Shelby routs East Gaston in Deer Park Gaston County game of the week
Shelby has accumulated much of its offense in recent years through a high-powered passing attack.
Thursday, with the Golden Lions pursuing a Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference championship game matchup next week, Shelby reverted to more of a run-heavy offense in its 49-13 victory at East Gaston.
The result created a winner-take-all matchup between unbeaten league and county rivals Burns (7-2, 5-0) and Shelby (6-3, 5-0) next week at Shelby’s Blanton Memorial Stadium.
East Gaston (7-2, 3-2), which had started its season at 7-0 for the first time in the school’s 52-year history, will finish third in the league regardless of the Warriors’ result next week at Highland Tech.
Shelby rolled for 364 yards total offense with a season-high 263 yards rushing.
Also, the Golden Lions failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.
Tristan Tate, who rushed for a game-high 127 yards and two touchdowns, said he felt his offensive line created running room for him and his teammates; Drew Hollifield, Izay Bridges, Jaylen Tate and Nick Norris also had TDs on rushing plays.
“I just followed the guard and he created room for me,” Tate said.
Quarterback Lan Farmer, who entered the week tied with Crest’s Ny’Tavious Huskey for the N.C. high school lead in TD throws with 31, completed five of 10 passes for 101 yards.
“We thought they’d bring some pressure,” Shelby coach Michael Wilbanks said. “So we settled on the run. At this time of year, we’ll take a win however we can get it.”
Three who made a difference
Shelby RB Tristan Tate: Rushed 15 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
Shelby RB/WR Izay Bridges: Rushed twice for 27 yards and one touchdown, caught four passes for 86 yards and returned a kickoff 85 yards for another touchdown.
East Gaston QB Trenton Sherrill: Rushed 11 times for 21 yards and one touchdown and completed 16 of 27 passes for 127 yards and a TD throw to John Michael Green.
Worth mentioning
▪ With wins by all four Cleveland County schools over Gaston County schools on Thursday night, Cleveland County finishes its 2023 regular season with a 21-0 record this season against Gaston County schools; Crest and Kings Mountain went 6-0, Burns 5-0 and Shelby 4-0.
What’s next?
Shelby hosts Burns next Friday; East Gaston visits Highland Tech next Friday.
SCORING SUMMARY
Shelby 21 7 7 14 — 49
East Gaston 7 0 0 6 — 13
S — Drew Hollifield 7 (Jose Lopez kick)
S — Tristan Tate 9 run (Lopez kick)
EG — Trenton Sherrill 3 run (Tripp Abernathy kick)
S — Tristan Tate 15 run (Lopez kick)
S — Jaylen Tate 35 run (Lopez kick)
S — Izay Bridges 33 run (Lopez kick)
EG - John Michael Green 33 pass from Sherrill (Pass failed)
S — Bridges 85 kickoff return (Lopez kick)
S — Nick Norris 6 run (Lopez kick)