FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles (1-2, 1-0) picked up their first win of the season on Saturday night, 15-14, at Franklin (1-2, 0-1) to kick off District 6-6A competition.

After Friday night’s kickoff was forced to reschedule due to thunderstorms across the region, the Golden Eagles’ defense held the Admirals to just 160 total yards in the nailbiting affair to allow Jackson Themm to kick the game-winning 21-yard field goal in walk-off fashion. 

Despite the slim margin on the scoreboard, Shelbyville actually heavily outgained the Admirals, compiling more than 380 total yards compared to Franklin’s 160. The hosts’ quarterback, Ryder Gregg, was held to just 9/20 passing for 78 yards and one touchdown by a ferocious Golden Eagles’ defense. The ground game didn’t fare much better, as Shelbyville limited Franklin to just 88 yards on 21 attempts.

For Shelbyville, superstar tailback Robert Bailey amassed more than 150 yards on the ground, but it was the legs of Stephen Bobo that opened the scoring from one yard out in the first quarter. After a failed two-point conversion, the Golden Eagles took that 6-0 lead into the halftime locker room after neither team found points in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, Franklin finally found a way to get on the board after Gregg connected with Joseph Panaia from 12 yards out to take a 7-6 lead. After Shelbyville was forced to punt the ball on its next drive, Luke Thompson found enough space on the punt return for a 53-yard touchdown, giving Franklin an eight point lead, 14-6, heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Bailey found the end zone from six yards out for his only touchdown of the game, but after the two-point conversion attempt came up short, Shelbyville needed one more stop from its defense to have a chance to win the game. 

After forcing a punt, Bobo directed his team down to the Franklin 4-yard line before Jackson Themm came on to attempt a go-ahead 21-yard field goal. Themm, kicking in place for the injured Johnathan Betzelberger and is the starting middle linebacker for Shelbyville, nailed just his second field goal attempt of the season to walk it off for the Golden Eagles, 15-14. 

Franklin falls to 1-2 (0-1) and is set to travel to Coffee County on Friday night.

Shelbyville improves to 1-2 (1-0) and returns to the Eagles’ Nest for its 2025 home opener against the Independence Eagles on Friday night with kickoff set for 7:00 LIVE on WLIJ 98.7 and AM 1580.