The Shelbyville Golden Eagles topped the Tullahoma Wildcats 34-14 Thursday night in Shelbyville to claim the Region 5-5A championship.
The game started with a bang as Liam Grider returned the opening kickoff 95 yard to put the Cats on the board first 16 seconds into the game. The Eagles struck right back though on playt two of their opening drive as Rai Keyrean Chandler ripped off a 76 yard TD run.
What looked to be an offensive shootout slowed down from there as the teams traded punts, Shelbyville fumbled, Tullahoma missed a field goal and each team turned the ball over on downs to end the first quarter tied 7-7.
Shelbyville took the lead midway through the second quarter as on a pick six by William Bobo. The teams would trade three and outs and head to the locker room at halftime with Shelbyville up 14-7.
The Golden Eagles expanded their lead halfway through the third as Nathan Delaughter hit Bobo on a 67 yard touchdown pass. Liam Grider pulled the Cats back with in sever with his second TD of the night on a pick 6 with 3:17 left in the third and that score would hold heading to the fourth.
Tullahoma struggled to gain offensive traction throughout the night and after a three and out and turnover on downs Shelbyville pulled away over the final nine minutes of the game with a pair of touchdown runs from Raydun Crenshaw.
The victory caps a perfect 6-0 region record for the Golden Eagles and extends their win streak to nine heading into the postseason. Shelbyville (9-1 overall) will host Hillsboro in the first round of the 5-A playoffs Friday November 3rd at 7:00. Coverage driven by Newton Cheverolet GMC begins at 6:30 on WHMT 105.1 and 95.9.
The loss snaps a five game win streak for Tullahoma who finishes the regular season 7-3 overall and 4-2 in 5-5A play. The two seed Wildcats host Nolensville who entered week 11 ranked 5th in the state next Friday at 7:00 in the opening round of the postseason. Coverage on 93.9 The Duck presented by Tennessee Homes begins at 6:30 November 3rd.
