Eagles improve, but can't hang on

Shelbyville defenders Daniel Tillman (34), Jonathan Certain (32), and Jeffery Holman (63) put a lick on Lawrence County running back Harry Douglas. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

LAWRENCEBURG -- It's obvious that Shelbyville Central has completed the first stage of the rebuilding process -- improving as a team.

Now, the Golden Eagles face the formidable challenge of learning to win.

That fact was ever so true in the Eagles' 13-10 loss at Lawrence County in a Region 5-4A matchup Friday night.

Shelbyville is getting better. The players are stronger, quicker and, even though they are a little inexperienced as a team, making steps in the right direction.

They're finding ways to stay in the game. Now, they've got to find ways to win.

"Somehow, someway, we've got to learn how to win all over again," Shelbyville coach Jason Hardy said. "I try to drill in into the players every day at practice and tell them to win all the small battles that face them.

"Each and every player on this team has got to make that happen. We're getting closer. We're just a play or two away in almost every game."

Shelbyville entered the game with a total of 12 turnovers in their first two outings (six each).

The Eagles made it through 3 1/2 quarters without a turnover before venturing back to their old ways, turning the football over with the game on the line during their final three possessions.

Trailing by three with just under eight minutes left to play, Shelbyville sophomore quarterback Tre Stewart made a nice run for an 8-yard gain and first down at the Lawrence County 8-yard line, but fumbled trying to pitch the ball back to teammate Julius Smythe. Wildcat defender Andres Alejandre recovered.

The Eagle defense stepped up to the occasion and stopped the powerful Lawrence County offense.

Shelbyville (0-3, 0-1 region) fumbled again with Alejandre collecting his second recovery of the game.

Once again the Eagle defense didn't allow any points, holding the Wildcats on a fourth down try at the Shelbyville 3.

With time running out, the Eagles' third giveaway was a pass interception.

"Just when you think you're going to make through the game without any turnovers and give yourself a chance to win, we have three in a row late in the game." Hardy said. "The effort was there, the execution for the most part's there.

"Over the past three weeks you can take five things from each game and can flip our record. I've told the kids over and over, we've just got to keep on working and we'll get through all this. We've just got to do the little things better."

Both teams scored on their first offensive possessions of the game, Lawrence County on a 8-yard run by Ernie Maldenado at the 9:37 mark of the first quarter and Shelbyville with a 10-play, 5:18 drive capped off by a 2-yard run by Will Trice.

Trice set up the score with a 34-yard run and had eight carries on the drive.

The Wildcats (2-1, 1-0 region) added another TD off a 5-yard run by Trent Garland with 6:19 remaining in the half. The kick after was no good, making the score 13-7.

Shelbyville let a golden opportunity slip away on their opening drive of the second half.

Kicker Angel Jarquin connected on a 22-yard field goal for Shelbyville Central. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

On third-down from the Wildcat 5, Hunter Brothers was wide open in the back of the end zone, but the pass was just a little high forcing the Eagles to have to settle for a 22-yard field goal off the foot off Angel Jarquin.

Trice was the workhorse on the ground for the Eagles, rushing for 115 yards on 21 carries.

Smythe added 59 yards on nine carries.

With the return of Trice to the lineup and the addition of Emmanuel Andrews, the Eagles have more weapons on offense.

Shelbyville returns to action Friday night at 7 in a non-region game at Clarksville Kenwood.