CARD GAMES | Shelbyville shuts out Sabine in opener

Football is back, and the Sabine Cardinals entered the 2026 season with high hopes having introduced Tim Russell as the new head coach.

But the hopes will have to wait a week, as the Shelbyville Dragons visited the Cardinals Friday night and breathed fire, leaving with a 34-0 win.

Sabine (0-1) will aim again to get coach Russell his first win as the Cardinals’ head coach next Friday, as they’ll welcome Elysian Fields.

After holding Sabine to a three-and-out, the Dragons mixed their first drive with both running plays and pass plays.

Quarterback Gavin McDonald ran for a 12-yard gain, then found Hunter Harvey for a 20-yard pass play.  He ran for a 22-yard gain.  McDonald capped of the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Scarborough. Edwin Vazquez added the extra point and gave Shelbyville a 7-0 lead.

The Cardinal offense saw some life of its own, as quarterback Griffen DeHoyos found Terry Vanden for a 17-yard gain. But a fumble on a high snap lost them 16 yards and forced a punt.

The Dragons quickly moved down field on the arm of McDonald and the speed of Harvey for a 17-yard reception and a 26-yard touchdown. With a 14-point lead, the Dragons continued to pressure the Cardinals.

Harvey intercepted a DeHoyos pass, but the Cardinal defense, led by Juneroel Bais, stopped the Dragons to end the first quarter.

Following the Dragon punt, the Cardinals took over at their own 7-yard-line.  On the first play, there was a fumbled snap and Elijah Goss fell on it for the Dragons. Ronnie Williams took the handoff and plunged in the end zone for the Dragon’s third touchdown.

Trying to shake up the offense, coach Russell put Olien Pierce in at quarterback. The defense forced a fourth down and the Cardinals executed a fake punt as Pierce found a wide-open Princeton Jones for a 21-yard gain.

Pierce added a 10-yard, then a 14-yard run, setting up the Cardinals at the goal line. But the Shelbyville defense forced a fumble and Eli Matthews fell on the ball.

A 35-yard completion to Scarborough got the Dragons out of the shadow of the goal posts.  The Cardinal defense did force a punt. Before half, both teams exchanged punts and turnovers. Daniel Fierros of the Cardinals recovered a Dragon fumble and then Harvey for the Dragons intercepted his second pass.

The third quarter saw the Cardinals execute a successful onside kick.  But a high snap fumble forced yet another punt.  Both teams played between the 20’s for most of the third quarter. The Cardinals were intercepted again, this time by the Dragons Tate Obergon. The Cardinal defense held and the Dragons were forced to attempt a 34-yard field goal that went wide right.

The Cards were driving down the field to start the fourth quarter.  DeHoyos went around the left side on a quarterback keeper and found 18 yards of turf.  That was the highlight as the Dragon’s stopped the drive forcing another punt.

On the first play from scrimmage, McDonald found Harvey for a 55-yard catch and run. The missed extra point left the score at 27-0.

Following another punt by the Cardinals, Shelbyville would move down for their final score.  Ji’ Polley hauled in a 22-yard reception, which was followed by a 16-yard touchdown catch by Harvey.  The missed extra point gave the final score of 34-0.

But Harvey was not done for the Dragons.  He must have been riding on Toothless as he hauled in his third interception to end the game.  Harvey was flying high as he hauled in three touchdown catches and three interceptions.

DeHoyos ended the night with 36 yards passing and Pierce had 58 yards.  Pierce led the team in rushing with 40 yards. Vanden ended the night with a team high 35 yards receiving.

For the Dragons, McDonald had 189 yards passing and four touchdowns.  He also led the team with 39 yards rushing. Harvey had 71 yards receiving and his 3 touchdowns.  Scarborough had 41 yards and a score.