Golden Tigers fall to Cullman
RHS wide receiver Reed Smith (6) dodges a Cullman defender this past Friday night. Photo by Tim Alford.
By Matt Wilson
For the FCT
The Golden Tigers ended their regular season on a sour note, but they have another game to prepare for as they enter the 5A high school football playoffs next Friday at home against Pleasant Grove.
Cullman stonewalled Russellville 28-0 Oct. 31 at the Bearcats’ home field as the two teams headed in separate directions after the game. Cullman, a newcomer to class 6A, ended their season 5-5 and will miss the 2014 playoffs. Meanwhile the non-region loss for Russellville does nothing to change their second place finish in 5A Region 8.
The second place finish for the Golden Tigers means they will host the Pleasant Grove Spartans who finished in third place in the Region 5 standings with an overall record of 8-2.
Russellville quarterback Payton Nichols came into the Cullman game off of a stellar five-touchdown performance on the road. The Cullman defense frustrated Nichols and the Russellville offense, holding them under 200 yards for the night.
Russellville’s four turnovers matched a season high and other troublesome plays such as a botched snap during a punt and allowing a fake punt to go for a touchdown illustrated the kind of night the Golden Tigers had in Cullman.
But Russellville hosts Pleasant Grove this week in the first-round of 5A playoffs. The Golden Tigers missed out on the playoffs a year ago and first year head coach Mark Heaton is looking to improve on what has been a solid opening to his career at Russellville.
“It is definitely exciting and a blessing to host a playoff game,” Heaton said. “And I know that any time you get to host a playoff game it is a big deal, but I’m just trying to treat it as another week and prepare for another game and get this team prepared so we can extend this season for our seniors.”
Heaton said the team reacted well after the loss to Cullman and that they were ready to put it behind them.
“The kids responded well and we had a great day of practice (Monday),” Heaton said. “They’re all in the right frame of mind and we’re just getting them in the playoff mentality.”
Heaton said there were no “big changes” being planned when approaching the playoff game against Pleasant Grove.
“We’re going to continue to do the things that got us here,” Heaton said. “There are a few wrinkles in there but we’re focused on preparing like we do each week and making sure our intensity and focus is there.”
Playing at home can sometimes be the difference in the outcome of a game and the atmosphere at Golden Tiger Stadium is sure to be intense. Coach Heaton said he can already sense his team’s excitement about being in the playoffs.
“They’re (the team) excited about the playoffs and I think we could see that in them at practice today,” Heaton said. “We need to increase that excitement each day and build on it.
“I think some of the games that we struggled in this year were because our excitement level was down for whatever reason and I think we need to focus on that and keep the excitement and intensity up.”
Pleasant Grove is a talented team according to Heaton and he said playing well early is going to be a key in this matchup.
“They are big and athletic and they can score at any time,” Heaton said. “They’ve also gotten better since the spring—but so have we—and I think we’ve just got to get out to a quick start.
“If we can get out to a quick start and stay in it and we can tackle well then we can compete with this team.”
Pleasant Grove travels to Russellville Nov. 7 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
