A number of big plays proved to be the difference in Shelbyville Central’s 28-14 loss to visiting Tullahoma in a non-region matchup to kick off the football season at the Eagles' Nest on …
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A number of big plays proved to be the difference in Shelbyville Central’s 28-14 loss to visiting Tullahoma in a non-region matchup to kick off the football season at the Eagles' Nest on Thursday night.
Wildcat senior running back Keishawn Cummings scored on three long runs and finished the game with 138 yards rushing on just seven carries to lead the way for Tullahoma.
“It’s very frustrating. We just didn’t play well all-together night. Offensively, we just sputtered, shot ourselves in the foot and had some dumb penalties all night long,” Shelbyville Central coach Josh Puckett said.
“Defensively, we played well but gave up a few big plays in their run game. Hats off to Tullahoma. They played a really simple game and out-coached us, out-prepared us and were more disciplined than we were.”
After a scoreless fourth quarter, Tullahoma got on the board first when Joe Ducan hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Scott.
Justus Chadwick made to first of his four extra-points for the 7-0 lead.
The Eagles responded with a nice drive capped off by a 17-yard pass play for a TD from Kade Cunningham to Kendal Trice. The point attempt after was blocked.
The Wildcats added another touchdown before the half off a Cummings 47-yard run for the 14-6 advantage at the half.
Shelbyville Central tied the game on a long drive that ate up over eight minutes off the clock when senior Laquan Young found the end zone on a two-yard run.
Cunningham battled his way in the end zone on the two-point conversion to even the score at 14.
Tullahoma put the game away when Cummings had back-to-back touchdown runs covering 46 and 33 yards in the final 3:14 of the third quarter.
“Tullahoma did a really good job of not giving up any big plays and made us have long drives in wet conditions,” Puckett said.
“We were able to move the ball down the field but always found a way to shoot ourselves in the foot. All we can do is learn from it.”
Cunningham connected on 13-of-23 passes for 125 yards with a TD and two interceptions. He also rushed for 94 yards to lead the Eagle offense.
Cam Grogen and Theo Washington each picked off a pass while Jaden Harper recovered a fumble for Shelbyville Central.
The Eagles travel to Marshall County on Friday night at 7.
Tullahoma 0 14 14 0 — 28
Shelbyville Central 0 6 8 0 — 14
Second Quarter
T – Joe Ducan 36 pass from Ryan Scott, (Justus Chadwick kick) 7:40.
SC – Kendal Trice 17 pass from Kade Cunningham, (kick blocked) 2:08.
T – Keishawn Cummings 47 run, (Chadwick kick) 1:00.
Third Quarter
SC – Laquan Young 2 run, (Cunningham run) 3:45.
T – Cummings 46 run, (Chadwick kick) 3:14.
T – Cummings 33 run, (Chadwick kick) 2:29.
The Yard Stick
T SC
Rushing Yards 247 145
Passing Yards 147 125
Total Yards 394 270
First Downs 13 17
Penalties-Yards 1-5 7-42
Turnovers 3 3
Returns-Yards 3-28 4-81
