By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

CALERA — It was a showdown between Shelby County 5A powers on Oct. 10, as the Helena Huskies traveled to Calera to take on the Eagles in a battle for Region 4 bragging rights. The Eagles came out swinging on their homecoming, crushing the Huskies, 45-21.

On the first play from scrimmage, Shakeith Tyes broke a 34-yard run to get the Eagles across midfield. The drive stalled, however, and the Eagles settled for a 48-yard Austin Ford field goal to put Calera up, 3-0.

After a Helena punt, Calera struck again when Tyes scored on a 37-yard run to give the Eagles 10-0 lead following Ford’s extra point. The teams traded interceptions, and Helena punted to give Calera the ball  at their own 22.

Three plays later, the Huskies on the board when Austin Davis picked off Ty Evans and returned it for a touchdown. The Rutger Reid extra point was good, and Helena cut the lead to 10-7 at the end of the first.

The Eagles scored again when Evans took a 3-yard run in for a score. Ford nailed the extra point, and the Eagles led 17-7.

After a Huskies punt, Calera drove 95 yards, capping off the drive on a 34-yard rushing touchdown by Kyle Harrell. The extra point was on point, and Calera led, 24-7.

Just as it appeared the Eagles had momentum, the Huskies responded with a 13-play drive, capped off by a Riley Davis touchdown pass to Troy Cordrey for four yards. The extra point was good, and the Huskies cut the lead to 24-14 with 25.1 seconds left in the first.

Helena recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and chose to run out the clock, trailing 24-14 into the half.

Helena punted on its first drive of the third quarter, and the two teams proceeded to trade fumbles, with Calera putting a nine-play drive together that saw Tyes score on a 7-yard run to put the Eagles up 31-14 after the PAT with 5:53 left in the third.

The Eagles defense struck on the ensuing drive, as Riley Davis was picked off by Rodney Thrift to give the ball back to Tyes and the Calera offense.

On the first play from scrimmage, Tyes again broke lose for a score, this time from 30-yards out to give Calera a 38-14 lead following Ford’s point after.

Helena scored more, when Riley Davis pulled a quarterback sneak to give the Huskies a touchdown and cut the lead to 38-21 with Reid’s extra point.

Tyes added his fourth and final touchdown of the evening on a 5-yard run to put Calera up 45-21 with 2:24 left in the game.
It was all the scoring either team did, as officials called the game with 1:48 left due to lightning in the vicinity.

Tyes led the Eagles with a school-record 353 rushing yards and four touchdowns,  while Evans and Kyle Harrell had a rushing touchdown apiece. Defensively, Dylan Reddin had 10 tackles, while Thrift and Trey Jones had a interception apiece.

For the Huskies, Riley Davis finished 12-of-27 for 151 yards and touchdown. Jake Busby led all receivers with 67 yards, ad Austin Davis finished with two interceptions.
Calera will face Dallas County Oct. 17, while Helena travels to Sumter Central.