Shelby Valley running back Jayden Newsome willed his team to a second-round playoff victory over upset-minded Middlesboro.
Newsome scored on a one yard run out of the Wildcat formation to lift the Wildcats, 28-21, in a game played at Hobart Clay Johnson Field on Friday night.
Valley, now 9-2, lost quarterback Russ Osborne to a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, shifting the burden to Newsome.
The prized back rushed for 227 yards and two scores on 31 carries. His nine-yard run early in the fourth quarter put the Wildcats up six.
Osborne ran for two short touchdowns before leaving the game.
Shelby Valley will now travel to Fort Mitchell to face Beechwood (11-1) in the regional title game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.
At Robinson Creek
(Class 2A Second Round)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
MB (7-4)…7 7 0 7 – 21
SV (9-2)….7 0 7 14 – 28
Scoring
First Quarter
MB – Cayden Grigsby, 8-yard run (Sopheaktra Sin kick), 9:13
SV – Russ Osborne, 1-yard run (Trey Compton kick), 5:13
Second Quarter
MB – Cayden Grigsby, 36-yard run (Sopheaktra Sin kick), 2:26
Third Quarter
SV – Russ Osborne, 2-yard run (Trey Compton kick), 9:40
Fourth Quarter
SV – Jayden Newsome, 9-yard run (kick failed), 9:04
MB – Amari Wilson, 40-yard pass from Cayden Grigsby (Sopheaktra Sin kick), 8:48
SV – Jayden Newsome, 1-yard run (Jayden Newsome run), 3:31
Next up: Shelby Valley (9-2) at Beechwood (11-1), regional championship, 7:30 pm, Nov. 18.