Wildcats shine in disappointing loss to Coyotes

The Harlem Wildcats gave their hometown fans plenty to cheer about despite falling to Shelby in a Northern 8-man conference clash Friday night.

Wildcat sophomore Miles Fetter took the opening kickoff at the five-yard line and raced 35 yards to the midfield stripe. On the first play from scrimmage, sophomore running back Code McCabe gathered in a pitch from senior quarterback Leon Champagne and powered forward for nine yards to Shelby's 31-yard line. McCabe rumbled up the middle for 12 yards and a first down at the Coyotes' 18-yard line.

McCabe's sweep around right end three plays later for 11 yards left Harlem sitting at fourth down with three yards to go at the 11-yard line.

McCabe powered off left tackle for the necessary three yards and a first-and-goal at Shelby's seven-yard line.

Champagne ran a quarterback sweep to the right inside the endzone pylon for the touchdown.

Harlem's two-point conversion was negated on a holding penalty and the second attempt, from 12 yards out, came up short. 'Cats the first lead of the game at 6-0.

McCabe booted the 'Cats' kickoff one yard deep into Shelby's endzone for a touchback.

Shelby's 200-pound running back Hayden Schilling picked the first of his more than 250 yards rushing for the night on an 11-yard sweep to the left. After losing two yards on a bobbled snap, Malta ran Schilling up the middle for seven yards and a third-and-five at the 40-yard line.

The 'Cats' defense stiffened, holding the Coyotes to just nine yards on the next three plays.

An offside call on the next play gave Shelby a first down.

Two plays later, Fetter intercepted a Shelby pass at the one-yard line. Sitting at second-and-11 after an incomplete pass and a holding call, Harlem failed in a sweep to the right that resulted in a two-point safety.

Trailing 6-2, Shelby returned Harlem's free kick to its own 28-yard line.

Harlem's fourth penalty of the game came on an interference call deep in its own territory that gave Shelby a first down at Harlem's 36.

After moving the ball to Harlem's nine-yard line, Shelby traded penalties with Harlem. Shelby was moved back 10 yards to the 19 on a holding call, and Harlem gave back five yards on an offside call.

On a second-and-goal call from the 14, a Coyote lineman picked up a bobbled pitch to Schilling and ran it to the one-yard line.

On third and goal from the one, Shelby was called for illegal motion and the ball was moved back to the six.

Schilling scored his first TD of the night on a six-yard pitch to the right.

The two-point attempt failed due to a low snap.

With 5 minutes and 45 seconds left in the first quarter, the Coyotes led 8-6.

Jay Thomas Stewart took the ensuing kickoff at his own four-yard line and returned it to the 30.

With just under 4 minutes to go in the quarter, McCabe ran a draw up the middle on a fourth-and-five play for five yards and a first down at midfield.

A long pass from Champagne intended for a wide-open Matthew Billmayer soared just beyond his reach.

A couple plays later, Champagne attempted a pass on fourth and seven from Shelby's 37 line that was tipped away from the receiver's grasp to stymie the drive.

After moving the ball to Harlem's 35-yard line, Shelby fumbled and Harlem recovered at its own 33.

With just one minute and 20 seconds to go in the first quarter, Billmayer pulled in a Champagne pass at Shelby's 19-yard line.

A high snap over the quarterback's head and recovered by McCabe resulted in a 16-yard loss.

The quarter ended on a three-yard quarterback carry.

On third-and-11 from its 19-yard line, Harlem faked a run up the middle and unloaded an aerial bomb that Billmayer took the house. The 'Cats sealed the deal with a quarterback draw for two and a 14-8 lead at the 11:49 mark of the second quarter.

Harlem's defense stiffened on the next series, beginning with a sack of the quarterback. On a third and 19, Shelby gained 14 yards, then a false-start penalty dropped them back five yards.

On fourth-and-10 on its own 37, Shelby ran a quick kick.

Harlem subsequently gave up its second safety of the night on a high snap the 'Cats recovered in the endzone.

With 7:46 remaining in the half and Harlem holding a slim 14-10 lead, the tide was beginning to shift as Harlem prepared to free kick to the Coyotes for the second time in the half.

Within two minutes, Shelby would get its second touchdown on a 4-yard TD run by Schilling. Shelby converted the PAT and took the lead for the first time in the game, 18-14.

McCabe returned the kickoff to Harlem's 18-yard line and gained another 12 yards on his next carry at the 6:44 mark of the second quarter.

Shelby picked off Champagne's third-and-seven and returned it to their 28.

Schilling carried for 13 yards to Harlem's 37, followed by a 36-yard aerial to Harlem's one. Shelby quarterback Kyle Mcdermott's one-yard sneak put the Coyotes up 24-14. Schilling added two points for a 12 Shelby lead with 4:27 left in the half.

Harlem's next series was a nightmare for the 'Cats. McCabe was tackled for a five-yard loss, then he recovered a quarterback fumble for another six-yard loss. Shelby nearly blocked the 'Cats punt on fourth-and-15, but the long, soaring kick sneaked through and put Shelby at its own 37.

Schilling went to work, picking up 39 yards on four carries and another touchdown. The PAT failed and Shelby led 32-14 with 1:10 left in the half.

The Wildcats' defense was tough once again at the start of the second half following its kickoff to the Coyotes.

After stuffing Shelby on three straight plays, 'Cats successfully block a punt to take possession on Shelby's 25.

Champagne opened up with a seven-yard gain on a keeper. Unable to convert a first down, the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.

After a two-yard loss, Shelby dropped a bomb into Schilling's arms at Harlem's 17 and he was team-tackled to ground at the 15.

The 'Cats held their ground, beginning with a booming sack by Thunder Bigby for a 10-yard Coyote loss. Bigby broke through the line again to hurry the quarterback and Champagne broke up the long pass for an incompletion.

An encroachment penalty on Harlem led to a fourth-and-15 pass into the endzone that fell through Schilling's hands.

Harlem took over at its own 20 with 6:29 left in the third quarter.

The 'Cats were unable to generate a first down and punted to Shelby's 27.

Harlem recovered a Shelby fumble at its own 17 but turned the ball back on an interception on Shelby's 34.

Mcdermott aired it out to Schilling who broke free for the 46-yard TD completion. The PAT succeeded for a 40-14 Shelby lead with 2:44 left in the third.

Following the kickoff, McCabe had a pair of runs for 15 and five yards. A fumble at the 22-second mark led to a six-yard loss.

The fourth quarter began with Harlem sitting at 4th and 11 on its own 31-yard line. Harlem completed the fourth-down pass to Shelby's 25 but was unable to convert another first down.

Shelby took over on its own 25 with 10:05 left in the game and ended that series with a 30-yard TD pass to Kody Standiford. With the conversion, Shelby pushed its lead to 48-14.

Harlem never quit and wasted less than two minutes in moving the ball from its own 15-yard line Shelby's 35, where McCabe took the ball and romped into the endzone. The PAT failed.

Shelby took the ensuing kickoff and moved briskly down the field before scoring on a five-yard run with 3:37 left in the game. The PAT failed and the score stood at 54-20.

McCabe closed out the scoring for the night with a 70-yard kickoff return. The PAT succeeded and Harlem trailed 28-54.

Harlem got the ball one more time, but the clock ran out before the 'Cats could put any more points on the board.

McCabe rushed for more than 130 yards from scrimmage and tacked on more than 85 yards on his two kickoff returns and scored two touchdowns.

Champagne was 66-11 passing with one touchdown through the air and one on the ground, and one interception.

Next up for the never-say-die Harlem-Turner squad is a Saturday afternoon game at Rocky Boy.