Jeff Brown
Shelbyville News Sports Editor
ST. LEON – East Central took advantage of every break Shelbyville provided, and one by the officials.
East Central quarterback Zach Meiners rushed for a touchdown and threw for two more to lead the Trojans to a 38-28 victory over the Golden Bears Friday at Trojan Field in St. Leon.
East Central (10-1) moves on to the sectional championship game next Friday at top-ranked Columbus East (11-0), a 42-6 winner over Madison.
Shelbyville (9-2) says goodbye to a group of seniors that have helped the program go 20-3 over the last two seasons.
“We have a good senior group coming back that have learned from these seniors,” Shelbyville head coach Pat Parks said. “I think that will carry on just like it has for the last seven years. That’s a real testament to the senior leadership that’s been in front and shows the way, and the others seem to follow.”
David Brown, who will play at Ball State next year, ran for 124 yards and set the program record for most touchdowns in a season (30) and most points scored in a season (180).
Kris Skipton threw a career-high 32 passes without an interception and rushed for a touchdown in his final game.
Michael Hardesty, an all-conference lineman in 2007, helped the Golden Bears rush for more than 7,000 yards the last two seasons.
Robert Cox ran his team-leading quarterback sack total to 12.
And Brett Durphey finished an all-state caliber season at linebacker.
There are more seniors. All disappointed in the outcome but all responsible for the program’s ranking among the state’s elite.
“I’m not complaining,” Parks said about the 20-3 mark the last two seasons. “It’s tough. We wanted to get that sectional championship, and we know we’re capable of it. Now we just have to go back to work.”
Shelbyville needs to shore up its special teams play that has trouble recovering onside kicks and allowing touchdown runs at the most inopportune times.
After stalling out on its first drive Friday, Michael Parks’ 40-yard punt was returned 65 yards by Adam Rauch.
One play later, Meiners connected with Jon Hensley on an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Shelbyville recovered with a 19-play, 79-yard scoring drive.
The two teams traded touchdowns after that, and a Garrett Rauch 36-yard field goal just before halftime gave East Central a 17-14 lead at the break.
Rather than take control of the game, Shelbyville allowed Adam Rauch to take the opening kickoff of the second half 72 yards for a touchdown.
Brown scored his 30th touchdown of the season on a 90-yard burst two possessions later.
East Central’s next drive ended in controversy.
After converting a fourth-and-three by drawing Shelbyville offside, Meiners completed a 35-yard pass to Zach Bley, who appeared to throw down his Shelbyville defender then catch the pass for a touchdown.
“I thought (Bley) had his hands on him and threw him on the ground and came back to get the ball,” Parks said. “It was one of those calls that didn’t go our way.”
Jesse Caldwell added the extra point while Parks barked in the ear of the official who didn’t make the call.
With Shelbyville rattled, Garrett Rauch delivered a bouncing onside kick that the Golden Bears failed to recover.
The Trojans used a fake punt to keep the ensuing drive alive and a steady dose of Greg Sykes to move the ball downfield.
R.J. Thomas finished off the scoring drive with a two-yard run to open the fourth quarter.
“We talk about the effort plays, and there we gave up two big special teams plays that led to 14 points,” Parks said. “There we were again, battling out of it against a good football team.”
The Golden Bears put together an 80-yard scoring drive culminated by Skipton’s 1-yard dive with 20 seconds left to close out the scoring.
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