Eagles lose concentration and game

Sophomore quarterback Tre Stewart rushed for 77 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes for the Eagles. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

A mental lapse late in the first half proved to be the difference in Shelbyville Central's 28-21 Region 5-4A loss to Whites Creek on Friday night at Eagle Stadium.

After tying the game 7-7 with 1:11 remaining in the half, the Eagles fell apart and allowed the Cobras to score a pair of touchdowns before halftime and take a commanding 21-7 lead into the break.

"That last minute and few seconds at the end of the first half was the difference in the football game," Shelbyville coach Jason Hardy said. "For whatever reason, we lost our composure, our confidence and didn't close out the half with an aggressive style of play. I really hate that happened with as hard as these guys played, but we've got to learn to play hard and focused all four quarters."

Whites Creek (3-2, 2-0 5-4A) scored first at the 3:38 mark of the opening quarter off a 12-yard pass from J. Booker to Clifford Jetton. Jeremy Cole nailed the point after.

The Eagles (1-4, 0-2 5-4A) looked to have salvaged the first half after sophomore quarterback Tre Stewart found a wide open Quinn Marable for 63 yards and a TD. Angel Jarquin's point after evened the score at 7-all.

It didn't take the Cobras long to strike back as Anthony Sims hauled in a 23-yard pass from Booker for the score with 0:30 left in the second quarter.

Whites Creek successfully recovered an onside kick and scored four plays later when backup quarterback Cedric Price-Lovings connected with Squeaky Barnes on a 24-yard pass for a touchdown with no time left in the first half.

Cole connected on both extra points for the 21-7 advantage.

"If we make a tackle on that last play, it's just a completed pass instead of a touchdown and we're sitting okay at the half," Hardy said. "I challenged them, coach (Kyle) Turnbow challenged them during the half and to their credit, they came out and outplayed Whites Creek in the second half. The guys did rise up to the challenge and gave ourselves a chance to win the game in the second half."

Shelbyville started the second half on a mission and scored on a seven-play, 68-yard drive capped off by a 28-yard TD pass from Stewart to Marable.

Whites Creek responded with a six-play drive highlighted by a 10-yard run by Barnes.

The Eagles followed with a 23-yard touchdown run by Stewart with 2:11 left in the third to cut the lead to 28-21.

Shelbyville's defense shut down Whites Creek in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles' offense let a couple of scoring opportunities slip away down the stretch.

Junior Emmanuel Andrews makes a move and makes a nice return for Shelbyville. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We were not as focused as we were last week at Kenwood and I don't know why," Hardy said. "We had a good week of practice but I think in our minds we thought Whites Creek has a little more speed and we played too cautious."

Stewart and the Eagle offense continue to improve as Shelbyville collected 211 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.

"We are getting better offensively and hopefully we get better and better every week," Hardy said. "The offensive line gave us a chance to throw and Tre showed he can throw the ball as well. They blitzed a lot and there was not a lot of running room up the middle."

Shelbyville only rushed for 74 yards, with Stewart carrying 16 times for 77 yards. Running back Will Trice had negative three yards on five attempts.

"I want to thank all the fans," Hardy said. "We had a great crowd and the Eagle Walk before the game was great," Hardy said.

WHAT'S NEXT

Shelbyville entertains Franklin County next Friday at 7.

"This matchup goes way back and the Shelbyville-Franklin County game is always exciting," Shelbyville coach Jason Hardy said. "We will be in the same region next year so I told the guys we need to make a statement in this game Friday night."