Friday, November 14, 2008

Shelby vs. Owen in playoffs

Shelby High (8-3) will be taking on the Owen Warhorses (4-6) in the State 2A football playoffs tonight at Pearley Allen Field. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

This may go down as the "Fog Bowl." There's quite a mist below the level of the lights at Blanton Memorial Stadium around 7:15 p.m.

Game gets under way with the Owen Warhorses starting at their own 24.
Owen rolls up four first downs in succession to the Shelby 16.
Warhorses stay on a roll behind the running of fullback Brennan Kirby and Andy Coleman. Coleman carries it in from one yard out with 6:49 left in the first period. Robert Barker's kick makes it ... Owen 7, Shelby 0

Shelby starts near midfield and quickly rushes for two first downs. Owen stops Shelby fullback Michael Copeland at the 32 on fourth-and-one with 4:11 left in the quarter. Owen though goes 3-and-out and punts to the Shelby 26 with 2:29 left in the quarter.

A 45-yard carry by Golden Lions' QB Quinton Hopper gets Shelby rolling.
Raper carries twice to put Shelby second-and-goal at the two. Owen stops Copeland cold on second down. Copeland plows ahead on third down to reach the end zone with 14 seconds left in the opening quarter.Shelby misses the point after, making the score ... Owen 7, Shelby 6.

Shelby forces Owen to punt early in the second quarter and Lions start from their 42. After a four-yard run by Copeland, Raper takes a pitch (backward pass) in the right flat. Raper turns it upfield and zooms 54 yards untouched for the score. Turner Almond's kick is good. Wih 10:08 left in the half the score ... Shelby 13, Owen 7.

Owen forced to punt again and Shelby resumes the attack. Lions have found something that works as Raper takes another throw out in the flats and speeds 24 yards to the Warhorses' 23. Two plays later, Shelby runs the same quick flip to the other side and Gerald Jennings takes it and goes 18 yards for the score. Shelby mishandles the snap on the kick but with 7:10 left in the half, it's ... Shelby 19, Owen 7.

Instant replay: Owen goes 3-and-out again.
Shelby takes over at its own 44. Lions line up in punt formation on fourth-and-two at Owen 48. Short snap goes to Raper who sails around the right side on the fake. Raper speeds all the way for the score. Almond's kick is good. with 3:47 left in half it's ... Shelby 26, Owen 7.

After the kickoff, Shelby linebacker Miles Lawrence breaks through to hit Owen QB Cody Craig as he tries to deliver a pass. Ball pops in air and is picked off by senior defensive end Quevalas Murray.
Shelby takes over at Owen 22. A holding penalty sets Shelby back but a 21-yard run by Raper and a 15-yard pass from Hopper to Reid Houser sets up a one-yard scoring plunge by Copeland on the last play of the half. Daniel Pennington kicks the extra point through making it ...Shelby 33, Owen 7.
At the half: Raper has rushed for 182 yards but limps off on his last carry and leaves the field.

Shelby gets the ball to start the second half but after one first down, has to punt it away. Owen takes over a its 18 and picks up a pair of first downs to the Shelby 38. After a one-yard gain on first down, three straight incompletions give the Lions possession at their own 37 with 6:35 left in the third period.

Shelby kicks it away moments later. Owen begins a drive from its 19. Warhorses get moving behind running of Coleman and Kirby. Owen gets all the way to the Shelby eight. Facing second-and-seven, refs stop the game because of lightning. Starting at 9:03, we have a 30-minute delay before play can be started again. Both teams leave the field for the locker rooms.

After a 30-minute wait ... and with lightning continuing in the area, the head official walks to the middle of the field and holds up the football and points to the Shelby bench, indicating the game was officially over and Shelby would advance to next week to play either Bandys or Ashe County.
Word from Crest is that the second half had not begun due to the weather conditions. Chargers were leading 21-7 at the break before the delay.

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