After getting off to a slow start in the first three games, Shelby County coach Bruce Breland hoped the Wildcats offense would come out purring when the 5A school hosted 2A Vincent Friday night in Columbiana.

But the first-year Shelby County coach would have to wait until the second half to finally see his offense strike against the Yellow Jackets.

SCHS took a 16-6 lead into halftime, but the Wildcats failed to find the end zone in the first half of play.

Erick Hernandez booted a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter to put Shelby County on the scoreboard first.

The Wildcats also got touchdowns from Xavier Scott on a 46-yard punt return and Shawn Lacey, who picked off a Vincent pass and raced 30 yards for the score.

&uot;I still wasn’t pleased with the consistency of the offense,&uot; Breland said. &uot;We’re still blowing too many assignments. We are right about midseason. We shouldn’t have seniors making those kind of mistakes.

&uot;The good thing is that we are hustling, that’s a positive,&uot; said Breland, whose Wildcats put up 21 points in the second half to secure a 37-6 win.

Shelby County star wide receiver Brandon Burns had only two catches in the ballgame, but the senior made the most of his opportunities, scoring on both touches.

Quarterback Josh Dikis connected with Burns for touchdown strikes of 41 and 62 yards in the third quarter.

Montez Carter scored the Wildcats final touchdown on a 2-yard run.

Vincent had 13 first downs to Shelby County’s eight and outrushed the Wildcats by 13 yards, but turnovers plagued the Yellow Jackets all night long.

&uot;I thought offensively, with the exception of the turnovers, we played well,&uot; said Vincent coach Dwight Spradley. &uot;You can’t turn the ball over that much and expect to win.&uot;

Vincent scored the only offensive touchdown of the first half when quarterback Steven Adams found Leo Chancellor for a 9-yard score.

&uot;Vincent moved the ball better on us than anybody we’ve played all year,&uot; said Breland, whose Wildcats have squared off against 5A powers Briarwood and Benjamin Russell earlier this season.

Spradley said he felt the lopsided score wasn’t indicative of Vincent’s efforts.

&uot;It doesn’t help the win-loss record, but the experience we’ve gotten playing Chelsea and Shelby County, I think will be unmeasureable down the stretch,&uot; Spradley said. &uot;I told them at halftime how proud I was of their effort.