Shelbyville overpowers Greenwood behind productive rushing attack

Grantland Fitzgerald’s return to running back paid huge dividends for Shelbyville Friday night at J.M. McKeand Stadium.

The senior carried the ball 31 times for 218 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also had four receptions for 99 yards and two more scores to lead Shelbyville to a 41-28 win over Greenwood.

The last time Fitzgerald started in the backfield was Shelbyville’s season-opening 39-14 win over Greensburg. He had 31 carries that night for 217 yards but suffered a knee injury that sidelined him in week two. A sore hamstring developed and that limited his rushing attempts over the next four weeks.

“I have been feeling really good,” said Fitzgerald after the win. “We were talking all week about me just incrementally getting myself back up to 100%. I feel like we’re doing a good job of not wearing me out in practice and I’m doing the right things recovery wise.”

Shelbyville, now 4-3 this season, needed a bounce-back win after an unsettling 42-0 loss at Indian Creek one week earlier. The game plan was to run the ball. The Golden Bears have won every game this season when they have rushed for at least 200 yards and lost every game they rushed for under 100.

“We told the guys all week long and I challenged them (Thursday) at practice about how many yards we rush for when we win,” said Shelbyville head coach Scott Fitzgerald. “That is something we had talked about all week as coaches. We put the challenge to them that we were going to run the ball.”

Shelbyville used more two tight end sets working with an offensive line that created holes for Grantland Fitzgerald (photo) and Kameron Holland (11 rushes, 49 yards).

Greenwood (3-4) had a similar plan with running back Leland Morton. The Woodmen opened the game with 10 straight running plays for Morton and quarterback Brady Smith and marched down to the Shelbyville 12 where Smith mixed it up and found Benjamin Hommell for the game’s first score.

That put pressure on Shelbyville right away to answer the call.

The Golden Bears put together their own 11 play, 79-yard touchdown drive without putting the ball in the air.

“That was huge, and the way we did it just marching it down the field,” said Coach Fitzgerald.

The two teams traded touchdowns twice more in the first half before the Golden Bears added their fourth scoring drive that resulted in a 27-21 lead at the break.

Both teams scored on their opening drive of the second half and Shelbyville held on to a precarious six-point lead at 34-28.

Greenwood had the opportunity to take the lead on a Jackson Davis interception off a tipped Tyler Gwinnup pass. He hauled in the football at his own 15 and raced up the Greenwood sideline for the end zone. Some 20 yards behind the play a Golden Bear went rolling to the ground and a flag came flying.

Greenwood was called for blocking in the back which took the touchdown off the scoreboard.

From there, Shelbyville’s defense stopped Greenwood’s final four drives, three on downs and a final interception by Layden Fitzgerald.

Morton finished with 159 yards rushing on 25 attempts and one touchdown. Hommell had seven receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Shelbyville now chases confidence and momentum through the final third of the regular season.

The Golden Bears (2-3 Hoosier Legends Conference) travel to Speedway (3-4, 1-4 HLC) for a week eight clash with the Sparkplugs, who started the season 3-0.

Shelbyville then hosts Monrovia (2-5, 1-4 HLC) for Senior Night Oct. 16.

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