Brian Glesing continues to look for measurable gains.
Despite losing 42-7 Friday at Class 3A, No. 11 Delta, the second-year Shelbyville football coach took away some positives.
“This sounds crazy, but after that (slow start) we probably played our best football game against a team that is 3-0,” said Glesing Tuesday evening as he watched Shelbyville’s junior varsity squad host Delta at McKeand Stadium. “We got some first downs. They were just bigger and faster than us.”
The Golden Bears fell behind 21-0 after one quarter in part due to allowing a long kickoff return to open the game and a 34-yard touchdown throw following a fumble.
“It was like we didn’t get off the bus,” said Glesing. “They are better than us. I don’t think it would have mattered in the grand scheme of things in terms of wins and losses but it’s no fun when you get down 21-0 like that. But we did fight. We didn’t quit.”
The week four challenge is to start fast and finish strong against New Castle (1-2, 0-1 Hoosier Heritage Conference) in the Golden Bears’ second home game of the season.
“I think we match up better with them, and they will say the same thing about us,” said Glesing. “I think it should be a good football game.”
Teams have succeeded this season against Shelbyville (0-3, 0-1 HHC) controlling the line of scrimmage and racking up rushing yards in big chunks. New Castle prefers to attack through the air which helps create gaps along the line for quick-hitting run plays.
Junior quarterback Tyson Lewis has completed 22-of-68 pass attempts (32%) for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown eight interceptions.
Lewis’ top target has been senior wideout Quintin Boatright, who has 13 receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns – both against Triton Central in week two.
Senior Jon Eberhart is New Castle’s leading rusher with 45 carries for 201 yards.
“They spread it out a little bit,” said Glesing. “They like throwing the ball and spreading you out and hitting the gaps running.”
Shelbyville’s defensive line needs to push forward and create pressure on Lewis.
“This will be one of those, Delta pushed us back but maybe we can get a little surge … a little push like the first couple of games,” said Glesing.
Cael Lux (photo) has emerged as Shelbyville’s defensive stopper. The five-foot, six-inch tall undersized linebacker has a team-leading 50 total tackles through the first three weeks.
“He is flipping back and forth from safety to linebacker,” said Glesing. “He’s all over the place. He’s a guy that has a nose for the ball. He is a good open field tackler. He’s the little guy on the field but he has a lot of heart.”
Glesing complimented senior linebacker Riley Fortune and junior cornerback Alex Macharia on their development as well. Fortune is third on the team with 20 total tackles behind senior Jordan Marcum’s 23.
Freshman Donavon Martin (photo) has earned his first varsity start Friday against New Castle.
“He will start at safety,” said Glesing. “He is built. He is stronger than some of our juniors and seniors. He has earned some of his spots because of how he has practiced and how he has performed in junior varsity games.”
Quarterback Eli Chappelow completed 7-of-9 pass attempts at Delta for 98 yards. He also ran for 23 yards on eight carries.
For the season, the junior has connected on 23-of-39 passes for 404 yards and two touchdowns. He has not thrown an interception. He is second on team in rushing yards with 85.
Axel Conover (photo) leads the Golden Bears in rushing with 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Jackson Parker has a team-high 10 catches for 133 yards. Lux has seven receptions for 174 yards.
QUICK FACTS
New Castle at Shelbyville
Game Time: 7 p.m. at McKeand Stadium in Shelbyville, Ind.
Broadcast time: 6 p.m. pregame show live from McKeand Stadium with Johnny McCrory and Mark Drake on GIANT fm (96.5 fm, 106.3 fm, 1520 am) or on the GIANT fm app.
Student section theme: Country.
Head coaches: Kyle York, 23-33 in 6th year at New Castle; Brian Glesing, 1-9 in 2nd year at Shelbyville, 119-103 in 20th year overall.
2021 record: New Castle 2-8; Shelbyville 1-6.
Sagarin ratings: New Castle, 45.38, 158th overall, 37th in Class 4A; Shelbyville, 27.74, 235th overall, 52nd in Class 4A.
Point spread: New Castle is favored by 16 points.
Last meeting: Shelbyville and New Castle did not play in 2021 due to the Golden Bears’ roster being compromised by COVID-19 protocols. In 2020, New Castle won 55-0.
Around the HHC Friday: Class 3A, No. 11 Delta (3-0, 1-0 HHC) at Yorktown (2-1, 0-1 HHC); Class 4A, No. 1 New Palestine (3-0, 1-0 HHC) at Class 4A, No. 9 Mt. Vernon (1-2, 1-0 HHC); and Pendleton Heights (2-1, 1-0 HHC) at Class 4A, No. 11 Greenfield-Central (2-1, 0-1 HHC).
