The Shelby Tigers entered Saturday’s Division 7 regional final following their strongest season in more than a decade, highlighted by a district championship and two playoff wins. Their postseason run came to a close with a 43–0 loss to top-ranked Menominee, but the progress made throughout the year remained clear.
Menominee took early control, scoring on its opening drive and building a 7–0 lead after the first quarter before stretching it to 36–0 by halftime. The Maroons’ balanced offense was difficult to contain, executing efficiently on both the ground and through the air. Despite the uphill battle, Shelby continued to compete and look for opportunities throughout the game.
Quarterback Tanner Theuerkauf led Menominee with 161 passing yards and three touchdowns, completing seven of 10 attempts. Clayton Miller added 83 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Maroons finished with 365 total yards.
Shelby found ways to respond with key individual efforts. Brody Fessenden led the Tigers with 75 rushing yards on 18 carries, battling through tight defensive pressure. Quarterback Jaylin Henderson added 26 rushing yards and threw for 95 yards on eight completions. Trevor Weiss paced the receivers with 37 yards, with additional contributions from Max Hagstrom, Elijah Dashiell, and DayDay Garcia. The Tigers totaled 174 yards of offense against one of the state’s most consistent defenses.
The 7–5 finish marked Shelby’s best postseason run since 2013 and reflected significant growth. After years of rebuilding, the Tigers reestablished themselves as a competitive program, showing consistency and poise in key moments throughout the season.
A major part of that progress came from the 16 seniors who will graduate this year. Many have been together since middle school, and their experience helped guide the team through close games and difficult stretches. Their commitment in the weight room, at camps, and throughout years of practices helped elevate the standard for Shelby football. The coaching staff’s steady leadership also played an important role in moving the program forward.
Shelby’s community support was evident as well, with a strong showing of Tiger fans traveling to Menominee for the regional final. The backing the team received throughout the season added to the energy of the playoff run and reflected the pride surrounding this year’s group.
While the loss wasn’t the ending the Tigers hoped for, the season demonstrated meaningful progress and raised expectations for the future. The team gained valuable experience, strengthened its foundation, and provided younger players with a strong example to follow. The 2025 Shelby Tigers may not have advanced past Regionals, but they helped move the program forward and set a clear direction for the years ahead.
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