Russellville, Red Bay football standouts receive All-State honors

Awards season has arrived for high school football players in Alabama, and Franklin County has a group of standouts who have been recognized for their achievements on the field during the 2022 season.

Both Russellville High School and Red Bay High School had players make the first team of the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State squad in their respective classifications. The Golden Tigers also have two players who received honorable mention.

Russellville senior Randell Johnson made the Class 5A first team squad for All-State offense. Johnson, a wide receiver for head coach John Ritter’s team, had a state record-tying performance during a 63-10 first-round playoff win over Boaz by catching six touchdown passes.

The Red Bay Tigers are represented on the Class 2A first team All-State offense by senior running back Brady Hardin. The back rushed for 1,946 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry. Hardin scored 26 touchdowns on the season and helped the Tigers to a play-off appearance.

“Obviously, Brady is a really good football player, but he’s an even better person,” noted Red Bay head coach Heath Childers. “I’m very blessed to have had the opportunity to coach such an incredible young man.”

The high-powered Russellville offense was represented by senior running back Conner Warhurst and junior quarterback Harrison Burch on the 5A honorable mention list for their 2022 accomplishments.

Warhurst received honorable mention for the second season in a row by the ASWA.

For Burch, the 2022 season was his first with the Golden Tigers. His seven touchdown passes versus Boaz ranks third for most in a single game in AHSAA history and ties the Russellville school record shared  with Jake Tompkins and Jeremy Helms.