Shelby Academy played tough defense, but was unable to get anything going offensively in its 27-0 loss to the Monroe Academy Volunteers (8-0) Friday. Fog overtook the field throughout the game, and at times made it impossible to view the game from the press box.

The Volunteers got the early lead with a 23-yard touchdown run by Sam Vermilyea. Later in the first quarter, they got on the board again with a 38-yard pass from Dustin Ellison to Paul Vermilyea, but were unable to convert the point-after kick.

In the first play of the second quarter, Tyler Gregson ran in a 3-yard touchdown to extend the Volunteers’ lead to 19-0 after another missed extra point. The rest of the first half was a defensive struggle for both teams, making it 19-0 at the half.

During the third quarter, the Raiders suffered two key losses to the squad. Daniel Michael and Chase Cleveland both had to leave the game with severe injuries and were sent to Shelby Baptist Medical Center. Michael left with an apparent broken ankle, but Cleveland had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

The only score through the rest of the game came from another touchdown pass by Ellison, who followed it with a run for the two-point conversion.

The Raiders were led offensively by Brandon Horton and Chad King and defensively by Brandon Sexton, but were unable to score throughout the game.

“We played well in the last few quarters of the game, I just wish we could’ve gotten that first quarter back,” Shelby head coach Shannon Jones said.

The loss makes Shelby an even 4-4 as it travel to Autauga next Friday for its final regular season in-region game.