When most Tiger fans think of a big rivalry game, Giles County will most often come to mind.

But for at least the past two decades and possibly longer, Shelbyville Central has been a regular on the Tigers schedule with each team going through winning and losing streaks to one another.

Located just 24 miles to the east of Lewisburg, Shelbyville traveled to Marshall County with revenge on its mind after the Tigers invaded the Golden Eagles’ home turf during week two of the 2018 regular season and went home with the 24-21 win over a Shelbyville team that lost just one other regular season game to highly ranked Page, 20-17 during Week 9.

Both squads entered the game with something to prove as the Tigers entered the season unranked in the statewide Associated Press Poll, but after three straight convincing wins to start the season they moved up to number seven and the Eagles on the cusp of the 5A rankings before a heartbreaking 34-29 loss to number four Page before a statewide audience as the Channel 30 game of the week.

"We knew they were an extremely talented team and that we would have to withstand the storm early in the game," longtime Tiger head Thomas Osteen stated. "Our goal was to get their big guys running, many of them who played both ways and hopefully be able to have some success after we got them tired a little bit. I was very happy with the way we came back and took the lead after being down 14 points early."

The game gave fans on both sides of the field all the excitement expected from two highly regarded squads as the Eagles jumped out to an early 14 point advantage before the Tigers roared back with 24 second quarter points to hold a 24-21 halftime advantage.

After a missed extra point the Tigers held a 30-28 lead heading into the final quarter, but the home team came up empty on the scoreboard for the rest of the contest and one touchdown from the Eagles (3-1) would be enough to give the visitors a high quality win and end the Tigers hopes of an undefeated regular season.

And despite the close score the Tigers did not make it easy on themselves.

The Eagles dominated the Tigers in time of possession by 13 minutes, collected eight more first downs and most importantly, Shelbyville forced Marshall County into four more turnovers than themselves which equaled 61 extra yards throughout the contest.

"We told the guys that this game would not decide our season, but it would serve as a great gauge of where we are at as a team against another very talented and well coached team," Osteen pointed out. "The game showed that we are talented enough to play with and beat any team on our schedule but it proved that you can't be successful making too many self-inflicted wounds."

"We had way too many penalties and turnovers at critical times," Osteen added. "Our mental disciple must improve if we are going to accomplish what our goals are."

Although the Eagles graduated one of the most successful quarterbacks in TSSAA history in terms of individual statistics in Grayson Trammel, Cade Cunningham stepped in to keep the air raid attack alive as the sophomore gunslinger finished with 284 yards on 15-of-26 attempts and two touchdowns and 63 additional yards on the ground on 14 carries.

The Tiger defensive backfield continues to improve every week as evidenced by an incredible four interceptions with two alone by Kaden Whitson and one each from Carson Stacey and Hayden Sheppard, who led the blue and white with 14 tackles.

Lewisburg also had to continue with Central's monster recruit on both sides of the line as Gary Smith, a three-star recruit (247 Sports) who is ranked as the 89th offensive guard in the entire country with over 15 FBS offers and a narrowed down top-five of Duke, Florida State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech.

Smith finished with seven tackles on defense and was key in the Eagles 166 yards and three touchdowns on the ground without giving up a single sack to the Tigers.

The Tigers also have a potential big-time recruit in quarterback Bryson Hammons, who is improving immensely every week.

The sophomore leader finished the night 14-for-22 for 221 yards and three touchdowns, but most importantly had zero turnovers and has comfort zone in the deep ball as A'ky Howard had a 32 yard touchdown catch, junior Hunter Rolof picked up his first catch of the season on a beautiful 36-yard throw for a score, and Andrew Gold picked up a season-high 29-yard catch to put the Tigers in scoring position.

Devon Wilson had the breakout game his coaches have been waiting for with seven receptions for 96 yards to push his season total to 178 yards and 17 catches and the senior play maker has risen above the pack along with Howard and running back Javarria Rucker, who is second on the team with 15 receptions for 137 yards with three scores on the season.

Kel Greer led the Tigers on the ground with 92 yards on 15 carries, just eight yards away from his first 100-yard game of the season.

Most impressive about Hammons is the decision making, as the first-year starter has thrown for six touchdowns and just a single interception to go along with a 64 percent completion rate after four regular season games.

"Bryson has improved each week," Osteen observed. "I am proud of how serious he is taking his job and how much he is working each week to put our team in good positions to win."

"He was very accurate with the ball this past week," Osteen continued. "He took advantage of some open throws downfield when they we there and protected the football well."

On defense the Tigers was led by the usual suspects as Riqkyous Summers finished with nine tackles with one for a loss, Keylin Talley added seven tackles three quarterback hurries and two tackles for a loss, and Devonte Davis, son of Tiger football great Mario Davis, continues his breakout season with seven tackles for 27 overall on the season, good for third on the team after four games.

