Strong second half lifts RHS over Hatton

Russellville’s first trip to Hatton for a varsity football game in the history of the program was a successful one as the Golden Tigers defeated the Hornets 35-26.

RHS fell behind 6-0 at the midpoint of the first quarter and trailed 20-14 at the halftime break before outscoring Class 4A Hatton 21-6 in the second half to get the win.

The victory improved the Golden Tigers’ record to 4-3 on the season.

The first touchdown of the contest came on a 9-yard pass by the Hornets, but the extrapoint kick was no good.

Russellville quickly answered with a 55-yard TD pass from Whit Goodwin to Julyun Francisco. David Tomas then made the first of his five extra-point kicks of the night to put the Golden Tigers ahead 7-6.

Hatton’s next possession resulted in a touchdown on a short run followed by a successful twopoint conversion.

Russellville’s next drive was kept alive by a fake punt run for a first down. The possession also featured a 16-yard touchdown carry by Goodwin on another fourth-down play.

Hatton then used an outstanding pass and catch for a 36-yard touchdown to finish an eightplay drive, but the twopoint conversion attempt failed with 2:08 to go in the first half.

Russellville’s next drive ended with a punt, but Hatton’s try for another score before the half ended with an interception by Daniel Aycock. Three plays later, RHS got the ball near the goal line on a pass reception, but a fumble after the catch gave the ball back to the Hornets.

The Golden Tigers kicked off to open the second half and Karson Fletcher of RHS recovered a fumble on the play. Six plays later, Goodwin threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Cooper and Russellville was ahead 21-20.

The defense of the Golden Tigers stopped a scoring threat by Hatton on the next drive, and the Russellville offense then put together a long possession that eventually finished on a 4-yard TD run by Tarus Davis early in the fourth quarter.

Later in the final period, a smashing hit on a Hatton receiver by Russellville’s Jasen Noel knocked the ball loose and Keifer Hallmark of the Golden Tigers recovered the fumble. RHS would score on the following drive on a 14-yard touchdown run by Goodwin.

Hatton’s next possession resulted in a 28-yard fourth down TD with 2:57 to go in the game, but the following try for two points failed.

Russellville’s Ben Pounders recovered the onside kick attempt by Hatton and the Golden Tigers successfully ran out the clock to finish the game.

“We challenged our kids at halftime to play the way we expect them to play, and the physicality picked up on both sides of the ball,” Russellville head coach Dustin Goodwin said. “Ultimately, we did enough to win the game, but we don’t need to wait until the second half to play like we’re capable.”

Next, the Golden Tigers return to Class 5A region play with a homecoming matchup with the West Point Warriors.