Suggs leads RMS rout of Colbert Heights
By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
The Russellville Middle School football team started their season in strong fashion on Tuesday with a 32-6 victory over Colbert Heights.
Antoine Suggs led the way for Russellville with a terrific all-around effort, scoring touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
"Antoine had a really good game," RMS coach Jeff Madden said. "And he wasn't the only one. We've got about five running backs who are really good. The others don't have Antoine's speed, but they all ran the ball really well [on Tuesday]."
The visiting Wildcats put together a solid drive on the game's opening possession, but the Russellville defense, led by Hayden Crain, Jackson Witt, Andre Newell and Aaron Gholston, held strong and forced a turnover on downs.
Suggs got the scoring started with a 50-yard touchdown run, giving Russellville a 6-0 lead.
Colbert Heights was forced to punt on their next series, and the ball sailed over the head of the punter and he was tackled on the 4-yard line.
Russellville's Tevin Cross scored on the next play, and the two-point conversion attempt was good on a pass from T.J. Lindsey to Darrian Graham to make it 14-0.
Suggs struck again in the second quarter, returning a Colbert Heights punt 58 yards for a touchdown to give Russellville a 20-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Nathan Vincent, Casey Herring and Lindsey drove the ball down the field for Russellville, with Lindsey finishing off the drive on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Graham. The two-point try failed, and Russellville led 26-0.
Suggs capped off his big day in the fourth quarter, taking the football away from a Colbert Heights ballcarrier and racing 63 yards untouched for his third touchdown.
The Wildcats got on the board with a 60-yard touchdown run, making the final score 32-6.
"I was very pleased with the way our guys played today," Madden said. "It was the first game, and we're still figuring out where everybody should be and what everybody can do. But I was very proud of our effort. I thought all of our kids did a good job."
Madden also praised the play of running backs Ramono Craig and Adonis Robinson, as well as that of the entire offensive line.
"Our offensive line (Joe Swindall, William Nearer, John Batchelor, Brandon Cothrum and Trent Neely) did an excellent job," Madden said. "All of those guys played really well.
"I thought our defense did an excellent job, too. I was very pleased with our effort on that side of the ball."
Russellville's next middle school game will be Tuesday against Florence at Braly Stadium, with a seventh-grade game at 5:30 p.m. and an eighth-grade game to follow.
