RHS heads to Hartselle for key battle in Region 8 race

By Staff
Scot Beard
When Russellville takes the field against Hartselle Friday it will feel much like it did last year.
Last year the Golden Tigers were ranked first in Class 5A; this year they are second. Last year Hartselle was ranked seventh; they are in the same spot this season.
One thing Russellville is hoping will not turn out like last season is the result. Hartselle upset the Golden Tigers 24-14.
Russellville returned the favor 10 weeks later during the state quarterfinals, but the loss cost the Golden Tigers a region championship.
"We haven't talked about last year much," Russellville coach Doug Goodwin said. "(Hartselle) has lost a lot (of players)."
One thing Goodwin has noticed in the game film he has watched is that Hartselle is efficient on offense.
Last week Tiger quarterback Will Lang completed 14-of-15 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two more scores.
Goodwin feels his defense has played well and should contain Hartselle as long as it doesn't allow big plays.
"Our defense has played well in all three games," Goodwin said. "Against Deshler we gave up a few big plays to a good athlete and against Lee late in the second quarter we were not dialed in."
The Hartselle rivalry has been a big game for Russellville over the years. Despite a commanding lead in the series – the Golden Tigers have won 24 of 27 games – players and fans always keep their eye on this game.
"It is usually a tough game. You can't underestimate them," senior receiver and defensive back Jake Ward said. "There's always a feeling of wanting to beat them."
Of course not all of the players on the Golden Tigers have spent years in the Russellville system.
Quarterback Joey Howe transferred before the start of last season. He realizes the importance of the Hartselle game, but he does not feel the intense rivalry many of his teammates experience.
"It's just another region game for me," Howe said. "I want to go undefeated."
Even though he does not feel the same, he said the team has come together to prepare for this game. He said the team was flat heading into the Lee game and since then players have met and talked about what it will take to succeed.
Standing in their way this week is a team who only lost one game last year – the quarterfinal game against Russellville.
Goodwin said there are several big games on Russellville's schedule every year. Athens and Hartselle are the biggest region games and Deshler and Colbert County are the biggest games against teams in the area.
"All of them deserve extra attention," Goodwin said.