Eagles' early sizzle fizzles in loss to Tullahoma

TULLAHOMA -- It's not how you start, but how you finish.

Shelbyville Central opened with a bang against Tullahoma in a key District 8-AAA matchup Friday night with playoff ambitions hanging in the balance.

Junior linebacker Blake Sissom stepped in front of a Jared Davis pass and took it to the house from 56 yards out to put the Golden Eagles ahead 7-0 with six minutes left on the clock in the first period.

It was Central's last visit to the end zone in a 20-7 loss.

Sissom's play was even more electrifying because it came after the Wildcats (4-4, 3-1 8-AAA) were recipients of a questionable roughing the kicker call.

The Shelbyville defense had forced a three-and-out and would have taken possession deep in Tullahoma territory due to a poor exchange from the center that forced punter Corbin Hedges to pick up the ball and scramble, resulting in a kick on the run. The Eagle defense reacted to Hedges' action by promptly depositing him on his backside and were flagged.

It looked as if the Wildcats would capitalize on their good fortune until Sissom's interception three plays later.

Undeterred, Tullahoma answered on a 61-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Zach Bryson with just 1:55 left in the half and the score remained 7-all at intermission.

Bryson finished the half with 122 yards rushing for the Wildcats.

Will Trice had 27 yards on just two carries for the Eagles (4-4, 1-3) and quarterback Tre Stewart added 26 yards on seven carries.

The Wildcats ate up big chunks of yardage on the opening drive of the third quarter when Jacob Honea connected with Chad Bond on an 18-yard slant pattern followed by a 12-yard bolt by Bryson on successive plays.

Derek Bowles finished the drive with a 28-yard strike to Shane Hagen at the 6:44 mark to put his team ahead for a lead that they would not relinquish.

Ominous skies opened up for the rest of the game and the rain seemed to add to Shelbyville's offensive struggles as they squandered an outstanding 47-yard return by Shaq Thompson on a penalty on the ensuing kickoff.

The penalty appeared to take some wind out of the Eagles' sails. They were unable to sustain any kind of meaningful drive the rest of the game.

Bowles provided the dagger to Shelbyville's hearts with a 22-yard pitch and catch to Bond with just 14 ticks left in the third quarter. The kick failed.

Shelbyville's defense yielded 360 total yards in the game.

Shelbyville welcomes White County on Friday at 7.