Shelby stands in way of Reidsville title No. 16

By STEVE CANNULI
Sports Editor
Two of this state's most storied prep football programs are set to square off when the Reidsville Rams (15-0) and the Shelby Golden Lions (14-1) meet for the NCHSAA 2-AA State Championship on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
Since 1969 - the first year of the Reidsville Ram era - these two schools have combined for 722 wins (Shelby 398, Reidsville 324) and 14 championships (Shelby 10, RHS 4). Reidsville won 11 state championships prior to 1969, giving the city 15 total - the most in state history.
The two teams met in the 2005 2-AA state finals, with Shelby taking home championship gold, 26-18 - in the first-ever meeting between these two successful programs.
After rattling off wins over Freedom (14-10) and Ashbrook (14-7), Shelby dropped its first game to Crest, 14-7. The Shelby Golden Lions, who have won 12 straight since that loss.
Eight of the team's 14 opponents finished the season with at or above .500 records.
Winners of the last two 2-AA state championships, the Golden Lions advanced to Saturday's finals with a 17-0 win over Mount Pleasant. Shelby won last year's title defeating Southern Vance, the team that fell to the Rams 49-19 Friday night in the semifinals.
Since the loss to Crest, Shelby's defense has answered the call - allowing no more than 15 points in any one game. The Golden Lions pitched three shutouts along the way, against Brevard, Chase and Mount Pleasant.
For the season, the Lions have allowed 118 points (7.9 per game) and the offense has posted 443 points (29.5).
Conversely, Reidsville has been nearly as impressive on defense - allowing 165 points (11.0) and scoring a staggering 742 points (49.5).
The Shelby offense is led by a three-headed rushing attack that features three 600-plus yard rushers. Larry Raper (Jr., 5-11, 160) leads the group with 698 yards and 10 touchdowns. Marc Williams (Sr., 6-1, 180) has gained 673 yards and 11 TDs and Donovan Gidney (Sr., 5-11, 206) comes in with 661 yards and 10 TDs. Raper (7.5) and Williams (8.9) are both well over seven-yards per carry. Gidney, the team's fullback, gained 107 yards on 19 carries during Friday's win over S. Vance.
Senior QB Howard Thompson (5-10, 165), who was not the starter during the 2005 meeting, has thrown for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns - on 50 of 95 completions (.526 percentage). Thompson was 4 of 7 through the air with two touchdowns and 82 yards.
O'Bryan Gullatte (Sr., 6-1, 152) hauled in both of Thompson's TD passes and finished with 68 yards receiving.
The Golden Lions are coached by Chris Norman, who has a record of 118-26-1 (82 percent) and three state titles to his credit.
His counterpart, Reidsville head coach Jimmy Teague has a record of 180-41 (.814) and two state championships (2002 and 2003).
Saturday's finals will be the fourth straight for Shelby, who lost in the 2004 championship game - a 49-21 defeat at the hands of Southwest Onslow.
While the Rams have won 28 of their last 30 games, the Golden Lions have won 35 of their last 36 - including an undefeated 16-0 campaign last year.
Reidsville QB Ray Ray Butchee was a freshman during the 2005 game, but RB Tayon Graves, played and gained 61 yards on nine carries and scored once.
Linebacker John Connally, who eclipsed the 500-tackle mark last week, finished the 2005 game against Shelby with 14 tackles.

SHELBY AT A GLANCE
Opponent Scores
Freedom W, 14-10
Ashbrook W, 14-7
Crest L, 7-14
Lincolnton W, 35-13
Brevard W, 7-0
Watauga W, 34-15
Burns W, 30-13
Kings Mountain W, 41-14
R-S Central W, 27-3
Chase W, 42-0
E. Rutherford W, 40-6
2-AA State Playoffs
West Stokes W, 54-2
W. Henderson W, 41-7
Pisgah W, 40-14
Mt. Pleasant W, 17-0