Lions bring home the gold
A sneak preview of a column that will appear in Sunday's Star:
It was eight miles away and 363 days ago, but the groundwork for Shelby’s 26-18 win over Reidsville Saturday in the 2AA State Championship Game started in the aftermath of last year’s title game loss to Southwest Onslow.
A few minutes after that disappointing loss, head coach Chris Norman had just one thing to say about his team’s chances in 2005.
"Next year starts Monday."
Actually, it probably started in the parking lot at Wallace Wade Stadium on the bus after the game.
I’ve heard from five different players that, after crying and feeling the sting of falling short on the biggest possible stage, the team decided that next year — 2005 — will be different.
It was surely that.
The 2004 team rolled into the title game with a 14-1 record, and after dispatching Burlington Cummings in the Western 2A Finals, the Golden Lions were flying high.
Despite being heavy favorites, that team didn’t fare well in the championship game.
The 2005 season started with more disappointment with an overtime loss at Freedom. Injuries hit early, resulting in a loss at Brevard, and Shelby’s string of conference championships was snapped when it lost to East Rutherford at Blanton Memorial Stadium’s Pearley Allen Field.
That means that the Lions entered the playoffs as a No. 5 seed, making their road to redemption a little more bumpy.
After an easy win at home against North Lincoln, Norman’s squad took its act on the road. Shelby bombed East Henderson in round two, knocked off East Rutherford in an overtime thriller in round three and won again at Forest Hills in the Western Finals.
With that out of the way, all that was left was Reidsville.
The Golden Lions jumped out to a 23-3 lead and calmly weathered a late charge to bring home the gold.
The win caps off the careers of 19 seniors, but three in particular stand out.
Four-year starter Tavorris Jolly, who will play for North Carolina in Chapel Hill next season, became the school’s all-time leading rusher en route to earning the game’s most valuable player honor.
Keon Ross, also a four-year starter, was the outstanding defensive player in the game, thanks in part to a fumble recovery for a touchdown late in the game.
Antonio Odom or "Rat" as he prefers, leaves Shelby High as the school’s career leader in receptions and yardage.
And they all leave knowing that there isn’t any more unfinished business.
It was eight miles away and 363 days ago, but the groundwork for Shelby’s 26-18 win over Reidsville Saturday in the 2AA State Championship Game started in the aftermath of last year’s title game loss to Southwest Onslow.
A few minutes after that disappointing loss, head coach Chris Norman had just one thing to say about his team’s chances in 2005.
"Next year starts Monday."
Actually, it probably started in the parking lot at Wallace Wade Stadium on the bus after the game.
I’ve heard from five different players that, after crying and feeling the sting of falling short on the biggest possible stage, the team decided that next year — 2005 — will be different.
It was surely that.
The 2004 team rolled into the title game with a 14-1 record, and after dispatching Burlington Cummings in the Western 2A Finals, the Golden Lions were flying high.
Despite being heavy favorites, that team didn’t fare well in the championship game.
The 2005 season started with more disappointment with an overtime loss at Freedom. Injuries hit early, resulting in a loss at Brevard, and Shelby’s string of conference championships was snapped when it lost to East Rutherford at Blanton Memorial Stadium’s Pearley Allen Field.
That means that the Lions entered the playoffs as a No. 5 seed, making their road to redemption a little more bumpy.
After an easy win at home against North Lincoln, Norman’s squad took its act on the road. Shelby bombed East Henderson in round two, knocked off East Rutherford in an overtime thriller in round three and won again at Forest Hills in the Western Finals.
With that out of the way, all that was left was Reidsville.
The Golden Lions jumped out to a 23-3 lead and calmly weathered a late charge to bring home the gold.
The win caps off the careers of 19 seniors, but three in particular stand out.
Four-year starter Tavorris Jolly, who will play for North Carolina in Chapel Hill next season, became the school’s all-time leading rusher en route to earning the game’s most valuable player honor.
Keon Ross, also a four-year starter, was the outstanding defensive player in the game, thanks in part to a fumble recovery for a touchdown late in the game.
Antonio Odom or "Rat" as he prefers, leaves Shelby High as the school’s career leader in receptions and yardage.
And they all leave knowing that there isn’t any more unfinished business.
posted by Randy Capps at 7:51 PM
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