Sometimes, football games are are best represented as grueling battles.

Those are fought for a full 48 minutes, 60+ plays, mano-a-mano, until one team finally prevails.

Often times, only one or two plays out of 60 define the outcome of the game.

Last night’s game between the Shelby Academy Raiders and the West Alabama Prep Titans was not one of those battles.

The Raiders scored early and often to whip the Titans 39-0 in front of a partisan Titan crowd.

Shelby was able to run and pass at will against the Titan defense, while the Raider defense forced and capitalized on WAP mistakes.

Shelby began the scoring early in the first quarter.

Following a 33-yard pass from Raider quarterback Jake Ingram to Josh Sharp, running back Barry Harrison carried the ball for a nine-yard TD run.

Colby Green’s PAT was good, and Shelby led 7-0 with 10:45 on the first quarter clock.

WAP was forced to punt on their next drive.

On the punt, Shelby’s Marcus Jones blocked a Wesley Ballard punt, picked the ball up and ran it in for another Shelby TD.

Despite the botched extra point, the rout was on.

Shelby would score again on a fumble recovery by Barry Harrison, who returned it 40 yards for another Raider TD.

James Davidson capped the scoring in the third quarter with a 50-yard run from his fullback position, giving Shelby their final margin of 39-0.

The Titans, who fell to 3-5 with the loss, will end their season next Friday night when they host the Sumter Academy Eagles.

The Eagles, riding high following their stunning victory over the Marengo Academy Longhorns last night, will also be looking to end their season on a high note.

The game will be played at WAP’s Titan Field beginning at 7:30.