Golden Tigers can wrap up playoff spot against Decatur

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
The Russellville Golden Tigers can officially clinch a spot in the Class 5A playoffs this week with a win over Decatur on Friday at Ogle Stadium.
Top-ranked Russellville (6-0, 4-0 in Region 8) is now the only unbeaten team left in the region after last week's 32-19 win over No. 2 Athens. The Golden Eagles (3-1 in region play) are tied with J.O. Johnson (3-1) and Hartselle (3-1) for second in the region.
All three teams suffered their lone region loss at the hands of Russellville.
With a victory over Decatur, the Golden Tigers will also extend their winning streak in region play to 40 games and move one step closer to wrapping up the Region 8 championship for a sixth consecutive year.
Decatur (2-4, 1-3) snapped a four-game losing streak with last week's 48-7 rout of West Point. The Red Raiders were ranked as high as No. 2 in the Class 5A poll earlier this season and were expected to be Russellville's primary challenger in the region.
Region losses to Hartselle, Johnson and Athens in Weeks 2-4 have instead left Decatur on the brink of missing the playoffs altogether.
A loss to Russellville on Friday would likely end the Raiders' postseason hopes.
In Class 2A, Region 8, the Red Bay Tigers can virtually assure themselves of an eighth consecutive playoff berth with a win over Cherokee on Friday.
Red Bay (3-3, 3-1) is currently third in Region 8 behind Addison and Tanner. The Tigers have already beaten West Morgan (2-2 in region play), and a win over the Indians (2-2) would give Red Bay the tiebreaker edge over both teams as the region race enters its final stages.