Russellville duo poses problem for defenses
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
Perry Swindall has a problem that most high school football coaches would kill for.
Every Friday night, Russellville's head coach has to find enough carries to satisfy not one but two extremely talented running backs, junior Mike Abernathy and senior Kirby Nelson.
In reality, Swindall says the only problems his two backs create are for opposing defenses.
"I don't worry about who's getting how many carries, and neither do Mike and Kirby," said Swindall, whose Golden Tigers (11-1) will host J.O. Johnson (9-3) tonight in the Class 5A quarterfinals. "If they're thinking about that, then they're not focused on winning the football game."
Swindall said he bases his play-calling decisions in the running game on two determining factors.
"The first thing we try to do is find out where the defense is weak and who is in the best position to attack that weakness," he said. "Secondly, we try to go with the hot hand. If Mike rips off a 10-yard run, it's going to be awfully hard not to give it to him again. The same is true with Kirby. Last week [in a 21-6 win over Mortimer Jordan] Kirby had a 31-yard touchdown run early in the game, and he ended up getting quite a few carries."
Nelson finished with 101 yards on 13 carries against the Blue Devils, providing the perfect complement to Abernathy's big night (156 yards on 22 attempts).
For their part, both backs say they fully appreciate the benefits of splitting carries.
"It's a good thing, because the defense can't key on one person," said Abernathy, who leads the team with 1,405 yards and 17 touchdowns on 210 carries.
"It helps us both stay rested," added Nelson, who has rushed for 673 yards and six scores on 115 attempts.
Defenses, meanwhile, wear themselves out trying to find ways to stop Russellville's dynamic duo. Just ask J.O. Johnson. Abernathy and Nelson combined for 221 yards on 34 carries in the Golden Tigers' 20-7 win over the Jaguars in Week 4.
The two backs have a lot in common (they're cousins, they live in the same neighborhood, and each describes the other as "crazy" or "a clown" away from the field), but their running styles are actually quite different.
Despite out-weighing the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Nelson by roughly 40 pounds, Abernathy is the flashier of the two backs, employing a dizzying array of moves ranging from spins and jukes to cutbacks and daring leaps over diving defenders.
Many times the result is a highlight-reel, did-you-see-that type of run that leaves the crowd buzzing in amazement. Other times the result is a play that covers more yards laterally than it does north and south, leaving the coaches muttering in frustration.
"Mike wants to turn every play into a 50-yard run," Swindall said. "A lot of times it works because he has that kind of ability. He's a great runner inside and outside. But sometimes you just need to stick it in there, run somebody over and gain five yards."
Nelson, more of a one-cut runner, is adept at doing just that.
"Kirby doesn't do a whole lot of running from sideline to sideline," Swindall said. "He won't make a lot of highlight reels, but he doesn't make many mistakes either. He hardly ever fumbles, and he almost always gains positive yardage."
Nelson said he admires Abernathy's "uniqueness" as a runner, while Abernathy says his backfield mate is "fast and powerful" with "great vision."
When pressed on who would win a footrace between the two, Abernathy just smiles. "I don't know," he said. "We've never raced. It would be close."
Russellville's running back combo is doubly dangerous because of their high level of involvement in the passing game. Of junior quarterback Cory Trapp's 175 completions this season, more than half (89) have gone to the two backs.
Abernathy leads the team with 51 catches for 570 yards, and Nelson has 38 catches for 339 yards. They are tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches each.
Abernathy's 61-yard touchdown on a screen pass early in the fourth quarter helped seal last week's win over Mortimer Jordan.
"Kirby catches the ball really well, and Mike has tremendous hands, which he shows every Friday night," Swindall said. "They're both very good running backs, but they both have the potential to be even better."
The Golden Tigers will need a great effort from both backs tonight against Johnson if they are to secure a berth in the state semifinals for a seventh consecutive year.
As they left the practice field earlier this week, Abernathy described what the perfect night would be for the two backs.
"We both have a big night, however many yards that might be, and we come out on top."
