By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA — In what is becoming one of the more prominent inter-county rivalries, the Shelby County Wildcats hosted the Calera Eagles in a AHSAA Class 5A matchup on Sept. 26. With both teams coming off impressive wins, each came into the contest riding a wave momentum, hoping to grab bragging rights.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Eagles used a huge first half to take a 47-6 win.

Calera took the ball on the opening kickoff, and also the momentum, scoring on a Shakeith Tyes touchdown run from five yards out.

The Eagles scored again when Ty Evans hit Tyes for a touchdown strike to put the Eagles up 13-0 following the Ford extra point with 7:28 left in the half.

Following a three-and-out by Shelby County, Calera scored again when Evans scrambled for a 7-yard score. Ford drilled the extra point, and the Eagles led 19-0 with 4:38 left in the first half.

Calera added another score when Evans hit Tyes for five yards and a touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the Eagles led 26-0 with eight seconds left in the half.

Shelby County got the ball to start the half, but quarterback Mason Blythe was intercepted by Frank Thomas on the first play of the drive.

Three plays later, the Evans-to-Tyes tandem worked again as the running back hauled in a 40-yard pass for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and Calera took a 33-0 lead.

Calera tacked on a score late in the fourth on a bizarre play. Inside the Wildcat 10, Evans’ pass was batted in the air at the line of scrimmage. In a mad scramble to catch the ball hanging over the field, Trey Turnbow grabbed the pass out of the air through two defenders, breaking loose for an 8-yard touchdown. The PAT was good, and Calera took a 40-0 lead.

C.J. Driver scored on a 5-yard designed run with 1:48 left, giving Calera a 47-0 lead after Ford’s extra point.

Shelby County refused to go down, however, as Jamarius Mayfield broke loose for a 22-yard score with five seconds left in the game to bring the Wildcats to 47-6 after the two-point try was no good. Neither team scored again, and the Eagles took the 47-6 win.

Mayfield finished the night with 116 yards on the ground for Shelby County. Defensively, Austin Childers (11), Zac Scott (10) Kevontae Mayfield (8) and Colton Davis (6) led the team with tackles. The Wildcats travel to Beauregard Oct. 3.

Stats were unavailable for the Eagles at press time, who travel to Wilcox Central.