Timbrook’s interception gives Cardinals jolt, then offense takes control in CCC victory over Panthers

MONROE CITY, Mo. — South Shelby senior linebacker Daniel Timbrook didn’t score, but his interception turned the tide just the same.

With the Cardinals leading Monroe City 12-6 and 6:35 to go in the second quarter of Friday’s Clarence Cannon Conference opener at Lankford Field, Monroe City running back Dylan Ross broke off a 54-yard run to the South Shelby 20-yard line on the Panthers’ opening play of their drive. The next three plays netted zero yards, setting up a fourth and 10 with 4:30 left.

Then Timbrook turned the game on its ear.

Timbrook picked off Wyatt DeGrave’s pass near the first down marker, setting up a Cardinals’ touchdown three plays later and spurring a 44-22 South Shelby victory.

“That was definitely the turning point,” South Shelby coach Adam Gunterman said.

Timbrook liked his chances of returning the first interception of his career for a touchdown, but Monroe City speedster Quincy Mayfield chased him down at the Panthers’ 21-yard line.

“I honestly thought I was going to get there,” Timbrook said.

Quarterback Chase Moellering dropped a dime to Preston Elsen on a 34-yard touchdown throw a minute later, and the subsequent two-point conversion extended the Cardinals’ lead to 20-6.

“That was a big play in the game,” Elsen said of his touchdown catch. “Perfect throw by Chase, too. Post route, wide open, money.”

The Panthers went three-and-out on their next possession, and on the ensuing punt, Aadon Magruder drove through Monroe City’s punt protection and blocked Trey Smyser’s punt. The ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

South Shelby kept the foot on the gas pedal. Following the safety, Elsen returned the kickoff to the Monroe City 22-yard line, and a Panthers penalty during the return moved the ball to the 12. With 47 seconds left in the half, senior running back Gabe Bowen punched it in from a yard out to give the Cardinals a 30-6 lead and 18 points in 2 ½ minutes.

Mayfield gave the Panthers a shot in the arm with a 70-yard touchdown burst on Monroe City’s next play to cut their halftime deficit to 30-14. This was Mayfield’s second touchdown run of 50-plus yards in the first half — he tied the game at 6 on a 52-yard run with 10:35 left in the second quarter — but besides those runs and Ross’ 54-yard rush before Timbrook’s interception, the Panthers had just 104 yards of total offense.

“We did have some big plays, but we have to sustain drives,” Monroe City coach David Kirby said. “I think we have some dynamic athletes, but we have to make sure we are sustaining drives, that we are not eliminating drives with penalties and mental mistakes. We have to improve, and that’s on me. I’ll do my best to get this team improved for next week.”

The Cardinals picked up right where they left off when they got the ball to begin the second half. On the second play — a second and 5 from the Monroe City 44 — Elsen’s run was designed to go to the right, but with nowhere to go on that side, he reversed field, turned the corner, and won the race to the end zone to give the Cardinals a 36-14 advantage.

“I just got the ball and there was somebody standing there, so I looked to the left and nobody was there, so I figured I’d go the other way,” Elsen said. “It worked out.”

South Shelby extended the lead after Monroe City (1-2, 0-1 Clarence Cannon Conference) turned the ball over on downs. The Cardinals ran 12 plays, went 55 yards and took 7:13 off the clock before Moellering’s quarterback sneak from inside the 1-yard line made it 44-14. The Cardinals converted two fourth downs on that march toward the end zone, one of which came on a fourth and 4 from the 20 that Moellering was bound and determined to convert himself.

“I didn’t even get a chance to call a play,” Gunterman said. “He looks at me and goes, ‘I want the ball and I’m going to get a first down.’

Moellering did just that, scampering around left end for 18 yards and setting up his quarterback sneak two plays thereafter.

“He’s a special player,” Gunterman said of Moellering. “That play was probably the dagger.”

The Cardinals (3-0, 1-0 CCC) have outscored their opponents 166-44 — an average of 41 points per game — and even though they went undefeated in the 2023 regular season, Moellering sees the 2024 version of South Shelby as a more viable contender than last year’s.

“We’re better than last year. I fully believe that,” Moellering said.

In the quest for playoff success, Gunterman knows challenges like the Cardinals faced Friday will serve them well.

“You’re not going to shut that football team out,” Gunterman said of Monroe City. “They’re too well-coached, they’re too disciplined, they believe in what they do as a team. They got those big plays, and that’s something we need to clean up between now if we see them again in districts, which I very much believe we will.”

Before a potential postseason rematch, however, Kirby promises to iron out the kinks he saw Friday night.

“Fundamentally, we were off tonight,” Kirby said. “That falls squarely on my shoulders. I didn’t have the kids prepared to go out and play football the way they needed to play. I promise to this team, to this community, we’re going to get better this next week. 

“You’ll see a better team next Friday.”