Milestone season on tap for Shelbyville football

Shelbyville football was one overtime play away from finishing above .500 last season.

Accomplishing that feat in 2026 could be just one of many celebrations for the Golden Bears, who are about to embark on their 100^th consecutive year of playing football also while joining a new conference.

Shelbyville head coach Scott Fitzgerald (photo) has spent his first three seasons building confidence from within and physical strength in the weight room. All that work is primed to pay off in 2026.

Shelbyville’s offense now has two quarterbacks, an elusive running back, a bevy of proven receivers and a veteran offensive line that will put plenty of pressure on any team’s defensive game plan.

The graduation of Jack West at center and Donavon Martin at running back are the key players to replace this season. Nolan Cord slides over from left guard to take over at center and Grantland Fitzgerald moves from receiver to running back.

West and Fitzgerald were Shelbyville’s only two All-Hoosier Heritage Conference selections last season.

While Fitzgerald (photo) is no stranger to being in the backfield, the senior has spent the summer preparing himself for more carries to go along with his defensive duties.

“I still feel like its football,” said Fitzgerald. “You are going to get hit anywhere. I feel like I am preparing myself differently a little bit. It’s a little different, but it’s really the same.”

Martin carried the ball a program record 272 times last season for 1,397 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers were a testament to the philosophy of building a strong offensive line.

Fitzgerald rushed for 415 yards and scored seven touchdowns behind that same offensive line but also caught a team-high 39 passes for 537 yards and seven more touchdowns. Defenses will have to track him all over the field.

“We can’t expect him to turn around and do what Donnie did last year with all the carries,” said Scott Fitzgerald. “We have to distribute the ball a little differently this year. I think we have the weapons to be able to do that. I think we can throw the ball to all four different guys that are going to be out there. I think putting him in the backfield, him coming out of the backfield to catch balls on swing passes where he is not having to run up the middle all the time, we will do that.”

Senior Tyler Gwinnup (photo) will take the first snap at quarterback for the third straight season. As a sophomore, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in a knee against New Palestine. He did it again in the 2025 opener at Greensburg after completing 17 of 19 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

“I just want to go out there and have fun with the seniors one last time,” said Gwinnup, one of four team captains this season along with Grantland Fitzgerald, Anthony Stafford and Cooper Thoman. “That last two years got taken away from me. I just want to be out there with my friends.”

Gwinnup’s early departure last season thrust then freshman Layden Fitzgerald into the quarterback role. He adapted quickly and threw for 1,448 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading the Golden Bears to a 5-6 record.

Fitzgerald (photo) will play quarterback this season, even as soon as the season opener if Gwinnup struggles, but the senior’s return allows the sophomore more opportunities to play defense this season.

“Both kids are doing a really good job. They are making it hard (to choose one over the other),” said the head coach. “That is one thing you like to see. You want to make it hard.

“Both guys are showing times where they are really throwing the ball well and making really good decisions. And they both are showing times where they are not putting the ball right where we want it to be.”

The top targets for either quarterback will be senior Jackson Myers, junior Austin Martzall and sophomores Camden Thoman and Kellen Coffey.

Anthony Stafford (photo) becomes a four-year starter on the offensive line at left tackle. Right tackle Lamberto Leon returns as well with Cord now at center.

Junior Ethan Griffin and sophomore Clayton Watson take over the starting guard roles.

Defensively, Shelbyville will be very physical and athletic at the second and third levels.

Cord (photo) shifts from defensive line to linebacker this season to join Cooper Thoman and Coffey in the middle of the defense.

Kameron Holland (photo) will work as a hybrid linebacker-safety after amassing 57 tackles last year.

“I love defense. It fires everybody up,” said Holland, who also will see time in the offensive backfield. “Hitting people is probably my favorite thing to do in football. It’s probably the only reason I’m on the field. Hitting people is pretty fun.”

The secondary will include Camden Thoman, Kendrick Hook, Carson Nance and Tucker Schultz rotating with Myers, Martzall and both the Fitzgeralds.

On special teams, Luke Coomes returns to handle the punting duties while Kobe Rosales will take over kicking extra points and field goals.

With the departure from the Hoosier Heritage Conference to the Hoosier Legends Conference, Shelbyville has five first time opponents on its schedule and two more with just a total of three meetings.

The only thing the same is its non-conference schedule at home Friday against Greensburg (kickoff at 7 p.m.) and Aug. 28 at Rushville. The Golden Bears have played the Pirates and Lions a combined total of 138 times.

Rushville was on Shelbyville’s schedule during its inaugural season in 1927. The first meeting between Greensburg and Shelbyville occurred in 1948.

Shelbyville’s first HLC game comes at McKeand Stadium on Sept. 4 against Beech Grove. The Golden Bears will alternate road and home games from there.

Tri-West and Wisconsin recruit Jack Sorgi will host the Golden Bears on Sept. 11.

Triton Central comes to Shelbyville for Homecoming on Sept. 18.

Shelbyville’s final four games are at Indian Creek on Sept. 25 and Speedway on Oct. 9 with home games against Greenwood on Oct. 2 and Monrovia on Oct. 16.

The postseason begins on Oct. 23 for all but one team in the 7-team Sectional 23 field that includes Shelbyville.

Preseason No. 1 East Central highlights the sectional grouping that includes Charlestown, Columbus East, Jennings County, Madison and Silver Creek.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.