Shelby-Rising City's defense outscores offense in blowout win over Heartland

Shelby-Rising City began district play on Friday hosting Heartland in its only home game of a five-week stretch.

The Huskies pounced on the visiting Huskies forcing four turnovers in the first half leading to 32 points in a 60-8 win.

"It was good. A testament to our defense. They came out and played really well. It's always fun when you don't have to run a whole lot of offensive plays," SRC head coach Zach Kubik said. "Our defense keeps playing really well. It keeps our offense healthy and we keep going on to the next game."

SRC's defense was put on its heels on the first drive of the game as Heartland drove to the 1-yard line following a pair of big plays. Huskies junior Coy Vrbka emerged from a pile with the football on a fumble recovery.

The offense cashed in off the takeaway driving 79 yards in 1:11 behind a 51-yard touchdown run by sophomore Carter Eickmeier.

"That was huge. Credit to them," Kubik said. "They got a good play on us early and we weren't ready for it and they came out and played well. That defensive stand at the beginning definitely set the tone for the rest of the game."

Shelby-Rising City's defense and special teams rode that momentum for the rest of the first half.

Backed up in its own end zone, Heartland had its punt in the end zone blocked by junior Eli Fjell. The ball ricocheted to senior Dalton Pokorney at the 8-yard line who returned it for a touchdown to make it 24-0.

On the first play of the second quarter, junior Logan Lindsley returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown extending the lead to 30-0.

Later in the quarter, SRC returned three interceptions for touchdowns on three consecutive Heartland possessions. Sophomore Jett Vrbka scored a 63-yard touchdown, Pokorney reached the end zone on a 20-yard pick six and Fjell scampered into the end zone on a 25-yard score.

The Huskies scored three pick sixes in a span of 2:11.

"I'm pretty sure (Friday night) we had more defensive points than offense," Jett said. "That's pretty cool. Picks are picks. Just trying to get as many yards as you can."

SRC senior Collin Vrbka and sophomore Hunter Minton racked up 12 and 10 tackles, respectively, and one sack each. Coy, Fjell and sophomore Leighton Cromwell sacked the Huskies quarterbacks once.

"We came out and executed well," Pokorney said. "We came out firing right away and kept it going. Got the younger guys in. It was a good deal."

The Huskies finished the game with 226 total yards as the offense conducted just three drives in the first half.

Eickmeier led the team with 80 yards rushing. Jett rushed into the end zone on a 13-yard run to cap a five-play, 43-yard drive in the first quarter. Minton scored the lone touchdown of the second half for SRC on a 43-yard run.

"I think my blocking has been pretty good and running the ball too," Jett said. "Just following the O-line."

SRC entered district play with a signature win at Exeter-Milligan/Friend on Sept. 13. The Huskies defeated the reigning Class D-1 state runner-up 24-20 avenging last year's playoff defeat.

"That was huge because we haven't really been in any close games in the last couple years so it just built the confidence a lot winning a close game and coming back from two touchdowns down," Pokorney said.

Shelby-Rising City improved to 3-1. It plays at East Butler on Friday with both teams sitting atop the District D1-6 standings.

"Halfway point, this is a good spot to be in. We would love to be 4-0 but I thought we played well that second game versus Sandy Creek. A couple things didn't go our way," Kubik said. "Sandy Creek's really good, but getting that win over EMF really helped us getting over that hump that we just couldn't get over that team and we finally did so I think it helped."

East Butler

The Tigers earned a 30-14 victory over McCool Junction on Friday as they scored 30 straight points after the Mustangs scored in the first quarter.

East Butler junior Rocco Hageman carried the football 37 times for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Kaleb Palik reached the end zone on a 4-yard run.

Tigers senior Logan Buresh led the team with eight tackles. Palik posted seven tackles and senior Jakson Smaus finished with six tackles. Sophomore Grant Kozisek recorded six tackles and one interception.

East Butler enters its home game versus SRC with a 3-1 record.