Shelby Holds Off Freedom Rally To Get Shelby's 800th Win

               The Shelby Golden Lions and the Freedom Patriots kicked off the season by having the game on a Wednesday night due to the American Legion World Series starting this weekend in Shelby. The first quarter would end up being a scoreless stalemate. But the Golden Lions broke the ice when kicker Caden Sheeley kicked a 27-yard field goal to put Shelby on top 3-0. But it would not end there. Soon quarterback Isaiah Bess connected with Jahari Mitchell for a screen pass that he took 67 yards for a touchdown. Sheeley’s kick made it 10-0.

                More disaster hit for Freedom as they were backed inside their own five yard line. Their punt would only reach the 20-yard line. But the Golden Lions would not capitalize as Sheeley’s next field goal attempt was blocked. But it would not matter. On their next drive, Bess would connect with Mitchell for another touchdown, this time from 39 yards out. Sheeley’s PAT kick made it a three score game at 17-0.

                The Patriots found a spark on the ensuing kickoff when Dezmond Caldwell returned the kickoff 97 yards for the Patriots’ first touchdown. Brandon Pieto’s extra point kick cut the lead to 17-7 and that’s what the score would be at halftime.

                Freedom would receive the second half kickoff but would not be able to seize momentum. It got worse before it got better for the Patriots as Shelby tailback George Dunlap punch it in from the one-yard line. Sheeley’s kick was good. It was 24-7, Golden Lions.

                Freedom would find some holes in the Shelby defense and take advantage. Patriot quarterback Jayden Birchfield connected with Dezmond Caldwell for a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead back to ten. Early in the fourth quarter, Birchfield took it in from the one-yard line. Pieto’s extra point kick, cut the lead to three points. But that would be as close as the Patriots would get as Shelby’s Isaiah Bess would do a quarterback keeper for a touchdown of their own from 11 yards out. The extra point kick made the final 31-21. This would be win 800 for the Shelby football program.

                “I’m excited! I thought both teams played hard. I thought it was a great first ball game for both of us. I thought we both did some good things. It was the 800^th for Shelby.” said Shelby head coach Lance Ware “There were some things we’d like to do over again but we’re proud about how our quarterback played. (Bess) made some plays with his arm and with his feet we weren’t expecting. I thought Jaylon Scott did a great job all night on defense leading us. Jack’s (Hollifield) first game at linebacker, I thought he did some good things. We got some things to shore up. Our kicking game, of course, gave up a kick return. Those kind of things happen early in the season.”

                “We started off as bad offensively as we could. I don’t know if we had 30 yards offensively in the first half but our defense held us in the game.” said Freedom head coach Luke Little “A couple key adjustments at half-time, we decided to go over the middle a little more. We had a drive at the end, but could not come up with a couple of plays.”

                In his debut at QB, Bess amassed 323 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and an interception. Jahari Mitchell amassed 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Jayden Birchfield led Freedom’s offense with 168 yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.

                Shelby will travel to take on A.C. Reynolds. Freedom will host county rival, Draughn.