Defensive lineman Steven Tindall (77) brings down Lawrence County running back Matt Hartsfield along with the help of Josh Arnold. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge]

LAWRENCEBURG -- Shelbyville Central had one last chance to claim a victory and prevent a winless season, but it just wasn't meant to be as the Eagles closed out the 2006 campaign with a 27-0 loss to Lawrence County in a Region 5-4A matchup Thursday night.

First-year head coach Jason Hardy saw his Eagles (0-10, 0-7 region) march down the field time and time again, only to walk away with no points.

"If time of possession would put points on the board, we would have had a victory," Hardy said. "Offensively, we moved the football up and down the field. We just really hurt ourselves when we got inside that 20 or 30 yard line. We just couldn't get in the end zone. That's really unfortunate because we moved the ball well. We played good enough to win, we just didn't take advantage of some opportunities and they did."

The weather and field conditions might have been an advantage for the Wildcats (2-8, 1-6) as the wet and slick field slowed down the speedy Eagles. It also was a perfect setting for Lawrence County's Matt Hartsfield, who rushed for 235 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns.

"I actually love this kind of weather, it fits my personality," Hardy said. "One day it's going to fit the personality of this team as well. It was a good cold and wet night and that's good hitting weather. We're not that type of team yet, but one day we will be."

Junior running back Nick Batts was Shelbyville's workhorse, carrying 24 times for 120 yards.

The Eagles only collected 137 yards of total offense, with only a dozen yards passing, a season low.

Lawrence County collected 283 yards on the ground with only 13 in the air.

Hartsfield scored on runs of 9, 65 and 23 while Trae Brannon hauled in a 13-yard pass from Hunter Mansfield for the final TD of the game late on the fourth quarter.

The Eagles ventured into Wildcat territory five times.

Hardy and his staff will look to revamp a program that has gone 3-27 (2-8, 1-9 and 0-10) in the past three years.

"As the year went along our work ethic and practices became better and smoother and we've got a grip on basic offense and defense now," Hardy said. "A lot of young players got a lot of minutes and that won't do anything but benefit them. I hate to see these seniors go but they've helped start something and we're going to make this work over the next few years.

"There are bright days ahead for this football program and this coaching staff and I are going to see this through. I just hope everybody will hang in there with us and not dwell on the bad things and this year's record."

Hardy knows that next year's success will be determined by what goes on this off season.

"We've already got an offseason program planed that will make us bigger, stronger and closer as a team," Hardy added. "If there's some kids walking the hallways at Shelbyville High School that just wants to come out and try to play, this is an open invitation to all of them."