And while a win over a red hot 5A squad from its neighboring county would have been nice for the overall record and stature, the Tigers know that the real important game comes this Friday with a trip to metro Nashville and Maplewood, who the Tigers have had a brief but intense rivalry against.

Maplewood (2-2) beat the Tigers in Lewisburg by a score of 28-14 in 2018 before the Panthers went all the way to the 4A state semifinals where they ran out of gas to eventual 4A champion Greeneville 48-3.

The Tigers won't be fooled by the early 1-3 Panther record either because Maplewood's first four opponents have a combined record of 13-3 entering week five.

"Maplewood is supremely athletic which everyone knows but they have a very young team," Osteen offered. "However, they are very dangerous."

"We must be the most mentally tough and disciplined team on the field," Osteen added. "We must protect the ball on offense and we must dominate in special teams because we think as a staff we can take advantage of them in that area."

With its one win coming against surprisingly early successful region opponent Lawrence County (3-1) 38-6 in week three, the Panthers lost 36-8 in the season opener to 5A Hillsboro (2-2) before losing to two of the hottest teams in the state in 3A Pearl-Cohn (4-0) who has beaten its first four opponents by a 145-49 difference and 3A East Nashville (4-0) who has allowed just 15 points in the first four games compared to 128 points scored.

The last time the Tigers traveled to the East Nashville school, Marshall County headed back home with an impressive 26-12 win in 2017 before putting out the Panthers in the quarterfinals of the 2017 4A playoffs in a close 29-22 battle.

Both squads come into the much anticipated matchup battled tested and looking to stay undefeated in region play.

The winner sets itself on a collision course with region favorite Nolensville (4-0) for the Region 4/4A crown and home field advantage in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

The Panthers travel to Nolensville in Week 9 while the Tigers will welcome the Knights to Lewisburg on the final night of the regular season with a potential winner-take-all game to end the 2019 campaign.

Shelbyville Central 14 7 7 8 — 36

Marshall County 0 24 6 0— 30

First Quarter

Shelbyville-Slayde Simmons 22-yard run, (Harrison Canter PAT), 6:09.

Shelbyville-Devyn DeFilipo 58-yard pass from Kade Cunningham, (Canter PAT), 3:24.

Second Quarter

Marshall County-Javarria Rucker 8-yard pass from Bryson Hammons, (PAT kick failed), 11:37.

Shelbyville-Simmons 10-yard run, (Canter PAT), 8:35.

Marshall County-A'ky Howard 30-yard pass from Hammons, (Jon Estes PAT), 7:22.

Marshall County-Jon Estes 21-yard field goal, 4:13.

Marshall County-Hunter Rolof 27-yard pass from Hammons, (Rucker 2-pt. run), 1:02.

Third Quarter

Marshall County-Kel Greer 3-yard run, (PAT kick failed), 9:07.

Shelbyville-Cunningham 3-yard run, (Canter PAT), 3:56.

Fourth Quarter

Shelbyville-Simmons 3-yard pass from Cunningham, (Mason Wright 2-pt. run), 4:38.

Total Yards: Shelbyville 450, Marshall County 323.

Rushing: Shelbyville 166, Marshall County 142.

Passing: Shelbyville 284, Marshall County 190.

First Downs: Shelbyville 25, Marshall County 17.

Penalties/Yards: Shelbyville 7/50, Marshall County 11/111.

Turnovers: Shelbyville 4, Marshall County 2.

Time of Possession: Shelbyville 29:19, Marshall County 16:31.

Marshall County Offense

Rushing: Kel Greer 15-92-TD, Javarria Rucker 10-43, Bryson Hammons 2-9, Devon Wilson 1-(-2).

Passing: Bryson Hammons 14-22-221-2TD.

Receiving: Devon Wilson 7-96, Hunter Rolof 1-36-TD, A’Ky Howard 1-32-TD, Andrew Gold 1-29, Javarria Rucker 3-12-TD, Kel Greer 1-16.

Kicking

PAT: Jon Estes 1-3.

FG: Jon Estes 1-1-21.

Kickoffs: Jon Estes 5-270-3TB.

Punts: Joseph Gold 2-59.

Returns

Kickoffs: Javarria Rucker 1-40, Kel Greer 2-20, Devonte Davis 1-3, Riqkyous Summers 1-3.

Defense

Tackles: Hayden Sheppard 14 (INT), Riqkyous Summers 9 (TFL), Devonte Davis 7, Keylin Talley 7 (2TFL), Connor Hilton 6, Christian Stacey 5 (INT), Kaden Whitson 4 (2INT), Andrew Gold 4 (TFL), Logan McKnight 4, Chandler Davis 3 (TFL), Tez Allen 3 (TFL), Terry Gulley 2, Devon Wilson 1.