Russellville freshmen rally past Muscle Shoals
By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
MUSCLE SHOALS – Jake Ward threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores on Tuesday as the Russellville freshman football team rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to remain undefeated with a 33-20 win over the Muscle Shoals B-Team.
The Trojans, who allowed 27 first-half points to Russellville in a 34-6 loss last month, came out on Tuesday determined to keep the Golden Tiger offense on the sidelines.
Muscle Shoals opened the game with a 15-play, 60-yard drive that consumed the entire first quarter and culminated in a 7-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good, and the Trojans led 7-0 after one quarter.
Russellville (7-0) went three-and-out on its first drive, and a short punt gave Muscle Shoals great field position.
The Trojans scored on a 14-yard pass four plays later and led 14-0 with 5:51 left in the first half.
Russellville seized the momentum in just two plays on its next possession. Jessie Green ran for 22 yards on first down, and then Ward hooked up with Mason Willis on a 58-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-6 with 5:08 left in the first half.
Trent Brannon stopped a Muscle Shoals ballcarrier for no gain on fourth-and-two on the Trojans' next drive, and Russellville quickly moved 55 yards in three plays for another touchdown.
Ward connected with Hunter Thomas on a 33-yard gain and then scored on a quarterback keeper from 10 yards out two plays later. The try for two failed, and Muscle Shoals led 14-12 at the half.
The Golden Tigers ran just eight offensive plays in the first half, compared to 29 for the Trojans.
Russellville took its first lead on the opening possession of the second half, moving 82 yards in just five plays. The drive started with a 44-yard catch and run by Ryan Romans, and Ward finished it off with a 35-yard touchdown run. Ward then hit Romans on the two-point conversion attempt to give the Golden Tigers a 20-14 lead with 6:05 left in the third quarter.
After another Muscle Shoals punt, Russellville put together its longest drive of the night with an 11-play, 67-yard march. Jyran Darby had a 16-yard run on the drive and also converted a fourth-and-one with a 5-yard gain, helping set up Ward's 16-yard touchdown pass to Terence Smith. Kevin Alonzao added the PAT to make it 27-14 with 4:37 left in the third quarter.
Romans sealed the deal on the Trojans' ensuing possession, intercepting a pass and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 33-14 lead.
Muscle Shoals scored on the last play of the game to provide the final margin.
Ward finished the night 7-of-12 passing for 169 yards. Willis caught two passes for 71 yards, and Romans had three catches for 50 yards. Green and Darby provided balance in the running game, combining for 73 yards on 10 carries.
Russellville will host Curry's B-Team on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
