– posted by Cody Whitlock
Russellville 28, Athens 21
Quick-hit recap: Just like the rematch from Week 3, these Class 5A, Region 8 rivals battled it out until the final minute. Russellville’s Brent Calloway scored the game-winning TD on a 1-yard run with 1:28 remaining. The Golden Tigers advance to next week’s semifinal round, where they’ll meet Hartselle.
The Golden Tigers, who also got an 85-yard kickoff return for a score from Darrian Graham, didn’t have possession long in the second half. Athens completed a 22-play, 69-yard scoring drive that ate up the entire 12 minutes of the third quarter.
Statistical quick hits: Brent Calloway (Russellville), 15 carries, 83 yards, three TDs; Stephen Rivers (Athens), 14-of-20 for 112 yards, two TDs, one INT; Ryan Horton (Athens) 80 yards, one TD on 27 carries. Also caught a TD pass from Rivers.
Quotable: “I have never been in a game where we didn’t touch it all in the third quarter. That’s unreal.” – Russellville head coach Doug Goodwin
Cody Whitlock
Justin Graves
