Tri-West's dynamic quarterback next challenge for Golden Bears

Shelbyville football has suffered an injury to a key player in each of the first three weeks of the season. Recovery cannot happen fast enough for a program with a limited roster.

On Friday, the Golden Bears (2-1) make their first trip to Tri-West to face Wisconsin recruit Jack Sorgi and the Class 3A, No. 7 Bruins (2-1).

Sorgi, the son of former NFL quarterback Jim Sorgi, is one of the top quarterbacks in the state. He can beat a defense with his arm (868 yards passing, 10 touchdowns), his legs (team-leading 220 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and his mind.

“He does a lot of good things. I think he reads things very well,” said Shelbyville head coach Scott Fitzgerald. “He has great anticipation. You can tell he has been taught how to read defenses and what to do. He anticipates things and sees things very well.

“We have to be able to disguise some coverages and not just give him the same look all the time because if we do, I think he can pick us apart.”

While Tri-West is averaging nearly 37 ppg on offense, the defense has allowed nearly 100 points in the first three games.

“They are not real big. Their line is not real big but they like to twist and move and do some different things,” said Fitzgerald. “There are plays to be made. It’s about us and our execution and what we are doing more than anything.”

Shelbyville’s offensive line never controlled the line of scrimmage in Friday’s 7-0 loss to Beech Grove. The Golden Bears managed just 63 yards rushing, propped up by a pair of 20-plus yard runs.

“We have to make sure we are sound in what we are supposed to be doing,” said Fitzgerald. “We didn’t do a very good job of understanding what was happening in front of us. They like to twist and like to move but they are not real big upfront. They do have some speed.

“We have to understand our rules and stay in our lanes but move quickly while we do that. That is the thing we didn’t do (against Beech Grove). By the time we got to where we were supposed to be they were on our shoulder or in our backfield. … Just too much of the game being played in our backfield. We have to be more physical up front, and we have to be quicker with our steps.”

Due to injuries, Shelbyville will have a new starting running back for the third time this season. Grantland Fitzgerald (team-leading 217 yards) will play receiver for the second week in a row while still recovering. Kameron Holland, who started the last two weeks in the backfield (152 yards rushing), is likely out with an ankle sprain.

Sophomores Kendrick Hook (38 yards on eight carries) (photo) and Layden Fitzgerald (82 yards on eight carries) will get the bulk of the carries.

With pressure coming from all sides, quarterback Tyler Gwinnup struggled to connect with his receivers. He finished 8-for-26 against Beech Grove for 52 yards.

The receiving corps will be bolstered by Grantland Fitzgerald and the return of sophomore receiver Camden Thoman (photo), who suffered a knee injury in the season opener. The 6-5 Thoman had 29 receptions for 480 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.

“It’s another threat we can put out there,” said Coach Fitzgerald. “Cam gives us that different threat, that vertical threat, that high threat over on that one side.

“We haven’t been able to push the ball down the field quite as much. It’s not helped with Grantland being hurt and can’t help with that vertical threat. We’ve got (Austin) Martzall that can do that.

“But if you want to throw the ball vertical, you have to get protection and last week that was a problem.”

After week one of the Hoosier Legends Conference schedule, Beech Grove, Indian Creek (Class 3A, No. 8 ranked), Speedway (Class 3A, No. 16) and Tri-West are 1-0.

Shelbyville, Greenwood, Monrovia and Triton Central are 0-1 but all competitive through the first three weeks of the season.

“I think it’s going to be very balanced from top to bottom,” said Fitzgerald of the HLC standings. “I don’t think there is going to be a week where you just go out there and give some guys off. I think all the way through, it’s going to be good teams every week.”

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