Tigers dominate line of scrimmage

RUSSELLVILLE - As heavy rain turned already saturated turf into marshland Friday night, Russellville coach Doug Goodwin wondered if the proverbial playing field was starting to level in Colbert County's favor.

Holding a size advantage up front to support their power football running game, it seemed the muddy conditions could only benefit the Indians while slowing down the Golden Tigers' more balanced attack.

Russellville's defense and running backs put that notion to rest as the Golden Tigers (8-2) dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, rushing for 180 yards and holding Colbert County (4-6) to 31 yards, all on the ground, in a 28-0 regular-season-ending win.

"I'm proud of our guys because the weather took away a lot of what we do," said Goodwin, whose team played nine of 10 regular-season games on wet fields. "We had to resort to running the ball straight ahead and trying to knock those big ole guys off the line."

Jyran Darby led the way, rushing for a game-high 76 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Brent Calloway added 40 yards and a touchdown on

10 carries, and Tevin Cross rushed five times for 29 yards, all in the second half.

Calloway scored first with a 3-yard touchdown run to cap a 55-yard drive on Russellville's first possession. Two possessions later, the Golden Tigers marched 42 yards on seven plays, including an 8-yard scoring run by Darby to set up a 14-0 lead.

Russellville scored again the following possession on a 2-yard sneak by Joey Howe on fourth-and-1 to take a 21-0 halftime lead.

Though left with little choice Friday, it was the second straight game that the Golden Tigers have taken over with power running, having dispatched Athens in similar fashion Week 9. It's a trend that has Darby excited heading into the playoffs next week.

"I thought the conditions would give (Colbert County) the advantage, but we had a good running game again," he said. "It was fun out there. I love getting dirty. I think we're going to be pretty good in the playoffs with the running game."

Though less of a factor, Russellville looked sharp passing the ball, too.

Three quarterbacks - Joey Howe, Jake Ward and Grant Hagedorn - combined for a 6-for-7, 89-yard performance, much of which came on a 42-yard pass from Joey Howe to Ryan Romans to set up the Golden Tigers' first score.

Howe also passed to Ward for a 2-point conversion, and Ward tacked on the Golden Tigers' final touchdown with a 7-yard pass to Mason Willis with 41 seconds left in the third quarter.

Defensively, Russellville set up touchdowns with an interception by Ward and an Aaron Hollingsworth fumble recovery. And the Golden Tigers gave up two first downs, both in the second half to Chris Johnson, who had the Indians' two longest gains on runs of 12 and 10 yards.

"They're quick to the ball and they don't stay blocked," said Colbert County coach Cody Gross, whose team finished with a losing regular-season record for the first time since 1992 but still will travel to Winfield in the first round of the playoffs next week. "Their players made plays. I'm glad we don't have to play them in the playoffs."

Russellville did fumble the ball nine times - both teams combined for 15 fumbles - and lost two. But overall, Goodwin said he was happy with the win, Russellville's fifth straight heading into its first-round game against Southside-Gadsden.

"It seems like we're improving as the season goes," he said. "Hopefully, we'll continue in the right direction and get to play on a dry field."

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@TimesDaily.com.