RMS bounces back against Muscle Shoals

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
RUSSELLVILLE – Antoine Suggs ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries and also returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown on Tuesday as Russellville Middle School bounced back from last week's loss to Florence with a 26-12 victory over Muscle Shoals.
"Anytime you beat Muscle Shoals, it's a good day," RMS coach Jeff Madden said. "They're one of our biggest rivals. This one leaves a better taste in our mouth than last week's did. We were a little sore after the Florence game, but our guys came back and played well today."
The electrifying Suggs led the way, breaking a scoreless tie late in the first quarter when he picked up a Trojan fumble and raced 45 yards for a touchdown.
He later scored on a 32-yard run in the first half, and his 14-yard touchdown scamper early in the fourth quarter gave Russellville a 26-0 lead.
"With Antoine's burst, if he breaks a tackle he can go all the way," Madden said. "When he gets [outside] to the numbers, he's hard to stop. That's why we like to have the ball in his hands, so he can make plays for us. He did a good job of that today."
Madden also praised his defense, which shut out Muscle Shoals for three quarters and forced three turnovers.
John Watkins and Jackson Witt also had fumble recoveries, and Daniel Flanagan and Tyler James each recorded a sack.
"Our defense played really well today," Madden said. "Our defensive coaches did a great job of preparing them to play, and then our guys went out there and got after it."
Russellville led 6-0 midway through the second quarter when Watkins fell on a Trojan fumble at the Muscle Shoals 32-yard line. Suggs scored on the next play, and T.J. Lindsey's two-point conversion run made it 14-0 with 4:20 left in the first half.
Suggs had runs of 23 and 19 yards on Russellville's opening drive of the third quarter, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Lindsey that made it 20-0.
Early in the fourth quarter, Suggs gained 25 yards on third-and-10 to set up his own 14-yard touchdown run. The two-point try failed, and Russellville led 26-0 with 5:00 left.
Muscle Shoals quarterback Ryan Bowling had two late touchdown runs to make the final score 26-12.
Russellville (2-1) will play next Tuesday at Curry.