Crest vs. Shelby action

The sun popped out here in Shelby about 4 p.m. and it looks like we're going to have a clear evening for football at Pearley Allen Field.

Be sure to check out longtime Star photographer Jeff Melton's blog here at http://www.shelbystar.com/ for a photo blog of tonight's contest.
Kickers from both teams are out on the field getting in their workouts two hours before the contest is scheduled to begin.
Crest co-captains: Justin Price, Reggie Wilkins, Taylor Crosby and Martavis Burris ... Shelby co-captains: Larry Raper and Chavalo Wright.

Crest will kick off to Shelby with the Golden Lions heading for the south end zone.
Shelby's Larry Raper runs the kickoff back 85 yards for a score but it's wiped out by illegal block penalty. Golden Lions start from their own 17.

The running of Michael Copeland and Jonathan Hopper move Shelby down inside the Crest 10 where the defense stiffens. Turner Almond comes on to kick a 22-yard field goal. Shelby leads, 3-0, with 7:15 to go in the first quarter.
The teams exchange punts with Crest getting the better end of the deal, taking over at the Shelby 44 with 0:59 left in the first quarter.
Quarter ends with Shelby in front, 3-0.
Teams continue to trade kicks. Short punt puts Shelby in possession at Crest 38. Drive ends with errant field goal. Still 3-0 with 5 minutes left in half.
After 2 more punts, Crest starts moving. Reggie Wilkins gains 33 yards on a QB draw, then passes eight yards to Aldrich Watson to put Chargers at the Shelby 26 with 43 seconds left in half.
At the 22, Wilkins scrambles away from the rush and finds Kendall Kee all alone in the right side of the end zone for TD. Trever Austin's kick puts Crest in front, 7-3, with 0:23 left in the half.
Score stands at half -- 7-3 Chargers.

Comment: Defenses seem to have the edge so far in this game but Crest's Wilkins began to break Shelby's containment on the last drive. Golden Lions, after the initial drive, have struggled offensively with only the running of fullback Michael Copeland the only consistent yard producer.

2nd Half: Crest takes second half kickoff and marches in for a score.
Freshman Qourtez Wright breaks free on a 30-yard run off the left side to reach the end zone. Austin's kick is good. Crest leads, 14-3, 9:09 left in third period.
Shelby gains a pair of first downs after the kickoff but then fumbles it back to the Chargers. Crest takes over at Shelby 40 with 6:17 on the clock. Crest fumbles it right back to the Lions on the next play.

Shelby mounts a drive late in third period. Larry Raper carries five times in a six-play, 61-yard drive. Raper breaks free up the middle on a 26-yard touchdown run with :04 left in third period. Almond's kick cuts Crest's lead to 14-10.

After a Crest punt, Shelby goes on the march again. Raper and Copeland share the ball-carrying load. Copeland punches it in from the one with 3:00 on the clock. Extra point is no good. Shelby leads 16-14.

A sack and a holding penalty push Crest back to the 16. Chargers punt it away, giving Shelby the football at the 47 with 1:26 to go.
Shelby runs out the clock, taking a knee on two straight snaps to end it.
Final score: Shelby 16, Crest 14.

Comment: Shelby's offensive line found its rhythm midway in the second half and wore down the Charger defensive front. Raper came up big for the Lions, running out of a deep single back formation and rushing for 97 yards in the final two quarters.