SHELBY — The stakes will be high when Shelby plays its last game at the Whippet Athletic Complex this season.
But the Whippets wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We know it’s our last game here (at home),” Shelby coach Rob Mahaney said of next week’s regional semifinal. “We want to make sure we take full advantage of that opportunity.
“I think it will be a cool moment.”
Fresh off a bye week in the opening round of the playoffs, top-seeded Shelby (11-0) overcame a slow start Friday night against ninth-seeded Orrville (7-5). The Whippets pitched their fourth shutout of the year, 42-0, to earn their spot in a Division IV, Region 14 semifinal.
Shelby will host Lima Bath (9-2) next Friday at home. Bath took down Bellevue 21-0 in Week 12.
The Whippets found themselves in unfamiliar territory after the first quarter. A 24-yard field goal from junior Everett Harris gave Shelby its only points of the opening 12 minutes. It was the first FG attempt of the season for the Whippets and the first they’ve made since the 2023 season.
But it didn’t take long for senior quarterback Brayden DeVito and the Whippet offense to get back on schedule — scoring 27 points in the second period to give Shelby a 30-0 lead at the break.
“What it’s about at this point in the season is just finding a way to get to next week,” Mahaney said. “We did that really efficiently tonight.”
Shelby knocks off rust after 1st quarter
Mahaney said he felt the Whippets played consistent defense from start to finish. Orrville managed just six first downs and only 61 yards of total offense.
The Whippets also forced an interception and junior Griffin Yeager blocked an Orrville punt on special teams — which was scooped up and returned for a score by freshman Luke Blevins.
Senior linebacker Sam Gwirtz credited the plan put in place by his coaches as a reason the Whippets were able to fly around the field defensively.
“When our defense is struggling, our offense has our back. When our offense struggles, our defense helps pick it up and we had their back,” he said.
The second half was played with a running clock. Shelby scored its final 12 points in the third quarter.
DeVito climbs all-time career passing yards list
Shelby’s offensive stars continued to shine in Week 12.
DeVito, an Air Force commitment, completed 15-of-19 passes for 283 yards and 4 TDs. DeVito’s performance unofficially moved him into fourth on Ohio high school football’s all-time career passing yards list with 12,201 yards.
Parker Carmichael of Wooster Triway was previously in that No. 4 spot with 12,005 yards.
“It’s a pretty special thing,” Mahaney said of his QB’s accomplishment. “Brayden (DeVito) would be the first one (to say) that it’s not just him, but it’s all the guys around him too.”
Several stellar performances from DeVito’s receivers were a part of helping their QB move up the list Friday night.
Junior Brady Bowman caught eight passes for 149 yards and 3 TDs, while senior West Virginia commitment Carter Kessler added 64 yards. Junior Michael Shepherd had two receptions for 34 yards and one score.
On the ground, senior Travis Slone led the way for Shelby with 52 yards and a TD.
Below are photos from Friday night’s matchup between Shelby and Orrville.
Below are photos of the Orrville High School and Shelby High School marching bands.
