Calloway, Cross, Parker shine as Golden Tigers open playoffs with 41-12 rout
Brent Calloway rushed for 184 yards to help Russellville beat Etowah 41-12 in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. | Scot Beard/FCT
Russellville began its quest for a third straight Super-6 appearance Friday night with a dominating performance against Etowah, rolling up 435 yards of total offense on its way to a 41-12 victory.
Brent Calloway broke loose for a 57-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and the Golden Tigers never looked back.
“It was important for us to make a statement,” Calloway said. “Now we have to keep it up. If we do, good things will happen.”
Calloway scored his second touchdown of the night on a 10-yard reception from Devan Parker with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter to put the Golden Tigers ahead 13-0. Calloway finished the night with 184 rushing yards and 24 receiving yards.
Etowah threatened to score midway through the second quarter, but Russellville’s Darrian Graham intercepted a pass near the goal line and returned it to the 19-yard line.
Nine plays later Graham dove towards the end zone as he was falling out of bounds and kept the ball inside the pylon for the touchdown on a 40-yard reception.
“He had another good game,” Russellville coach Doug Goodwin said. “He played consistent on both sides of the ball. He’s important in all three phases of the game for us.”
The Blue Devils finally got on the scoreboard with 38 seconds remaining in the half to cut the Golden Tigers’ advantage to 20-6 at halftime.
Tevin Cross extended the lead for Russellville with a 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. He added another touchdown with a 26-yard run in the fourth, putting the Golden Tigers ahead 34-6.
Cross had 84 receiving yards on two catches and 40 rushing yards on six carries for the Golden Tigers during the game.
Robert Terrell capped off the scoring for Russellville with a 29-yard run.
Etowah scored on the first play of the ensuing drive when the defensive backs collided as the Blue Devil receiver caught the ball then scampered for a 65-yard score. The 2-point conversion failed.
Etowah attempted an onside kick, but Russellville recovered and ran out the clock.
Parker finished the night 5-of-10 for 151 yards and three touchdowns.
With the win Russellville will host Athens — which beat Boaz 21-20 — next week. The Golden Tigers defeated Athens 35-27 during the third week of the season.
“I’m glad a team from our region won. I wish all the teams from our region could have won,” Goodwin said. “It is good and bad. When you coach against someone on a regular basis, you know what you should get.”
