Ryan Elm rushed the ball just eight times last Friday night in Shelby Academy’s 37-14 win over MMI &045; and he made every rush count, finishing with 106 yards and two touchdowns.

&uot;While it looks like Ryan is doing everything stat-wise, we have a lot of other players doing great things, too,&uot; Shelby Academy head coach Dewayne Kervin said.

&uot;Our line blocks the plays that Ryan runs really well. The combination of their great blocking and Ryan’s quickness works for us, so of course we go to it a lot. But Jason (Stokes) and Mike (Childress) both do some hard running for us up the middle and they throw some great blocks for Ryan as well.&uot;

Andrew Elm hooked up with Tommy Childress on an 80-yard scoring pass on SA’s first possession. The failed PAT gave Shelby an early 6-0 lead.

Andrew Elm set up the next score with an interception. Ryan Elm scored the Raiders’ second touchdown from seven yards out. The PAT gave SA a 13-0 lead at the end of the first period.

On the Raiders’ next possession Andrew Elm capped a long Raider drive with a 4-yard scamper for a touchdown. The PAT failed, and SA had a comfortable 19-0 lead.

The comfort did not last long, however, as Marion Military struck back with a 54-yard touchdown pass. The extra point snap was bobbled, but an MMI player picked it up and ran it into the end zone for a two-point conversion, cutting the Raider lead to 19-8 with 1:50 left in the half.

If there was any confusion as to who was in control of the game, it was settled on the ensuing kickoff. Ryan Elm returned the kick 30 yards and capped a drive from three yards out just before the half. The missed PAT gave the Raiders a 25-8 lead heading into the locker room at the half.

&uot;That kickoff return and score was big for us because Marion had gotten a little momentum with the long touchdown pass,&uot; Kervin said. &uot;That kind of put us back in control right before the half.&uot;

Sophomore fullback Jason Stokes added to the Marion misery with a 5-yard scoring run in the third quarter. The missed PAT left SA with a 31-8 lead.

MMI cut into that lead with a score in the fourth period. With a missed PAT the score stood at 31-14.

Freshman Barry Harrison capped the scoring for the Raiders and the night with a 41-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. A missed extra point left the final score at 37-14.

Andrew Elm finished the night with 136 yards on 4-of-6 passing. That performance has Kervin excited.

&uot;We don’t throw the ball that much, but when we do Andrew does a great job with his accuracy and decisions,&uot; Kervin said. &uot;That open up the run for us, which is what we rely on so much.&uot;

Another thing that has Kervin excited is the play of his defense.

&uot;Defense was our weak spot coming into the season, and they played really well Friday night,&uot; Kervin said. &uot;They started a little slow, but picked it up after the first quarter and kept the MMI offense in check. If the defense can continue to play well, it will be big for us.&uot;

Mike Childress and Chris Freeman were the leaders on defense, recording 11 tackles each. Stokes had nine tackles on the night.

Shelby Academy has an open week this Friday night before traveling to Coosa Valley in two weeks