Golden Eagle sophomore Jackson Themm brings down Tullahoma running back Marvancy Johnson for a short gain. (Post Photo by Gary Johnson)
Shelbyville Central running back Robert Bailey stiff arms a Tullahoma defender on the way for a big gain in the Golden Eagles win on Friday night. (Post Photos by Gary Johnson)
By GARY JOHNSON
Sports Writer
TULLAHOMA — Back-to-back Region 5 5A champions.
On Friday night, Shelbyville Central’s Golden Eagles edged Tullahoma 28-27 in the final regular season game to go undefeated in region play and claim the title for the second year-in-a row.
A missed extra-point on the Wildcats’ last touchdown late in the game was the difference.
The Golden Eagles (9-1, 6-0) will host No. 4 seed Hillsboro (5-5) on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the TSSAA state playoffs.
“I’m just so proud of our guys. I love the grit, the way they play with and for each other and the love they have for one another,” Shelbyville Central Coach Jud Dryden said. “I just can’t say enough about them and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Tullahoma struck first when running back Marvancy Johnson raced 43 yards to the end zone at the 5:43 mark of the opening quarter.
Chase Dodson connected on the kick after for the 7-0 lead.
Shelbyville Central responded with a 12 play drive capped off by a 3-yard run by quarterback Steven Bobo.
Ben Betzelberger was perfect on extra-points as the Golden Eagles even the score at 7-7.
Bobo set up that touchdown with a 31-yard run on a third down to extend the drive.
The Golden Eagles scored the lone touchdown in the second quarter, a one yard run by Nate Zimmerman with 2:43 left in the half for the 14-7 advantage.
Shelbyville Central increased the lead to 21-7 when junior running back Robert Bailey scored on an 18-yard r
Sophomore quarterback Steven Bobo threw for 106 yards and rushed for 125 in Shelbyville Central’s against Tullahoma to claim the region championship. (Post Photo by Gary Johnson)
un.
The Wildcats responded with back-to-back touchdown drives, the first a 9-yard run by Johnson.
Tullahoma recovered the football on the ensuing kickoff to set up
its second TD of the quarter, an 8-yard pass to Alex Bobo from Lucas Reed.
The kick evened the score at 21-21 with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Golden Eagles regained the lead at the 11:50 point of the fourth when Labron Ransom hauled in a 35-yard pass from Bobo and the kick made the score 28-21.
Johnson carried the ball four-straight times, totaling 40 yards, before Reed hooked up with Khani Johnson on a 30-yard TD pass.
The kick after failed.
Tullahoma had the ball late in the game but Brody Lovvofn intercepted a pass giving the Golden Eagles the ball to run out the clock and claim the victory.
“This was one of those games when you just don’t know which moments matter, so you have to play every one of them like they do and we just happened to have our moments at the right time and it worked out for us in all three phases of the game,” Dryden said.
Bobo completed 6-of-14 passes for 106 yards and added 125 yards on 20 carries.
Bailey rushed for 102 yards on 22 touches.
Johnson finished with 145 yards rushing on 19 carries for the Wildcats.
“Tullahoma played well,” Dryden said. “They were prepared and had a good game plan. This was a back and forth game between two good football teams going at it.”
Shelbyville Central 7 7 7 7 — 28
Tullahoma 7 0 14 6 — 27
First Quarter
T — Marvancy Johnson 43 run (Chase Dodson kick), 5:43.
SC — Steven Bobo 3 run (Ben Betzelberger kick), 1:17.
Second Quarter
SC — Nate Zimmerman 1 run (Betzelberger kick), 2:43.
Third Quarter
SC — Robert Bailey 18 run (Betzelberger kick), 5:23.
T — Johnson 9 run (Dodson kick), 2:45.
T — Alex Bobo 8 pass from Lucas Reed (Dodson kick), 0:58.
Fourth Quarter
SC — Labron Ransom 35 pass from Bobo (Betzelber kick), 11:50.
T — Khani Johnson 30 pass from Reed, (kick failed). 8:32.
