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The Coffee County Red Raiders suffered their first loss of the 2024 campaign after a 32-28 battle with Shelbyville Central at Carden-Jarrell Field on Friday night.

The Golden Eagles would receive the opening kickoff and provide a big test for the Red Raider defense, marching inside Coffee County’s red zone. However, the Red Raiders held Shelbyville to a field goal attempt, and the Golden Eagles made it from 24 yards out to take a 3-0 lead.

Coffee County’s offense went to work on their next possession, using up almost seven minutes of game clock before racing down to the end zone for a rushing touchdown by Caiden Martin. With the extra point, the Raiders took the lead 7-3 with 16 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

The Red Raider lead wouldn’t last very long, as Shelbyville took the kick return all the way back for a touchdown to retake the lead 9-7. The Golden Eagles would miss the ensuing extra point attempt.

Coffee County’s next drive seemed to be moving well, as the Red Raiders reached the Shelbyville 12, but the Eagles applied huge pressure to Coffee County quarterback Kaysen Lowery, and Lowery was brought down on a sack.

Shelbyville continued to bring the pressure on the next play, and Lowery would throw an interception, giving the Golden Eagles the ball back on their own 38 yard line.

Coffee County’s defense would again hold strong, as Shelbyville was held to another field goal attempt and the Eagles made one from 30 yards out to extend their lead to 12-7.

On the kickoff, it was Coffee County’s turn for some special teams magic, as Deontae Short ran it back 85 yards for a touchdown, giving the Red Raiders a 14-12 lead, which they kept until halftime.

The Red Raiders would extend their lead after the halftime break, scoring a rushing touchdown with Jayden Carter as the back, and the extra point attempt was good, giving the Red Raiders a 21-12 advantage with 7:48 to go in the third quarter.

Coffee County’s defense again stepped up to the plate, forcing a Shelbyville three-and-out. The Golden Eagles attempted a 49 yard field goal, but missed, and Coffee County would get the ball on their own 20 due to a touchback.

Shelbyville would go back to pressuring Kaysen Lowery, and after grounding the ball, Coffee County was forced to punt from their own four yard line.

The next snap however, went over the head of punter Will Rogers, and Shelbyville recovered the ball in the endzone for a touchdown. Shelbyville would again miss the extra point, and still trail the Red Raiders 21-18.

Coffee County’s next drive would last all the way until the end of the fourth quarter, and the Raiders were again forced to punt from the Shelbyville 47.

With momentum swinging their way, the Golden Eagles marched down the field for a go-ahead touchdown, this time making the extra point attempt to retake the lead, 25-21.

The Red Raiders would threaten to score on their next drive following some big plays by Deontae Short and Kane Dixon, but Coffee County would turn it over on downs.

Shelbyville would get the ball back on their own 15 yard line, but after a couple of plays and some furious pressure by Coffee County, Austin Green intercepted a pass at the Shelbyville 33 to give the Red Raiders another chance.

Coffee County would take advantage, scoring on a rushing touchdown by Deontae Short to take a 28-25 lead with 2:36 left to play.

It seemed as though Coffee County had swung the momentum back in their direction, but the Golden Eagles burned the Red Raider defense on a passing play, scoring a touchdown to assume the lead 32-28 with 2:17 remaining in the game.

Coffee County had one more shot on offense, but several passing attempts by the Red Raiders failed to connect, and Shelbyville escaped with the victory.

“We had several miscues,” said Coach Roger Haynes. “We played in spurts and had way too many penalties…and it was very hard to overcome those things. We just have to see how we bounce back from a loss.”

The Red Raiders will begin their 6A Region 3 slate against Siegel (1-2) on Friday, Sept. 13 at Carden-Jarrell Field with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The Stars will be coming off of a 30-13 loss to Smyrna.