SHELBY – Heading into its matchup with Shelby Friday, Oct. 18, Mason County Central (MCC) had enjoyed a highly successful football season. While that trend didn’t change against the Tigers, there were more than a few tense moments for the Spartans in a 56-26 win.
The first half did not go the way many expected as Shelby consistently found ways to answer the Spartans’ offensive attack. MCC owned a 14-6 lead late in the second quarter, but the Tigers answered with a touchdown and two-point conversion to knot things up at halftime.
“We went into this week talking about how we compete,” Shelby Head Coach Phil Fortier said. “We can’t pre-determine outcomes. It’s hard when you’ve had as little success as this program’s had in the last 11 years to fight that battle. Our kids fought through it and they came out and executed and played for each other. That’s what I’ve been waiting for all year.”
A 14-14 tie after two quarters was shocking to many. After all, MCC had a 6-1 record and was destined for the playoffs while Shelby sat at 3-5 overall. Even more shocking was the fact that the Tigers’ offense wasn’t being led by the usual starter.
Junior quarterback Isaac Garcia was held out of play after suffering a concussion in the Tigers’ 62-14 loss to Manistee the week prior. That meant sophomore Jaylin Henderson would get his second opportunity to start, this time for the game’s entirety.
Henderson started at quarterback for Shelby in a 30-25 win over Hesperia back in September, but was pulled in the second quarter.
“(Henderson) made some really good decisions with the football tonight,” Fortier said. “He knew when to pull the ball down to run with it and when to hit the open receiver. MCC is pressure defense, and it wasn’t easy.”
While the offense struggled to move the last time Henderson started, this time was something entirely different. Henderson scored both of the Tigers’ first two touchdowns with his legs, finishing the day with 20 carries for 33 yards and the pair of scores.
In the second half it was Henderson’s arm and effort on special teams that kept Shelby moving. Henderson connected on 10-of-19 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown, finding DayDay Garcia for six catches, 178 yards and a touchdown. Henderson was also responsible for an 84-yard touchdown return on a fourth quarter kickoff.
Unfortunately, all that effort in the second half proved to be all for naught as MCC broke lose almost immediately after halftime.
MCC senior Peyton Merz cracked the game wide open with two long touchdown runs to start the third quarter, putting MCC on top by two possessions. Merz added another touchdown to start the fourth quarter.
For every big play that Shelby found, MCC had one of their own. The Spartans finished the game scoring three additional fourth quarter touchdowns and finishing with a lopsided victory.
Though the loss hurts, it spells good things for a Shelby program that has its most wins in a season (three) since the team went 11-2 before losing in the state semifinals. While the Tigers aren’t within shouting distance of a playoff appearance, three wins and two quarters of holding one of the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division’s best teams at bay is something to build off of.
The Tigers will look to roll last week’s effort into the final week of regular season play. Shelby (3-5) will host Orchard View (1-7), Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
