By RICKY RUSTON / For the Reporter

COLUMBIANA — The Shelby County Wildcats held their 2011 season icebreaker Aug. 19 at Papa McCombs Stadium in a jamboree against Bibb County.

The Wildcats fell to the Bibb County Choctaws 17-0.

It was just a jamboree, but it’s an appetizer to the season opener Aug. 26 against Pell City.

While blanking the Wildcat offense, the visiting Choctaws managed three scores, including a 15-play scoring drive capped off by a 3-yard run, a 4-yard scoring run and a successful field goal just inside the Wildcat 25-yard line.

The Wildcat running game had its spurts. Sophomore quarterback Ty Proctor had a handful of nice tosses to fellow receivers, but it was the turnovers that were the nemesis for the Cats.

The Wildcats finished with three fumbles in the game, with one leading to a score, one placing the Choctaws inside the red zone and another while attempting to convert on a fourth down.

Call it a loss on the scoreboard for the Wildcats, but call it a win for the experience gained and the opportunity to get better in the upcoming week in preparation for the season opener.