Golden season

By Staff
No. 2 Vigor stalls No. 6 Russellville 50-30; Golden Tigers cap 13-2 Super Six season
Scot Beard
BIRMINGHAM – The Russellville football team's trip to the state championship game Friday ended like the last five trips to the title game – with the squad bringing a runner-up trophy back to Russellville.
The Golden Tigers were unable to stop Vigor – a bigger and faster team – during the second half of the 50-30 loss.
"They were bigger, faster and stronger," said Russellville coach Doug Goodwin. "That is a bad combination."
Russellville trailed 21-3 before rallying to take a 23-21 lead early in the third quarter. After that point, it was all Vigor as the Wolves outscored the Golden Tigers 29-7 down the stretch.
Many of the Russellville players were visibly upset in the closing minutes of the game, but fought until the final seconds ticked off the clock.
This was Russellville's first trip back to the state championship game since 2004 and its eighth trip overall. After winning titles in 1967 and 1968, Russellville has played in the title game five other times, all losses.
The 20-point loss is tied for the fourth-largest margin of defeat in Russellville playoff history.
See page A-11 for a complete game story and stats for both teams.