The Tullahoma Wildcats had ample opportunities to put Shelbyville away Friday night, but the Golden Eagles wouldn’t allow it, tying the game with 1:49 to play and beating the Cats 13-10 in double overtime.
A massive crowd filled Cooper Steel Stadium for the season opener and the 99th edition of the 41-A rivalry, with Shelbyville now holding a 50-46-3 all-time advantage. They got their money’s worth. Tullahoma senior defensive lineman Beau Williams earned the Midtown Nutrition Player of the Game.
Tullahoma (0-1) scored its only touchdown with 8:04 remaining in the first half. Senior quarterback Patrick Riddle threw a perfect 17-yard spiral to junior Landin Johnson, and Aiden Walker’s extra point put the Cats on top.
Shelbyville (1-0), with 6:50 left on the game clock and urged on by its loyal fans, drove 83 yards on 17 plays, with sophomore quarterback Cy’onn Rucker connecting with senior Jackson Themm for a 25-yard score.
After both teams kicked field goals in the first overtime, Tullahoma turned the ball over on its second overtime opportunity, and Themm nailed a 22-yard field goal to win it for the Golden Eagles.
The first 46 minutes featured a Wildcat defense that bent but didn’t break. After Tullahoma’s opening drive ended in a 37-yard Walker punt, the Golden Eagles drove from their 15 to the Wildcat 17, but Rucker’s fourth-down run came up short, and the Cat offense took over with 1:50 left in the first quarter.
Riddle led an 86-yard, 13-play drive that used almost six minutes. He ran twice for a first down, then connected with sophomore Colby Shephard on a 17-yard pass. Riddle found Jakin Lovett for 11 yards, then for 21. On the next play, Riddle hit Johnson on a fade route in the end zone.
The Golden Eagles threatened again, driving 75 yards on 14 plays, including two personal fouls against the Wildcats, landing at the Wildcat one-yard line. Tullahoma’s interior defense, led by seniors Elijah Alexander and Gene Houghtaling, stuffed Shelbyville running backs Treyvion Mathis and Titan Long on four consecutive plays.
Walker helped flip field position with a 47-yard punt, and Shelbyville couldn’t get close enough for a field goal try, ending the half with the Wildcats clinging to a 7-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles punted on their first possession in the second half, with Tullahoma taking over at its 44-yard line. After Riddle connected with Johnson for 41 yards, a three-yard loss and an illegal procedure penalty backed the Cats up. Walker missed a 34-yard field goal attempt, but Shelbyville was offsides. Walker missed the 29-yard attempt, leaving the Wildcat lead at a single touchdown.
Tullahoma’s defense remained stiff, forcing a Golden Eagle punt. The Cats started a drive at their seven-yard line with a 15-yard completion to Johnson, a 17-yard run by junior quarterback Brady Scott, and a 32-yard completion from Scott to Shephard.
Junior Zion Jeffery, noticeably missing from the Wildcat offense, finally got a touch and took it 19 yards to the Shelbyville nine, setting up first-and-goal for the Cats. Two penalties and a sack later, Walker missed a 46-yard field goal attempt, ending another Tullahoma opportunity to take a two-score lead.
Sandwiching the third and fourth quarters, the Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out, setting the offense up at Shelbyville’s 36. A facemask penalty pushed the Cats to the 15-yard line, and Riddle’s five-yard run picked up a first down, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed Tullahoma back, followed by a 14-yard loss and two more procedure penalties.
After Walker’s punt, the Eagles put together their game-tying drive.
Unofficially, Riddle completed 14-of-27 for 167 yards and a touchdown. Johnson caught four for 80 yards and the score, Shepherd caught five for 70 yards, and Lovett had three catches for 38 yards. Riddle also led Tullahoma in rushing, with the Cats carrying the ball 27 times for only 60 yards.
Rucker was 6-of-22 for the Golden Eagles for 74 yards, but Shelbyville rushed for 205 yards on 44 attempts, led by Torrion Mathis with 61, Long with 59, Rucker with 40, and Treyvion Mathis with 39.
Tullahoma will host Coffee County on Friday for the 101st edition of the Coffee Pot. The Red Raiders opened their season with a 34-8 victory over Franklin County. Shelbyville will host Marshall County Thursday night.
