By Scott Shasteen
Senior running back Marvancy Johnson scored four touchdowns and classmate Will Hyden blocked a kick and forced a fumble, with multiple tackles for lost yardage, as Tullahoma opened the 2025 football season with a 35-14 victory over Shelbyville before 5,000 fans at Wilkins Stadium.
The Wildcats never trailed against the Golden Eagles, jumping out to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. Tullahoma led 10-6 at the half, but outscored their Highway 41A neighbors to the north 25-8 in the second half.
After gaining almost 1,500 yards last season, Johnson picked right back up as the primary offensive weapon for the Wildcats. Unofficially, he ran for 147 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns rushing. He caught a screen pass from quarterback Lucas Reed and raced 56 yards, shaking off multiple Shelbyville defenders, for his fourth TD. Johnson earned the Midtown Nutrition Player of the Game.
Hyden was everywhere, with multiple tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He blocked Shelbyville’s first extra point attempt and forced a fumble inside the five-yard line when Shelbyville’s long snapper sailed the snap over the punter’s head.
The Wildcats kicked off first, joined by a mid-state television viewing audience. After forcing the Golden Eagles to punt, the Wildcats took possession at their 31-yard line. Reed completed a 23-yard pass to Julian Cole, then a 16-yarder to Zion Jeffery. The drive stalled, and senior Chase Dodson nailed a 40-yard field goal, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 5:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Despite a 35-yard run by Shelbyville’s Robert Bailey, Tullahoma’s defense stopped the Eagles on fourth-and-seven, giving the offense the ball at the Wildcat 22-yard line. Reed connected with Alex Bobo on a 40-yard pass before Johnson took over, carrying five straight times for 32 yards and scoring on a four-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Dodson’s PAT increased the lead to 10-0.
Shelbyville drove from its 20-yard line to the Tullahoma four, but the Wildcat defense stuffed Bailey on fourth down, and the Cats took over. The offense stalled, and after a short punt,
Shelbyville had good field position but couldn’t sustain any offense, leading to another Golden Eagle punt. The snap sailed over the punter’s head, and Hyden forced the fumble, and Sam Bobo recovered it, giving the ball to the Tullahoma offense at the Shelbyville 12-yard line.
However, on second down, Reed was intercepted by Chandler Jones. Golden Eagle quarterback Stephen Bobo connected with his receiver for a 58-yard gain, and Bailey finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown. However, Hyden broke through the line and blocked Shelbyville’s PAT attempt, ending the half with the Cats leading 10-6.
Whatever was said and done inside the Wildcat locker room at halftime was effective, because the Cats took control in the third quarter. After winning the coin toss and deferring, Tullahoma took the second-half kickoff and drove 61 yards on nine plays, scoring on a 22-yard burst by Johnson with 8:01 remaining in the third quarter. Dodson nailed the PAT, increasing the lead to 17-6.
Once again, the Tullahoma defense forced a three-and-out, giving the offense excellent field position at the Tullahoma 46. A holding penalty set them back to the Shelbyville 44, but Reed set up a screen pass to Johnson, and ‘Fancy’ ran through, around, and over defenders to score with 5:56 left in the third quarter. PAT holder Patrick Riddle lined the Wildcats up to go for two and took it into the end zone himself to increase the lead to 25-6.
To the visitors’ credit, they drove 73 yards on 13 plays and scored on a 16-yard pass. Shelbyville converted their own two-pointer, cutting the lead to 25-14 with 11:16 left to play.
The Wildcats were not fazed. Starting at midfield, Johnson ran six times and scored from four yards away. The drive included a critical 20-yard run by Reed, and Dodson’s PAT increased the lead to 32-14 with 8:23 left. Shelbyville was out of gas, and Tullahoma won the line of scrimmage.
Cole ended the Eagles’ next possession, intercepting Bobo and setting the Wildcats up at their 34-yard line. Junior Dominick Harris broke off a 62-yard run, leading to a 27-yard field goal by Aiden Walker that ended the scoring. Two plays later, Harris recovered a Golden Eagle fumble, ending any hope of a Shelbyville miracle comeback.
Tullahoma out-rushed Shelbyville 192 yards to 187, and won the passing game with Reed completing 9-19 for 154 yards and a score. The Wildcats ran 47 plays for 346 total yards, while Shelbyville ran 48 plays for 307 yards.
Tullahoma travels to Manchester on Friday for the 100th Coffee Pot contest. Listen LIVE on 93.9 The Duck!
Coffee County (1-0) started its season on a strong note. After trailing 14-9 at halftime, the Red Raiders shut Franklin County out in the final 24 minutes and won 30-14. Tullahoma leads the series against Manchester 64-33-2. Coffee County claimed the Pot last year with a 24-21 win, their second in three years. Since 1983, Tullahoma has dominated the series, winning 33 out of 42 games.
Shelbyville (0-1) stays on the road next week in Lewisburg against non-district Marshall County. Catch the game of the new home of the Golden Eagles The Rooster 101.5.
Coverage of both contest begins with Friday Night Thunder at 6:00.
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