RHS Golden Tigers grab victory over Dora
The Russellville football team started the 2018 season with a goal of hosting a play-off game – and the Golden Tigers will get to do that after taking a win over Dora on senior night at RHS.
With the 41-26 victory over the Bulldogs, Russellville will be the second seed in Class 5A, Region 7, and will host a first-round play-off game Nov. 9.
The Golden Tigers jumped out to a 20-0 first quarter lead against Dora and led 27-7 at halftime, with Zaye Boyd leading the way. The senior back scored four touchdowns in the game and increased his rushing TD total for the season to 26.
“Before the season started, we set some lofty goals for ourselves, and outside of winning the region, we’ve accomplished all of them,” said Russellville head coach John Ritter. “I’m very, very proud of this group. We’ve got a great group of seniors that have bought in to what we’re doing and are playing hard. When you play hard, good things happen.”
Russellville (8-1, 6-1) scored six plays into Friday night’s game. Boyd took a handoff, ran up the middle and went 39 yards to put RHS up 6-0. The Russellville defense held Dora and forced a punt to set up the Golden Tigers for another score.
After a couple of runs by Lucas McNutt that covered a total of 31 yards, Boyd scored again. His second TD of the game went for 12 yards, and then Miguel Flores added the first of his five extra-point kicks on the night to put the Golden Tigers up 13-0.
A deep kickoff and good coverage followed, and a few plays later, Dora was again forced to punt.
A seven-play scoring drive for RHS followed and was capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass from McNutt to Devin Buckhalter.
The Dora Bulldogs got their first score of the night early in the second quarter. A Russellville punt followed on the next RHS possession, but the Russellville defense stood strong and caused the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs.
It took Russellville five plays to score again: Austin Ashley took a handoff and ran eight yards for a touchdown to put his team up 27-7.
Dora got the ball to start the second half, and the Bulldogs went on an 11-play scoring drive that was finished by an 11-yard run.
Russellville answered with a six-play drive, and Boyd scored his third TD of the game on a 10-yard run.
The Bulldogs pulled to within 14 points of the Golden Tigers in the third, but the Golden Tigers grew their lead to 41-20 three plays into the fourth quarter when Boyd ran into the end zone for a three-yard scoring play.
An 18-play drive by Dora resulted in the game’s final score.
Russellville will finish regular season play with a trip to Florence to take on the Central Wildcats Nov. 2.
