FB: Dragons overcome turnovers, Rams, 21-12
host of other Dragons during action Friday night in Dragon Stadium.
(Photo by Rusty Wilson)
The Shelbyville Dragons used a ball-control offense when they could hang on to the wet football at Dragon Stadium Friday night as they overcame six turnovers to hand the Joaquin Rams their second consecutive setback, 21-12.
Shelbyville fumbled six times on the wet tundra of their home stadium, but used the legs of Jesten Brown, who rushed for 123 yards on 20 carries, and the arm of quarterback Brad Estes, who completed 6-of-14 passes for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Estes was, however, intercepted three times.
Tyler Adams led the SHS receiving ranks with two catches for 57 yards and a TD, while Austin Rabalais added a 27-yard touchdown catch, James Bradford hauled in one for 17 and Nino Cartwright and Jesten Brown each had one grab.
But the Dragons outgained the Rams 303-170 as they improved to 2-0 on the young season. That win total equaled the team's victory production in the entire 2009 season. Shelbyville dropped down to Class 1A this year.
Joaquin running back Austin Youngblood went over the century mark for the second time in as many weeks. After picking up 127 yards last week in the season-opener against Tenaha, he posted 113 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts against the Dragons. Kain Yates added 25 yards on the ground.
Rabalais led the Dragon defense with 12 tackles, while Brown had six tackles and two sacks. Estes and Cartwright tallied five tackles each, while Adams and Hunter Ferrebee each recovered a fumble for SHS.
Cody Runnels led the Rams with six tackles, while Vaughn intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. Yates and Nick Cheatwood also had interceptions for Joaquin. Yates returned his pick 100 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back because of a penalty. It still netted 86 yards.
It was obvious from the outset that the Dragons wanted to control the ball and the clock. Shelbyville accomplished their goal, for the most part, in the first half and led 14-6 at intermission.
Shelbyville lit up the scoreboard first, driving 68 yards in seven plays for the score. Estes teamed up with Rabalais for a 27-yard scoring pass with 9:26 on the clock. The try for two by Caleb Helander failed, but SHS led 6-0.
The score remained the same until the 1:25 mark of the second quarter when Vaughn hit Hairgrove for a 32-yard scoring connection. That play came after Yates' 100-yard interception return was called back because of a penalty. The try for two failed, leaving the score tied at 6-6.
It took the Dragons just two plays to go back on top. Estes hit Adams for a 39-yard scoring pass to complete a 2-play, 57-yard drive with 56 seconds left before the break. Estes then threw to Rabalais for the 2-point conversion and SHS led 14-6.
The Rams struggled offensively in the third quarter as their first two drives ended on failed fourth-down conversion attempts.
But Joaquin cut the lead to 14-12 with 10:18 remaining in the fourth when Bloodgood scored from 10 yards out. The try for two failed, but the 7-play, 55-yard drive trimmed the lead to two.
Shelbyville's special teams play created the final score of the night when Rabalais tackled the Dragon punter on his own 8-yard line. Brown made his way into the endzone on the next play and Dillon Brown tacked on the point after and the final score was on the board with 7:48 remaining.
Joaquin's task won't get any easier this week as the Rams travel to Hemphill (0-2) Friday at 7:30 p.m. Shelbyville will host Beckville (2-0) for its homecoming Friday at 7:30 p.m.
STATS AT A GLANCE
JHS SHS
First Downs 7 12
Rushes-Yards 46-138 34-192
Passing Yards 32 111
Total Yards 170 303
Passes 1-7-0 6-15-3
Punts-Avg. 2-36.5 3-33.6
Fumbles-Lost 6-3 4-3
Penalties-Yards 6-50 5-45
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Joaquin 00 06 00 06 = 12
Shelbyville 06 08 00 07 = 21
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing
Joaquin: Austin Bloodgood 22-113 TD; Kain Yates 11-25; Tra Rogers 4-13. Shelbyville: Jesten Brown 20-123 TD; Caleb Helander 11-54; Austin Rabalais 1-8.
Passing
Joaquin: Will Vaughn 1-7-0 32 yards TD. Shelbyville: 6-14-3 111 yards 2TD.
Receiving
Joaquin: Wyatt Hairgrove 1-32 TD. Shelbyville: Tyler Adams 2-57 TD; Austin Rabalais 1-27 TD; James Bradford 1-17; Nino Cartwright 1-7; Jesten Brown 1-3.
Records/Up Next
Joaquin: 0-1 / Sept. 10 at Hemphill, 7:30 p.m. Shelbyville: 2-0 / Sept. 10 vs. Beckville (Homecoming), 7:30 p.m.