The Shelbyville Dragons will face off against the Leon Cougars at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams might be coming in a bit winded given these two teams combined for 936 yards in their previous games.
Shelbyville will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up ten points two weeks ago, then bounced right back against Hemphill on Friday. The Dragons' defense stepped up to hand the Hornets a 49-0 shutout. That looming 49-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Dragons yet this season.
Shelbyville found their leader in sophomore Gavin McDonald, who rushed for 84 yards and three touchdowns, and also threw for 209 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 76.5% of his passes. McDonald was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 67 yards. Tate Obregon was another key player, rushing for 115 yards and one score on only eight carries.
Meanwhile, Leon put another one in the bag on Friday to keep their perfect season alive. They claimed a resounding 42-0 victory over Groveton. The Cougars might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight contests by 26 points or more this season.
Shelbyville better keep an eye on Landon Thomas. He was instrumental in Leon's win, rushing for 165 yards and a pair of TDs on only seven carries, while also throwing for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas didn't just play on offense: he also made six total tackles and defended two passes. Cooper Stevens was Thomas' top target, picking up one receiving yards.
Leon was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 326 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 188 rushing yards in eight consecutive matchups.
Leon's record is now 10-0. As for Shelbyville, the win was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 3-7.
Thursday's game might be decided on the ground. Shelbyville has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 182.7 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Leon struggles in that department as they've been averaging 256.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Shelbyville against Leon when the teams last played back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 62-7 victory. 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.
