Freshman quarterback ready to lead Golden Bears on Senior Night at McKeand Stadium

Shelbyville football has not had a 4-win regular season since 2017.

On Friday at McKeand Stadium. the Golden Bears (3-4) will celebrate Senior Night and go for win No. 4 with a freshman at quarterback.

Layden Fitzgerald entered the season-opening game in the second half after an injury to starting quarterback Tyler Gwinnup and helped the Golden Bears finish off Greensburg, 34-14. He is 2-4 as the starter since then which includes losses to state-ranked Yorktown (48-28) and top-ranked New Palestine (65-3) in the last two weeks.

Fitzgerald (photo) knew he would see limited varsity time this season and has made the most of being thrust into the limelight at such a young age.

"It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun to go out there and play with the older guys, especially my older brother (Grantland Fitzgerald)," said Layden Tuesday morning after a fall break practice. "I haven't been able to do that ever. It's just fun celebrating with them when we score."

The youngest Fitzgerald, his father is Shelbyville's head coach, has proven himself a capable leader, throwing for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He also is averaging 5.1 yards per rush and scored three touchdowns.

"I've learned just how different it is, how fast it is," said Fitzgerald of the jump from middle school football to under the Friday night lights. "I feel like I am preparing a lot more differently than I did in the first game just because I wasn't sure how much of a difference it is. Now I know these games are so much different and you have to prepare a lot more to be OK."

Gwinnup (photo) suffered a season-ending knee injury in week seven of the 2024 seasons then reinjured the knee in the spring. The goal was to get him through this season as healthy as possible, but that notion ended quickly in week one.

One week later, Fitzgerald capped off his first win as a varsity starting quarterback by completing 11 of 16 passes for 180 yards that backed a stellar performance from senior running back Donavon Martin (38 carries, 225 yards, three touchdowns).

"That anticipation going into that week was fun," said Layden. "Donnie pretty much did everything that game and took a lot of the weight off my hands."

Still learning how to use him most effectively, Scott Fitzgerald has since lamented not trusting his quarterback more in a 24-7 loss in week three to Delta where he only completed 3 of 12 passes for 18 yards.

That changed in week four's 35-21 win at New Castle where Fitzgerald completed 18 of 26 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 90 more yards and a touchdown to break Shelbyville's 12-game losing streak to Hoosier Heritage Conference opponents.

"That was a fun game," said Layden with a smile. "I got to show what I can do, throwing and running. That was a fun game to play out there."

Coach Fitzgerald was adamant the moment was not going to be too big for Layden when he was forced into the role. So far, he has handled everything thrown at him with confidence.

"I know I have nothing to lose. If I have to prove something, that's when I struggle," said Layden. "I feel like I did that a little in the Delta game. That's when I didn't play amazing.

"When I play loose and play freely and do what I know I can do, I made reads better and I feel like I run the ball better. There is nothing to lose if I go and play well. If I don't, as a freshman I know I have three more years to prove myself."

Mt. Vernon junior quarterback Mason Meyer understands what Fitzgerald is going through. He made his first varsity start at quarterback against Shelbyville in 2023 and led the Marauders to a 28-14 victory. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 37 yards and another score.

Two years later, Mayer, now verbally committed to play baseball at Arizona State University (graphic), is Mt. Vernon's most dangerous weapon on the field, passing for 996 yards and nine touchdowns and leading his team in rushing with 299 yards and four touchdowns.

"He is an athlete all over the field offensively and defensively," said Scott Fitzgerald. "Their offense runs through him."

Senior Evan Privett has been Mayer's favorite target this year with 27 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns. But without a reliable run game, All-HHC running back Jolina Brogan (1,151 yards, 13 touchdowns in 2024) now plays on Saturdays for the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, the Marauders are averaging just 14 ppg while surrendering 42 ppg.

Coming off a 13th-straight lopsided loss at New Palestine last Friday, coach Fitzgerald (photo) wants to see his team focused on itself and not an opponent that is winless this late in the season.

"We are more worried about getting our stuff straight, where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing," he explained. "I want us to be confident but, at the same time, to an understanding we still have our things we have to accomplish.

"We have to be able to keep the quarterback in the pocket. We have to be able to run the ball. We have to complete our passes and do our things and make sure we sustain it for four quarters."

The Golden Bears are a 20-point favorite over a Mt. Vernon program that has won nine straight head-to-head meetings.

Layden Fitzgerald came out of the New Palestine loss with a renewed confidence regarding his future in the sport.

"It was fun going out there and playing and comparing yourself to the guys that are going D1 and seeing how close I am to those types of guys as a freshman," he said. "That game kind of showed that I can go make it if I try hard enough and put in the work."

And the Friday night experiences with the older guys, including a strong group of seniors, is making this a special first season for Layden Fitzgerald.

MT. VERNON (0-7, 0-5 HHC) AT SHELBYVILLE (3-4, 1-4 HHC)

SITE: McKeand Stadium (photo).

GAME TIME: 7 p.m.

BROADCAST: GIANT fm (96.5 fm, 1520 am, 106.3 fm, or online at giant.fm) will air the game live from McKeand Stadium. The pre-game show with Johnny McCrory and Jeff Brown begins at 6 p.m.

COACHES: Vince Lidy, 31-23 in fifth year at Mt. Vernon; Scott Fitzgerald, 7-20 in third year at Shelbyville.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Mt. Vernon, 38.21, 210th overall, 47th in Class 4A; Shelbyville, 55.56, 133rd overall, 32nd in Class 4A. Shelbyville is a 20-point favorite.

LAST MEETING: Mt. Vernon shut out the Golden Bears, 34-0, on Oct. 11, 2024.

SERIES ALL-TIME: Mt. Vernon has won nine straight against the Golden Bears, including a pair of sectional victories to hold a 20-10 advantage in the series that dates back to 1997.

AROUND THE HHC: Delta (3-4, 3-2 HHC) at Greenfield-Central (3-4, 2-3 HHC); New Castle (2-5, 1-4 HHC) at Class 5A, No. 1 New Palestine (7-0, 5-0 HHC); Class 4A, No. 6 Pendleton Heights (6-1, 4-1 HHC) at Class 3A, No. 11 Yorktown (6-1, 4-1 HHC).

CLASS 4A, SECTIONAL 23: Charlestown (6-1), Bedford North Lawrence (5-2), Connersville (3-4), Shelbyville (3-4), Martinsville (3-4), Silver Creek (3-4), Jennings County (2-5) and Greenwood (2-5).

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