Whippets shred Galion 42-6
Daily Globe Sports Editor
GALION — After having the legitimacy of their defense questioned by their opponent, Shelby’s defenders stood tall and made life difficult for Galion and quarterback Wilson Frankhouse.
The Hungry Hounds limited the Tigers to just 73 yards in offense during Friday’s 42-6 Mid Ohio Athletic Conference rout at Unkrich Stadium.
“We challenged our kids all week on defense. Galion said we were not as good as in the past and we wanted to step up to that challenge and our kids did,” said SHS coach Rob Mahaney as his club improved to 4-0 on the season.
The defense pitched a first-half shutout as Shelby built a 35-0 halftime advantage.
The Whippets wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, by taking the opening kickoff and going 76 yards. On third-and-long Connor Henkel’s 44-yard catch and run would lead to Blaine Bowman’s 25-yard scoring reception at the 10:36. Both aerials were delivered by Marshall Shepherd, who was nine of 16 for the game and 211 yards.
SHS would catch the Tigers napping on the ensuing kickoff by Shepherd and his squib kick was recovered by the red and gray at the Galion 44.
Five plays later, Shepherd threaded a pass to Andre Hill for the touchdown of 21 yards and a 14-0 lead with 9:19 on the clock.
When asked about the onside kick attempt, Mahaney said “they lined up and we saw the big hole and took advantage of it.”
The play and resulting score had momentum rolling on the side of Shelby.
Things were going from bad to worse for the Tigers when Owen Fisher intercepted a Frankhouse pass and brought it to the Galion 47. A 37-yard catch for Hill and a first down would set up a fouryard scoring by Fisher to make it 21-0 with 1:36 on the clock.
The Whippets made it 28-0 with 9 1/2 minutes left in the opening half on a 34-yard dash by Fisher, who would end the night with 120 yards on 17 tries.
The Tigers went to their bag a trick on the next series and a pass on a fake punt fell well short and SHS took over at the Galion 39. Four plays later Shepherd hooked up with Cody Lantz down the left sideline for a 33-yard scoring pass to make it 35-0 with 3:17 left in the first half.
After forcing the Tigers to punt away their opening possession of the third quarter, Shelby would march 66 yards in seven plays and Bowman would nab his second scoring strike of the night on a 23-yarder from Shepherd. The latter was a prefect 6 of 6 on extra-point kicks.
Galion would score on the final play of the third quarter when Frankhouse lofted a pass of 16 yards to Jackson Staton to make it 42-6.
Shelby finished the game with a 369-73 edge in total yardage. Hill caught three balls for 67 yards and Bowman gathered three for 59.
“Galion obviously wanted to load the box. We knew they’d do that when you’ve had the two weeks running the ball like we have Marshall and our receivers did what we know they can do,” said Mahaney.
Next Friday the Whippets host unbeaten Lucas in non-conference play. The Cubs dismantled Troy Christian 42-0 last night.