By Kadin Pounders

For the FCT

The Russellville Golden Tigers football team wrapped up competition at the Jubilee City 7-on-7 this past weekend in Daphne.

The Golden Tigers played in seven pool games, winning one of those games before heading into tournament play.

“Well, we started off pretty slow, but that’s to be expected going into your first competition,” said head coach Mark Heaton. “I think we got better and better each game.”

Pool play lasted all day Friday and until about noon on Saturday before tournament play started.

“We only won one of the seven games we played in the pool, so that had us seeded pretty low,” said Heaton. “Overall we ended up 2-7.”

The Golden Tigers were seeded No. 17 out of 19 teams in the single elimination tournament. Russellville defeated its first opponent before falling to Mandeville out of Louisiana in the next round.

“A couple of our guys had some opportunities to make some plays that would’ve put us in the next round, but they just didn’t make them,” said Heaton.

Despite going home a little earlier than they might have wanted, Heaton said he was not discouraged by the outcome.

“Competition breeds success,” he said. “We went down there to get better, and I told my guys that – we’re here to get better and compete – and I think we did that.”

The Golden Tigers will have more opportunities to improve their 7-on-7 passing offense and defense this summer. Russellville will be hosting its own camp July 10 and will attend a 7-on-7 at Brooks High School July 17.