For the first time this season, Shelbyville trailed in the second half of a football game.

A touchdown on the final play of the first half sparked the Golden Bears into a spirited second half that saw them tie the game early in the fourth quarter before Delta scored with 4:23 left to steal a 21-14 Hoosier Heritage Conference victory Friday at McKeand Stadium in Shelbyville.

First-year head coach Scott Fitzgerald felt encouraged by the effort even if the running game still needs improved for Shelbyville to compete every week with the HHC’s best.

“We played well,” said Fitzgerald. “We just had some plays here and there (we didn’t get) and they had two big plays where they scored when their quarterback scrambled and extended the play.

Delta scored first with a touchdown with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.

Shelbyville sparked the large crowd in attendance at McKeand Stadium when quarterback Eli Chappelow connected with Kohen Myers in the end zone from 30 yards out on the half’s final play.

“At halftime, you could just see the belief in the kids’ eyes,” said Fitzgerald. “They realized they can play with Delta and that carried throughout the second half.”

Delta broke open a 7-7 game with a touchdown with four minutes, 29 seconds left in the third quarter. But Shelbyville kept coming for the Eagles.

Chappelow pivoted right and hit Luke Brinkman on a crossing route at the Delta 15 and he raced into the end zone to tie the HHC opener for both teams at 14-all with 8:07 left in the scoreboard clock.

Delta had one more answer, though. A touchdown with 4:23 left, on a fourth-down deep throw, sealed the 21-14 victory and improved the Eagles to 3-0 this season.

Shelbyville suffered its first loss and sits at 2-1 with a road trip to New Castle (1-2) on tap next week.

“I told the guys look where you were one year ago. Look how far you’ve come,” said Fitzgerald. “There were a lot of tears in their eyes because they care so much.”

Delta came to Shelbyville having won four straight over the Golden Bears by a combined score of 279-27.

Steve Bush photos.

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