Shelbyville football needs strong rebound performance to topple Woodmen

Shelbyville football’s most substantial regular season football game in nearly a decade was a dud.

The Golden Bears fell flat at unbeaten Indian Creek and were pummeled 42-0. The Braves scored four touchdowns in a span of 13 second quarter plays which left Shelbyville stunned and forced to play a second half with a running clock.

The Golden Bears needed a win over Indian Creek to stay in contention for the Hoosier Legends Conference title. With three regular season games left, head coach Scott Fitzgerald now shifts his focus to erasing the sting of defeat and regaining momentum as the postseason looms.

“We have to gain more confidence as we continue to go,” said Fitzgerald. “We’re still building within the program. We want these seniors to really have a good taste in their mouth coming out (of this season). … With all three of these games that we have left, and we’re not looking past Greenwood whatsoever, all three of these games are winnable games if we can go out and do our jobs and win.”

Shelbyville (3-3) hosts Greenwood (3-3) Friday at McKeand Stadium in the first regular season meeting between the two programs. The Woodmen ended the Golden Bears’ 2024 season with a 37-0 sectional victory.

Greenwood is coming off a 45-34 win over Triton Central Friday. The Woodmen rolled up over 500 yards of offense that included 279 rushing yards from junior Leland Morton.

“They have a lot of talent. They remind me of us in a lot of ways,” said Fitzgerald. “We’re 3-3 teams but we could each have a better record.”

Junior quarterback Brady Smith completed all 15 of his pass attempts against Triton Central for 187 yards and three touchdowns, all to senior Benjamin Hommell (graphic), a Lindenwood University (Missouri) recruit, who had seven catches for 121 yards.

“They like to put (Hommell) outside and get him on an island, and he has good speed for a kid his size,” said Fitzgerald. “Then they will play action.”

Greenwood’s offense is averaging 31.8 points per game but allowing 33.2 ppg.

In Shelbyville’s three wins this season, the offense has averaged 226 yards rushing; in the three losses that drops to 90 yards.

“We have to be able to run the football. We can’t just ask (quarterback) Tyler (Gwinnup) to sit back there and try to sling it around,” said Fitzgerald. “(Greenwood) will have a 3-man front but they will bring blitzes from all kinds of different places. Sometimes they will drop eight like Indian Creek did. We have to have our heads up and follow our rules. That will be key for us this week.”

Shelbyville will have its full roster intact for Friday night barring a late week injury.

With the loss in Trafalgar last week, the Golden Bears dropped into the second half of the conference standings. A win over Greenwood would vault the program back in to fourth place behind Indian Creek (6-0), Beech Grove (5-1) and Tri-West (4-2).

Shelbyville makes its first trip to Speedway (3-3) in week eight then closes the regular season with a visit from Monrovia (2-4), who is at Triton Central Friday.

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