One of the best players in the state was on full display on Friday night at North Murray High School. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, that player was on the opposing team.

Treylon Sheppard carried the ball 35 times for 406 yards and four touchdowns for Haralson County (6-1, 4-1) as the Rebels defeated North Murray (5-3, 4-2) 24-22 in this pivotal Region 6-3A matchup.

“It wasn’t even all the offense tonight, our defense played like some dogs tonight and really stepped up,” Sheppard said. “Our offensive line was blocking their guts out and doing everything they could do. I just love my team.”

Sheppard was responsible for every point for Haralson County, which went for two-point conversions after each one of Sheppard’s four scores and was unsuccessful each time. Haralson County did not attempt a pass in the game and only three times did a player other than Sheppard touch the ball on an offensive snap for the Rebels.

“Coach (Scott) Peavy has done some amazing things with me,” Sheppard said. “He’s turned me into something I never thought I could be. I really appreciate it and I love him.”

North Murray had early opportunities to take the lead, having the ball inside the Rebels’ 30-yard line on three of its first four possessions but coming away with zero points on each occasion. Sheppard scored on runs of 72 and 66 yards in the first half to build a 12-0 lead for Haralson County, but Preston Poag Jr. connected with Will Campbell for an 18-yard touchdown pass toward the end of the second quarter to cut North Murray’s halftime deficit to 12-7 after the extra point. Poag Jr. finished the game 20-for-36 passing for 215 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Sheppard picked up in the second half where he left off, scoring on a 47-yard touchdown on Haralson County’s first offensive play of the third quarter, making the score 18-7. North Murray responded immediately, when Ladd McConkey returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and scoring the two-point conversion as well to cut the lead to 18-15 with 9:22 left in the third quarter.

One of the most pivotal moments of the game came on with two minutes left in the third quarter. Trailing by three, North Murray went for it on a fourth-and-goal from the Haralson County 3-yard line and was denied when running back Noah Lunsford was hit behind the line and fumbled the ball, giving the ball back to Haralson. Sheppard took the carry on the very next play and escaped down the right sideline for a 90-yard touchdown.

“He’s had it in him from Day 1,” Peavy said. “The reason he’s so good is because nobody in the world works harder than him. He’s the real deal.”

Even with Sheppard’s exploits, North Murray was never out of the game. With fewer than eight minutes left in the game, Poag Jr. connected with Campbell for his second touchdown, this time a 30-yard score on a fourth down from the Haralson County 30-yard line. The extra point by Owen Hannah made the score 24-22 with 7:05 remaining in the ballgame. Haralson County took its next possession and pounded away with Sheppard, converting on a fourth down to extend the drive and run time off the clock. North Murray was forced to use all three of its timeouts but the Mountaineers stopped Sheppard on Haralson County’s second fourth down, giving North Murray the ball on its own 34-yard line with just more than two minutes remaining.

Poag Jr. led North Murray down the field, connecting with Landon Burrell three times on the drive as the Mountaineers made their way to the Haralson County 23-yard line needing only a field goal to win the game. The game ended in mass confusion when North Murray elected to run the ball with fewer than 30 seconds remaining and was stuffed behind the line. The Mountaineers rushed their field goal unit out on the field but the clock ran out and North Murray was unable to attempt what could have been a game-winning field goal.

It was Sheppard, however, who was the story of the night.

“He’s amazing, there’s nothing like blocking for him,” Haralson County offensive tackle Beau Chaffin said. “He’s the center of it all. He rallies the troops, man, if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be blocking like we are.”

Sheppard said he expected to win this season, but had trouble putting into words what the season has been like for him.

“There’s no better feeling than winning,” Sheppard said. “We’ve been preparing for this moment all season and this whole offseason. I know God is doing this for a reason and I just love my teammates. I couldn’t do any of this without all of them.”

North Murray is off next week and Haralson County hosts Ringgold.