The Shelbyville Dragons will head out on the road to take on the San Augustine Wolves at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Shelbyville took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 17-14 win over Timpson. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Dragons have posted since October 18, 2024.
Shelbyville's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from John Hignight, who rushed for 120 yards and one TD.
Another reason for the win was Shelbyville's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Eli Matthews, Detoris Hubbard, and Cason Lee, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, San Augustine had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 21.7 points) and they went ahead and made it four on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 31-15 win over the Bulldogs. The game was the first time the Wolves have beaten the Bulldogs on their field since November 15, 2019.
A big part of San Augustine's victory came down to the chemistry between Max Renfro and his top target Ti'Javian Burrell. Renfro threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 12.1 yards per attempt while Burrell picked up 171 receiving yards and a pair of scores. Those 314 passing yards gave Renfro a new career-high.
Shelbyville's record now sits at 2-5. As for San Augustine, their record is now 5-2.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Shelbyville has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 181.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like San Augustine struggles in that department as they've been averaging 185.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything went Shelbyville's way against San Augustine when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as Shelbyville made off with a 39-17 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Dragons since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
