The Shelby County Wildcats made their reservations for the post-season with a 50-18 home win over the Wilcox Central Jaguars last Friday night.

With the win, the Wildcats secure the second spot in Region 3 and will be awarded home field advantage in the first round.

Just 17 ticks into the game, however, the Jaguar offense managed to hush the SCHS crowd with a 65-yard halfback pass from Quintarius Brooks to Shadoe Smiley.

Caught off guard, the Wildcats took control from the Wilcox 45-yard line following an unsuccessful onside kick by the Jaguars.

The Wildcats found the end zone quickly, however, when quarterback Aaron Howard hit Richard Sutton for a 10-yard touchdown strike.

On the first play of the next possession, a fumble by the Jaguars put Shelby County in business at the Wilcox Central 20-yard line.

The Wildcats wasted little time as Tyrone Buie bolted to the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown run accompanied by a successful 2-point conversion by Howard.

The Jaguars answered this time with a 65-yard touchdown run of their own.

But the Wildcats punched in two more scores by way of a 25-yard run by Buie and 4-yard quarterback keeper from Howard to expand the Wildcats&8217; lead

to 26-12.

The Wildcats added two more scores on a 7-yard run by Darion Sutton and a 30-yard scamper by Howard, and the first half came to a close with the Shelby County Wildcats leading in front 38-12.

On their first possession of the second half, the Wildcats went back to their scoring ways, capping a nine-play drive with a 20-yard touchdown run from Howard.

With a smidge over four minutes left in the third, fullback Kevin Stafford got in on the scoring action when he rumbled in from the Jaguar 2-yard line.

With SCHS out to the commanding 50-12 lead, the depth chart was opened up in the fourth quarter.

The Jaguars added a 67-yard touchdown run, but the party was over.

&8220;Our offensive line did a great job for us tonight,&8221; Shelby County head football coach Ryan Herring said.

&8220;Tonight&8217;s win was a culmination of a year&8217;s hard work.

These kids have worked hard to adjust to a new coaching staff and a new coaching philosophy; it was all brand new to them.

Everything is starting to come together for us and I am extremely pleased where we are,&8221; Herring said.

&8220;Our goal this year was to get into the playoffs.&8221;

The Chelsea Hornets will visit the Wildcats at Papa McCombs Stadium Friday night