The North Shelby Raiders nearly pulled off another postseason miracle Saturday but the Worth County Tigers were able to close out a 36-34 victory.
The Raiders had possession in the final minute.
Worth County had the ball with a 36-28 lead and 3:50 left when it fumbled the ball away. North Shelby’s Gannon Bowen had a 17-yard run to set up Drake Prange to score from one yard out with 1:16 to go, but the Raiders fell short on the two-point conversion.
North Shelby used all its timeouts and forced a 4th down incompletion to give them that final shot.
Worth County went 15 plays on the game’s opening drive and burned eight minutes before North Shelby ultimately turned them over on downs. The Raiders’ offense followed up.
Both teams went back-and-forth with four straight scoring drives. Worth County got its first defensive stop late in the first half and took advantage of it.
The Tigers recovered an onside kick to start the second half and proceeded to take its largest lead at 30-14. That touchdown was the start of another stretch of four straight scoring drives.
Both teams had lengthy drives stall out early in the fourth quarter.
Bowen unofficially ran for 206 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns to be named North Shelby’s Freeman Financial and Insurance Outstanding Player of the Game. TJ Belt caught two passes for 62 yards. Worth County ran 67 plays to just 47 from North Shelby.
The Raiders close their season at 9-3.
North Shelby coach Kent O’Laughlin Postgame:
