of the fourth quarter in a 20-7 win at Jack Anderson Stadium.

"We have to be more physical, because they're a very physical team," Sheridan senior receiver/defensive back Andrew Holden said. "We have to break up their rhythm. They don't hit many big plays, but they get three or four yards every play. The coaches have been preaching that it's just like looking in the mirror all week."

Hale was also impressed with the Bulldogs' physicality during preparation.

"It's the biggest line we've faced all year," Hale said. "I think we match up with them pretty well on defense with our line and linebackers."

Bloom-Carroll hasn't yielded more than seven points in three games and has four shutouts this season. Kent State recruit Marshall, a starter on last year's Division IV state semifinal team, is a force on both sides of the ball.

"He hits hard and his motor never stops," Hale said. "He doesn't really give up until the play is over. He goes until the whistle. We just need to swallow him up and gang tackle."

Lineman Jacob Ramey said it will be the most physical challenge the team has faced so far.

"Without question," Ramey said. "Tri-Valley was physical, too, but they didn't have the size. They had the strength but not the size. These guys are all over 6 foot, except for their center, and they're all over 260 pounds. We're going to have to battle the whole time."

The Generals will offer their own physical challenge for the Bulldogs, who are up in Division III after spending previous years ruling the region in Division IV.

They are coming off consecutive Final Four appearances, including last year's crushing loss to Clarksville Clinton-Massie in which the Bulldogs fumbled inside the Massie 5-yard line in the final minute, while trying to score the potential game-winning touchdown.

Many of those top players are gone, including first-team All-Ohio lineman Luke Farrell and do-it-all receiver Beau Wisecarver. But Marshall, Plantz and Armentrout all played key roles on that team.

Those players, and both teams' penchant for defense, has the players feeling a defensive battle is forthcoming.

"First one to 14 wins," Ramey said.

Sheridan coach Paul Culver III called Marshall one of the best linebackers he has seen on film in his coaching career, mainly because of his versatility. He can set the edge and defeat reach blocks against outside zone plays, yet rangy and athletic enough to play the seams against the pass.

"He is a complete linebacker," Culver said. "Most high school linebackers are either run stuffers or are athletic enough to play the pass. He can do both. He's what Shay (Taylor) was for us a couple of years ago."

Sheridan is in the playoffs for the 22nd time since 1985 and are 6-4 in the postseason since 2018. This year's team has leaned on an option-heavy offense led by dual threat quarterbacks Reid Packer and Caden Sheridan, who have more than 2,700 total yards between them.

Running backs Justin Munyan (96 carries for 899 yards) and Alex Poirier (122 for 648) topped the 1,500-yard mark after the team ran for 529 yards in last week's 60-34 shootout win against Washington Court House.

This one figures to take on a much different tone.

"I'm just happy to have another week with my staff and my players," Culver said. "This is my home away from home. ... We're going up against a very high quality opponent."

sblackbu@gannett.com; Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Playoff preview: Sheridan, Bloom-Carroll gearing for physical affair