If Shelby football is to claim its 20th state title , the Golden Lions will do it the hard way.

Drawing a 10-seed in the NCHSAA 2A West playoffs, the Golden Lions are likely to spend the better portion of their postseason journey away from George Blanton Memorial Stadium.

Potentially awaiting Shelby after Friday’s matchup with No. 23 McMichael include a trip to 7-seed East Rutherford, an old nemesis which last defeated the Golden Lions in 2005. If able to survive-and-advance, matchups with No. 2 Mount Airy and 6-seed Walkertown loom, not to mention top-seeded Mountain Heritage and No. 8 Lincolnton — which holds an earlier victory over Shelby — in the upper half of the bracket.

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