Golden Tigers overcome rainy conditions to get region win over East Limestone
RHS (3-1, 2-0) wasted no time in taking the lead as Elliott Green intercepted a pass by East Limestone on the first play of the game and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. The following possession by East Limestone also ended in a turnover when Daniel Aycock picked-off a pass by the Indians. Russellville was in the end zone again two plays later as Cam Phinizee scored on a 38-yard touchdown run. The second of seven successful extra-point kicks by Manny Martinez during the contest made the score 14-0 with 9:57 remaining in the first quarter.
East Limestone then put together a long scoring drive that finished with a touchdown pass but the extra-point kick by the Indians failed. Russellville’s Jah Williams received the following kickoff and raced 86-yards for another touchdown to make the score 21-6 with 2:03 remaining in the opening quarter. Manny Martinez grew the RHS lead to 24-6 with a 40-yard field goal.
Russellville began the second half just as the first by scoring a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage when Whit Goodwin passed to Jabari Suggs for a 65-yard scoring strike. After the RHS defense forced a punt to end the Indians’ opening drive of the third quarter, it took only one play for Phinizee to score again, this time on an 85-yard run.
The big plays continued soon after as Keifer Hallmark recovered a fumble by East and Phinizee added another touchdown with a two-yard run. Russellville’s final touchdown of the night came on a 73-yard carry by Tarus Davis with 31 seconds remaining in the third period.
Russellville outgained East Limestone 377 to 179 in total yards. The RHS defense held the Indians to only eight passing yards for the game. The Golden Tigers rushed for 285 yards with Phinizee gaining 163 on 10 carries.
RHS head coach Dustin Goodwin said immediately after the game that he challenged his team at the half to clean up some things, including penalties, and continue to play hard and they did that. “We were able to play a lot of people, and those are fun nights when you get to play a lot of guys on the sideline,” Goodwin explained. “Wins are wins, and they’re always enjoyed even if they are ugly. This one, the conditions had a little bit of a factor in it. All-in-all, I feel like our kids handled it well, and it’s good to be 2-0 in the region.”
Next for the Golden Tigers will be a Homecoming game versus the Ardmore Tigers Sept. 20.
