Fitzgeralds put on a show in Shelbyville's 35-21 win at New Castle

NEW CASTLE – Shelbyville football head coach Scott Fitzgerald showed faith in his team’s offense early on.

The Golden Bears twice converted on fourth down plays on the opening drive and methodically drove down field creating a 13-play, 77-yard scoring drive that was a sign of good things Friday at Neal Field in New Castle.

Shelbyville scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of each half and pulled away for a 35-21 victory over the Trojans (1-3, 0-2 Hoosier Heritage Conference).

Freshman quarterback Layden Fitzgerald (photo) authored his most complete performance, throwing for 231 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 77 more yards and another score.

“That was a lot of confidence,” said Layden of being allowed to stay on the field and convert a pair of fourth-and-1 plays. “We got that confidence up as a team. Getting those fourth downs gave us momentum.”

It has been nearly a decade since a Shelbyville receiver had a performance like Grantland Fitzgerald’s. The junior (photo) caught 11 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 11 times for 73 more yards.

“If he wants to throw me the ball, that’s a good decision most of the time,” said Grantland of his younger brother the quarterback. “I am trying to get open for him and do whatever I can to help the team.”

Donavon Martin (photo) continued his impressive start to the season with 115 yards rushing on 26 carries. He scored Shelbyville’s second touchdown of the first half, finishing off a 13-play drive with a 3-yard plunge into the end zone.

New Castle was doing the exact same thing Shelbyville was in the first half – producing long drives that resulted in points on the scoreboard.

The Trojans matched Shelbyville with 11-play and 10-play scoring drives that ended with a Tylin Thrine 5-yard touchdown run and a 35-yard catch and run for a touchdown by Darin Reynolds.

Camden Thoman (photo) delivered Shelbyville’s first touchdown – a 37-yard scoring strike from fellow freshman Layden Fitzgerald that made it 7-0.

Shelbyville’s defense finally produced a stop on New Castle’s first drive of the second half and the Golden Bears scored twice in a two-minute stretch to regain the lead.

Grantland Fitzgerald hauled in a short pass and raced 61 yards for a touchdown that made it 19-14. Rolando Saucedo missed extra-point attempts on consecutive scores.

A Gavin Reed (photo) interception brought the ball right back to Shelbyville’s offense and Layden Fitzgerald raced to the end zone from 47 yards out to make it 26-14.

“Donnie (Martin) had a great block. I think he blocked two guys,” said Layden. “He opened a wide gap and I just took off to the races.”

Shelbyville’s defense produced fourth-quarter points with a sack of New Castle quarterback Carson Bell in the end zone for a safety. The offense then got the ball right back and drove again for a 10-yard scoring strike from Fitzgerald to Fitzgerald.

“The kids did a great job and I felt like in the second half we were able to wear them down,” said coach Fitzgerald. “You hit them with Donnie and you hit them with Grantland and then you hit them with a pass here and there made it hard for their defense to defend.”

Reynolds got his second touchdown of the game with an 85-yard kickoff return but the Trojans never threatened to regain the lead in the second half.

Shelbyville continues its final trip through the HHC with a road game next Friday at Greenfield-Central (2-2, 1-1 HHC). The Cougars lost at Pendleton Heights Friday 43-14.

Shelbyville (3-1, 1-1 HHC) will seek to end a 5-game losing streak to Greenfield-Central.

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