Eagle stumble damages playoff chances

Eagle Bobby Wilson (31) dives for extra yardage after a long gain on a pass reception in the fourth quarter against Lincoln County on Thursday night. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Shelbyville Central failed to take advantage of a good situation Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles entered the District 8-AAA game with visiting Lincoln County in a perfect position to earn a TSSAA wild card berth into the state playoffs next week with a win to close out the regular season.

Even though Shelbyville showed improvement over last year throughout the regular season, the rebuilding process will continue after coming up on the short end of a 21-14 score on Senior Night at Eagle Stadium.

Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles (5-5, 1-4 8-AAA) still remain in the hunt to claim a wild card berth but will probably have to face a higher seed and perhaps a longer road trip.

The TSSAA will announce the state playoff brackets Saturday morning at 7 on Nashville radio station 104.5 The Zone.

"This whole new process of determining who will get a wild card berth into the state playoff is very complicated, but I believe that we still have a pretty good chance of advancing with our 5-5 record," Shelbyville coach Jason Hardy said. "We were pretty much assured of one of those spots if we would have taken care of business tonight but that didn't happen. Now it's just a waiting game till Saturday morning. If we are fortunate to hear our name called Saturday morning this coaching staff will get on the ball trying to get film of our opponent, put together a game plan and get ready for practice Monday."

Lincoln County had struggled throughout the season by their standards but closed out the regular season by winning three of its last four games.

Shelbyville Central quarterback Tre Stewart (3) makes a move to get upfield. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Falcons huddled at midfield and jumped up and down on the SC (Shelbyville Central) logo at the end of their pregame warmup as the Eagles prepared for Senior Night festivities.

That act of disrespect must not have fired up the Eagles as Lincoln County scored a touchdown on their first two offensive possessions.

Stuart Perrin capped off a 12-play drive with a 4-yard run around left end for the first score of the game. Spencer Sanders connected on the first of three extra points to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead at the 2:09 mark of the opening frame.

Shelbyville responded when junior Isiah Washington took the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the end zone just 18 seconds later. Angel Jarquin's point after evened the score at 7-all.

Lincoln County scored three plays later when Brandon Jean broke loose on a 61-yard touchdown run to put the visitors up 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

"That long run really hurt. They caught us with our linebackers a little wider because we were expecting a pass and they hit us with a big run and we didn't do a very good job of tracking him down," Hardy said.

Quarterback Tre Stewart picks up some tough yards for the Eagles. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Eagles took advantage of a big play for their next touchdown as Will Trice knocked the ball loose for a fumble and Bobby Wilson picked it up and returned it 41 yards with 10:27 left in the half.

Shelbyville closed out the first half with an impressive 14-play drive but failed to score after missing a 20-yard field goal try in the closing seconds.

The Eagles got the ball to the Lincoln County 5-yard line but threw an incomplete pass on third down after spiking the ball on first to stop the clock.

"We just kind of ran out of time and downs on that drive at the end of the first half and had to settle for a field goal attempt," Hardy said. "We had done a good job of moving the ball downfield but we ran out of time before we could punch it in. We did everything we could do to give ourselves a chance to put points on the board, but we just didn't execute."

The Eagle defense forced a punt on Lincoln County's first possession of the second half but a short punt bounced, hit a Shelbyville blocker and the Falcons fell on the ball and recovered the fumble at the Eagle 19.

Five plays later, Perrin scored his second TD of the game off a 2-yard run.

Eagle Jovan Jackson (8) tries to turn the corner. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"What a bad break. Our guys didn't see the punt and it came down and hit him. Sometime that's just how the ball bounces," Hardy said.

On Lincoln County's next offensive possession, Shelbyville could have had three pass interceptions for touchdowns but failed to execute on the first two and scored on the third opportunity but it was called back for a roughing the pass penalty.

"That's just the type of game this was for us. Their quarterback throws the ball right to one of our defenders twice with nobody between them and the end zone and we drop the football both times," Hardy said. "Then the third time we get the interception and return it for a touchdown and we get it called back with a penalty."

After rushing for seven touchdowns last week the Eagle offense didn't score a point this week.

"That is very disappointing. I thought we had a breakthrough last week but I credit Lincoln County for playing hard and keeping our offense out of the end zone," Hardy said. "We've got too many athletes for us not to break a big run or break a big pass for a score. We've got to do a better job of getting the ball into the end zone."