Log in Subscribe

Eagles' growing pains flare against Marshall Co.

By GARY JOHNSON ~ gjohnson@t-g.com
Posted 9/12/20

After graduating 16 talented seniors off the 2019 team, one could expect a number of growing pains with the Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles. Such was the case on Friday night when the Shelbyville dropped a 50-35 decision to Marshall County in a non-region contest at the Eagles Nest on Senior Night...

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Eagles' growing pains flare against Marshall Co.

Posted

After graduating 16 talented seniors off the 2019 team, one could expect a number of growing pains with the Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles.

Such was the case on Friday night when Shelbyville dropped a 50-35 decision to Marshall County in a non-region contest at the Eagles Nest on Senior Night.

"We've just got a pretty young and immature team and that really showed tonight. We started off terrible then we got back into the game, then we have some turnovers," Shelbyville Central coach Josh Puckett said.

"The fumble and two interceptions didn't help, but those were not necessarily the quarterback's fault. We had some route problems out there. We're just not playing very well. We are an undisciplined team and I've got to do a better job coaching."

The Eagles had a number of penalties that came after the whistle and that's something coach Puckett aims to correct.

"It's embarrassing--a bad culture--and it's something we've got to get cleaned up and we will," Puckett said.

Shelbyville Central (2-2) looked good on the opening offensive possession of the game, scoring when junior Lakota Young hauled in a pass from Kade Cunningham, racing 68 yards to the end zone, breaking a number of tackles along the way.

The conversion attempt after failed, leaving the score 6-0.

From that point, Marshall County scored four unanswered touchdowns to take a 29-6 lead.

Connor Hilton scored on a two-yard run with Jon Estes good on the kick after, then A'Ky Howard caught a 30-yard pass from Bryson Hammons with Estes' point after.

The Tigers saw more scoring when Howard and Hammonds hooked up again, this time for 42 yards with Devonte' Davis running for the two-pointer, followed by a 55-yard TD pass from Hammonds to Jayden Hart with Estes making good on the kick.

The Eagles responded with a nice drive capped off by a nine-yard touchdown run by Cunningham.

He also ran for the two point conversion to cut the lead to 16 points, 29-13.

Shelbyville Central got the ball inside the 10-yard line late in the second quarter but failed to score.

After holding the Tigers on the opening possession of the second half, the Eagles put up another nice drive but it stalled inside the 10-yard line as well.

Shelbyville Central cut the lead to eight points after Cayen Puckett scored on a 12-yard pass from Cunningham early in the fourth quarter.

Cunningham ran for the two-point conversion to make the score 29-21.

That's when things turned south for the Eagles.

Hilton responded with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Marshall County then had a pair of pick-sixes, one by Davis for 21 yards and the other by Logan McKnight for 12 yards.

Estes connected on each point after for the 50-21 advantage.

"We challenged the defense at halftime to get a stop and they did but we went right down the field but just didn't punch it in. The defense got another stop and we couldn't score again," Puckett said. "The defense did a good job and made some adjustments at halftime and started playing better but we just couldn't take advantage of it."

The Eagles added a pair of touchdowns late in the game, a Demarcus Smalls two-yard run followed by a 12-yard run by Young.

Cunningham connected on 12-of-23 passes for 269 yards. He also ran for 45 yards.

Young had four catches for 92 yards, Elijah Malone had four totaling 72 yards while Gavin Donegan hauled in a pass for 50 yards for the Eagles.

Smalls rushed for 192 yards on 18 carries.

Hammons was 10-of-13 for 258 yards in the air.

Howard caught four passes for 106 yards while Hart had two catches totaling 100 yards to lead the Tigers.

Shelbyville Central is off this week, then hosts Centennial in a non-region game on September 25 at 7 p.m.

"This is a great time for our bye-week. We've got a lot to work on," Puckett said.

"We've got to get better and work on the culture of this football team. It's going to be a good week."

Marshall County 22 7 0 21 - 50

Shelbyville Central 6 8 0 21 - 35

First Quarter

SC -- Lakota Young 68 pass from Kade Cunningham, (run failed), 10:16.

MC -- Connor Hilton 2 run, (Jon Estes kick), 7:30.

MC -- A'Ky Howard 30 pass from Bryson Hammons, (Estes kick), 5:54.

MC -- Howard 42 pass from Hammons, (Devonte' Davis run), 3:25.

Second Quarter

MC -- Jayden Hart 55 pass from Hammons, (Estes kick), 11:42.

3:25

SC -- Cunningham 9 run, (Cunningham run), 5:37.

Fourth Quarter

SC -- Cayden Puckett 9 pass from Cunningham, (Harrison Canter kick), 11:54.

MC -- Hilton 12 run, (Estes kick), 8:09.

MC -- Davis 21 interception return, (Estes kick), 7:46.

MC -- Logan McKnight 12 interception return, (Estes kick), 6:51.

SC -- Demarcus Smalls 2 run, (Canter kick), 3:24.

SC -- Young 12 run, (Canter kick), 0:33.

THE YARD STICK

MC SC

Rushing Yards 84 260

Passing Yards 258 269

Total Yards 342 529

First Downs 11 20

Penalties-Yards 2/30 6/50

Turnovers 1 3

Return Yards 65 44

3rd Down Conversions 2-of-4 4-for-9

4th Down Conversions 0-for-1 1-for-2