Self-inflicted wounds keeping Shelbyville from finding success

A late second quarter touchdown catch by Grantland Fitzgerald on Sept. 20 was the last time Shelbyville celebrated in the end zone.

The scoreless streak has now extended to 14 quarters after Friday’s 34-0 loss at Mt. Vernon. And Fitzgerald is now the quarterback after the season-ending knee injury suffered by Tyler Gwinnup in a 35-0 loss to Class 4A, No. 1 New Palestine.

After scoring 36 points in a season-opening win over Greensburg, the Golden Bears have managed just 27 points over seven straight losses. More frustrating than that statistic is the video that demonstrates the mental mistakes hampering drives.

“We have to quit shooting ourselves in the foot,” said second-year Shelbyville head coach Scott Fitzgerald. “That has kind of been the story of the season, whether it’s a missed snap, a fumble, a dropped pass, a penalty that just completely takes us out of being in rhythm of what we are trying to do.”

In Fortville Friday, Shelbyville’s first offensive series produced a red-zone trip, but a 32-yard field goal attempt was doomed by a high snap.

Shelbyville’s second drive started with a missed snap that turned first-and-10 into second-and-20. The Golden Bears punted on their next two series of the first half.

Another fumble and ill-timed penalties stalled any second half momentum and left another zero on the scoreboard.

“Eliminate those mistakes and I think we could have continued to move the ball down the field in places,” said Fitzgerald.

And with Gwinnup (photo) out with an ACL and PCL tear that will require surgery, Shelbyville’s passing game is limited with Grantland Fitzgerald at quarterback.

However, for the first time since a week two loss at Rushville, Shelbyville’s offensive line created well-defined blocking lanes for Fitzgerald (photo) and Donavon Martin (main photo). With the sophomore and junior, respectively, in the backfield together, Shelbyville can get the ball quickly into the hands of two of its best athletes.

“It’s two-fold because you are not going to be able to throw down field, but you have a running quarterback that the defense has to respect back there,” said coach Fitzgerald. “I thought we put ourselves in position to make some bigger plays and we just didn’t quite make them. It’s frustrating because we feel like we’ve been close a lot of times and we’re just not getting over that edge.”

Shelbyville’s defense continues to play well despite the final outcomes.  Joliba Brogan did average 8.7 yards per carry over 21 carries, but the Marauders only passed for 62 yards and were forced into a pair of field-goal attempts.

“(The defense) has been doing a really good job. We are tackling well,” said Fitzgerald. “A little bit in the first half we didn’t react as well as we would have liked. We were kind of sitting a little bit. I think it was with what (Mt. Vernon) did a little bit, but once we got into it and started reacting a little bit quicker, we were getting right to it.”

The Golden Bears (1-7, 0-6 Hoosier Heritage Conference) close out the regular-season schedule Friday at McKeand Stadium against Pendleton Heights (3-5, 2-4 HHC). The Arabians are dealing with injuries and younger players taking over starting roles but produced an impressive 47-20 win over Yorktown last Friday to end a four-game losing streak.

Senior quarterback Colton Frank has thrown for nearly 1,500 yards this season and 15 touchdowns. He had 255 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Yorktown.

Senior running back Keaton Jones has amassed 1,042 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns.

“As always, first you have to stop the run,” said Fitzgerald. “They do have a couple of nice running backs that have made some plays. If you can bottle that up a little bit and play good zone defense behind it, keep everything in front of you and not allow them to throw the ball long down the field, then defensively we can make some stops and do some things.

“We can’t allow the big play, which is something I feel like we have eliminated a lot in the last few games. We have to continue to do that and then, don’t make those mistakes offensively. You keep your offense on the field which keeps your defense off the field, it allows you to run the clock a little bit more and keep moving the ball down field to get the opportunities to score.”

Friday is Senior Night for the Golden Bears and, potentially, the final game at McKeand Stadium this season. Shelbyville will travel to Greenwood (2-6) for its sectional opener on Oct. 25.

“The focus is still there for the kids. They are still teenage kids, but we are trying to harp on just playing to their potential,” said Fitzgerald. “We haven’t really done that as a full team in a game yet. Let’s have that relentless effort each and every day we come out here and let’s work to play to our full potential without making mistakes.”

Sectional 23 includes Class 4A, No. 2 Martinsville (8-0) and seven more teams with a combined 10 wins. The Golden Bears ended up in the bottom half of the bracket opposite the high-powered Artesians.

Shelbyville and Greenwood have not met in the 21^st Century. The Woodmen lead the all-time series 3-0.

“Greenwood is going to be a good team. They are playing good ball,” said Fitzgerald. “They are kind of like us where they play in a really good conference, facing it week after week.”

The winner would likely host Bedford North Lawrence (1-7) in the semifinal round on Nov. 1. The Stars’ only win this season came on Sept. 28 against Jennings County, 41-14. Those two teams will meet again in the sectional opener.

The Panthers are 0-8 this season.

Steve Bush photos

Pendleton Heights at Shelbyville

Site: McKeand Stadium.

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Broadcast: The GIANT fm pre-game show will air live from McKeand Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Listen live at 96.5 fm, 106.3 fm, 1520 am or online at GIANT.fm.

Student theme: Whiteout.

2024 records: Pendleton Heights 3-5, 2-4 HHC; Shelbyville 1-7, 0-6 HHC.

Coaches: Jed Richman, 51-42 in ninth year at Pendleton Heights, 86-72 in 15^th year overall; Scott Fitzgerald, 4-14 in second year at Shelbyville.

Series record: Pendleton Heights leads the all-time series 16-15 and has won seven straight over the Golden Bears.

2023 meeting: Pendleton Heights defeated Shelbyville, 28-6, in Pendleton on Oct. 13, 2023.

Sagarin rating: Pendleton Heights 65.55 (85th overall, 22nd in Class 4A); Shelbyville 39.88 (200th overall, 47th in Class 4A). Pendleton Heights is a 24-point favorite.

Sectional 23: Class 4A, No. 2 Martinsville (8-0), Silver Creek (3-5), Connersville (2-6), Shelbyville (1-7), Jennings County (0-8), Greenwood (2-6), Charlestown (1-7) and Bedford North Lawrence (1-7).

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