Second half push elevates Dragons to victory

With the playoff race heating up, the Shelbyville Dragons are one step closer to securing a place in the postseason. The Dragons are currently resting at 4-2 overall record and a 2-1 district record.

Shelbyville entered their matchup with the Grapeland Sandies as the favorite. Unfortunately, the Dragons got off to a slow start.

“The first half was ugly,” said Shelbyville head coach Jerred Wallace. “There’s no other way to describe it. Offensively we were sloppy. Defensively we weren’t doing things well, just weren’t lining up and reacting to the football. Going in at halftime, we talked to them and tried to make some aD.J.ustments mentally… Defensively in the second half, we cleaned some things up and offensively we committed to the run game. Our offensive line accepted the challenge and got it done. Franydrik [Buckley] carried the ball really well tonight. [D.J. Barnes] toted the ball really well for us as well. [Cameron Mason] stepped up, and [Hunter Harvey] came in late and gave us a little spark, but those guys up front really did a great job tonight. They’re the guys that got us going in the second half.”

As stated by coach Wallace, the second half is where the Dragons turned things around. They entered the second with a one-possession lead of 29-22. Grapeland received the kick to start the final half and was able to cross the goal line for the touchdown and then again on the two-point conversion giving the Sandies a 30-29 lead.

This could have spelled disaster for the Dragons, but they kept their heads up and went to work. Shelbyville quickly regained the lead and refused to hand it back. Shelbyville would ultimately take the win 64-36.

D.J. Barnes was 12 of 16 with one touchdown and one interception in the passing game. He also rushed 22 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Franydrik Buckley had 13 carries for 117 yards and three touchdowns as well. Freshman Hunter Harvey was handed the ball twice collecting 10 yards and a touchdown for his efforts.

Dylan Parker led the Dragons in the receiving game with six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Mason had four carries for 32 yards and two catches for another 32 yards. Eli Ferguson gave the Dragons a spark early with a 31yard reception that provided excellent field position.

This win places the Dragons in sole possession of the three-seed with only three games to go in the regular season. To maintain this placement, Shelbyville will likely need to earn wins over San Augustine and West Sabine.

Shelbyville faces the San Augustine Wolves who just handed the Joaquin Rams a heartbreaking, homecoming loss.