Dragons fall in late game shootout

The Shelbyville Dragons are now even with a 1-1 record after falling to the Hemphill Hornets. After a relatively slow start in the first half, both teams began to click offensively during the second half for both teams. As the second half progressed it became clear that whoever scored last would take the victory. Unfortunately for the Dragons, Hemphill did just that and earned a 50-45 win at home.

Shelbyville received the opening kick. The Dragons looked poised to score after back-to-back first downs put them in Hornet territory, however, their offensive endeavors stalled out giving Hemphill possession of the football.

Shelbyville would break the ice with 2:25 left in the first quarter. After driving the field, DJ Barnes capped things off with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Geechi Mathis on a fourth and seven. The first quarter ended 7-0, Shelbyville.

Dylan Parker now has an interception in each of the two games played thus far as he was able to secure one early in the second quarter. Despite the interception happening in the Hornets’ endzone, officials ruled that during the tackle, Parker crossed the goal line, and the ball was spotted at the one.

With time winding down, Barnes threw a bomb to Franydric Buckley. Buckley was held up at the two-yard line, but Cameron Mason was able to punch the ball in a couple plays later increasing the Dragons’ lead to 13-0. With only 27 seconds on the clock, Hemphill came up big when they needed to the most. The Hornets scored with no time on the clock and a two-point conversion put the score at 13-8 headed into halftime.

Hemphill’s score late in the first half was especially important given the fact that they were set to receive the kick to start the second half. They were able to capitalize and gain a slight edge with a score of 14-13 early in the third.

From this point, the game became a tennis match. The ball traveled back and forth down the field with neither team’s defense able to come up with a stop. In the third quarter, there was actually a period of time totaling 28 seconds in which three touchdowns were scored.

The teams spent the final two quarters trading the lead until late in the fourth quarter. Hemphill’s final score left only 26 seconds on the clock, and the Dragons were unable to earn the win.

DJ Barnes was outstanding for the Dragons. His 251 rushing yards and 245 yards passing were highly impressive. Barnes threw two touchdowns and rushed for four. Buckley led the team in receiving yards with 87. He also tallied 77 yards on the ground. Dylan Parker caught four receptions for 79 yards. Jon Jon Mathis gained 50 yards and a touchdown in the passing game. Eli Ferguson snagged two passes for 21 yards.

Shelbyville’s ability to score takes centerstage each time they touch the field. Barnes is a complete beast in both the rushing and passing game. Buckley is another dual threat. Parker has the ability to burn defensive backs. From a strictly offensive perspective, Shelbyville is a force to be reckoned with. The Dragons’ struggles are rooted in their inability to stop opposing offenses from the defensive side of the ball.

Next up for the Dragons is a home game matchup with the Elysian Fields Yellowjackets. This game will also serve as Shelbyville’s homecoming.