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Shelbyville junior quarterback DJ Barnes tiptoes down the sideline after making a pair of Yellowjacket defenders miss. (Photo by Taylor Bragg)
The Shelbyville Dragons are 1-0 after a dominant 43-12 victory over the Alto Yellowjackets. Shelbyville hosted Alto for their season opener despite scorching hot temperatures and a pair of nearby wildfires. While the wildfires were contained by local fire departments, Shelbyville got their season off to a hot start.
The Dragons received the opening kickoff and quickly went to work putting points on the board. DJ Barnes led the Dragons from the quarterback position as Shelbyville marched down the field to the goal line. The opening drive of the 2023 season resulted in a 1-yard touchdown rush by Barnes following a catch one yard shy of paydirt by Eli Ferguson. The first quarter ended 6-0, Shelbyville.
Early in the second quarter, running back Franydric Buckley walked into the endzone for a three-yard touchdown. With 8:22 left in the second quarter, Dylan Parker got involved with a huge 79-yard touchdown reception thrown by Barnes.
On the proceeding Alto drive, Parker was in the right place at the right time as a tipped ball fell into his hands returning possession of the football to the Dragons. Ferguson was the next Dragon to cross the goal line after catching a 17-yard pass from Barnes.
One drive later, Obed Solis secured an Alto fumble before Barnes scored on a 15-yard touchdown rush. After one half of play, Shelbyville led 35-0.
Barnes put six more points on the scoreboard in the second half on a 21-yard touchdown scramble. The Yellowjackets gifted Shelbyville with two points after a bad snap sailed over the punter’s head and into the endzone. Rather than allow the Dragons to recover and score six, Alto’s punter elected to kick the loose ball out of the back of the endzone resulting in a safety.
Alto scored a pair of touchdowns before the end of the game to avoid a shutout. The final rested at 43-12, Dragons.
Junior quarterback Barnes has proven to be the engine of the Shelbyville offense. His two touchdowns and 137 yards rushing on 13 carries bolstered the Dragons running game. Barnes also went 9-13 for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the passing game.
“[Barnes] is a great kid and a great student,” said Shelbyville coach Jerred Wallace. “He never gets in trouble. He’s a great leader for our kids and it’s really good to see a young man to be able to do all those things with the high-character and integrity that he does.”
Parker was a threat at wide receiver collecting four passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.
“Dylan is a workhorse… Nobody will outwork Dylan Parker. Not saying that these other kids don’t work hard, he’s just got some kind of special motor. He never quits, he never stops, and that’s something that he’s done for us for the past two years. We’re really excited about the things that he’s able to do.” Said Wallace Ferguson snagged three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Buckley factored into the Dragons’ gameplan with eight carries for 58 yards and a touchdown. Senior RB Cameron Mason carried the rock four times for 26 yards.
Shelbyville’s season is off to a roaring start. The Dragons will look to build upon their early success this week in their week two matchup with the Hemphill Hornets. The Hornets fell to the San Augustine Wolves last week 36-20.