Russellville uses potent rushing attack to rout rival Deshler 34-13
Although he was tripped up on this play, Russellville’s Brent Calloway (21) had a career night against Deshler Friday. He carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 210 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. | Scot Beard/FCT
Russellville took advantage of early turnovers and used a punishing run game to push its winning streak against Deshler to six games with a 34-13 victory.
The No. 1 ranked Golden Tigers (1-0, 0-0) rolled up 345 rushing yards on 50 carries. Brent Calloway had a career high 210 yards and two touchdowns despite leaving the game midway through the third quarter.
“The offensive line blocked well, Calloway said. “I told them to give me a crease and I’m gone.”
Calloway had touchdown runs of 56 and 64 yards.
The Golden Tiger defense set the tone early by forcing a fumble on the second play of the game. Jackson Witt recovered the ball to give Russellville great field position on the Deshler 33-yard line.
Four plays later Devan Parker found Darrian Graham for 22-yard touchdown strike. The kick failed, leaving Russellville with a 6-0 lead.
Graham came up with another big play later in the quarter when he intercepted a pass and returned it to the Russellville 25-yard line. Calloway had his first touchdown run on that drive.
Graham’s night was not done as he recovered a fumble at midfield with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter and broke up a pass near the end zone in the closing minutes of the second quarter.
Romano Craig preserved the shutout through halftime by breaking up a pass in the end zone as time expired.
Calloway earned his second touchdown on the opening drive of the second half to put Russellville ahead 20-0.
Deshler (0-1, 0-0) answered with a touchdown run midway through the third, but Russellville drove back down the field and added to its lead on a 5-yard run by Tyler Boyd. He finished the game with 16 carries for 72 yards.
Midway through the fourth quarter Deshler recovered a Russellville fumble at the Golden Tiger 5-yard line and scored one play later to cut the deficit to 27-13.
Robert Terrell scored on a 4-yard run for Russellville.
Russellville coach Doug Goodwin was pleased with the performance of his offense.
“When you take the ball and run and they can’t stop, it’s demoralizing,” Goodwin said. “In the second half, it helped take time off the clock.”
Russellville opens its region schedule next week at Lawrence County.
