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The Shelby County Wildcats picked up their sixth win of the season on Friday night, Oct. 11 thanks to a 42-16 win over rival Montevallo. (For the Reporter/Kelsea Schafer)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Wildcats bounced back from their two-game losing streak in a big way on Friday, Oct. 11 in a rivalry battle against county foe Montevallo.

Entering the night with back-to-back losses to St. Clair County and Demopolis, the Wildcats got back to their dominant ways showcased during a 5-0 start by posting 42 points in a commanding 42-16 win over rival Montevallo.

The Wildcats scored 28 points in the second quarter alone to cap off a first half that featured all 42 of the team’s points that brought the team to within one win of the two seed in the region.

Shelby County got the scoring started early in the first quarter with a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Anthony Palmeiri, which became his first of three on the night. A successful 2-point attempt quickly made it 8-0 with 8:28 left in the opening quarter.

The Wildcats forced a stop defensively, which allowed the offense to build off its momentous early start. They capitalized when Ryan Sipes threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 after a failed 2-point attempt.

Montevallo had an answer, but it only came in the form of three points on a field goal from Arturo Alvarenga that made it 14-3 early in the second quarter.

However, it took less than 20 seconds for the Wildcats to answer, as they used a big play to set up a 10-yard touchdown run from Palmieri.

That was part of a busy quarter of offense in a quarter that featured 37 combined points between the two teams.

Shelby County added another score shortly after thanks to the defense continuing a big night and giving the offense a chance to set up a 34-yard touchdown pass from Sipes.

Montevallo finally got the answer it needed by getting into the end zone on the ensuing possession behind a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Ward to Dee Cutts that trimmed the deficit to 28-9 late in the first quarter.

Still, there was more than enough time for Shelby County to not only answer once, but twice to end the half.

In the final 1:19, the Wildcats got one more rushing touchdown from Palmieri and one from Tyson Duncan to make it 42-9 and all of a sudden put the game out of reach at the half.

A scoreless third quarter went by in a flash, while the Bulldogs added one final score on a 4-yard touchdown run from Caleb Meriweather in the final quarter.

Shelby County improved to 6-2 overall this season with the win, while the Bulldogs fell to 1-6.

Palmieri finished with 124 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while Sipes totaled nearly 150 yards of offense and had two touchdown passes. Cooper Pennington finished with one touchdown catch and 23 yards, while Nico Palmieri added 34 yards receiving and a score.

Meriweather led Montevallo in the loss with 67 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Shelby County will travel to Selma next week, while the Bulldogs will host Sipsey Valley.

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