By Staff
Kim West
Franklin County Times
Franklin County teams are 3-2 after the first week of the 2007 football season.
Russellville, Vina and Red Bay are headed into the second week with perfect records thanks to superior ground games last Friday night.
Russellville (1-0), led by a three-touchdown, 204-yard performance by senior running back Mike Abernathy, downed 4A Deshler 34-28 in double-overtime to beat the Tigers for the third straight season and even the all-time series at 26-26-2.
Russellville hosts Region 8 opponent Brewer (1-0), which beat Priceville 19-12 last week in overtime, tonight at 7 p.m. in a game that should be a blowout for the Golden Tigers, which have never scored less than 43 points in the series' five-year history. Russellville won 48-0 at Brewer last season.
The Patriots' offense will have its hands full with a secondary led by senior Caleb Mitchell and a front seven that turned in three double-digit tackling performances last Friday – Josh James (12), Kory Suggs (12) and Torey Baird (12).
Vina beat Tharptown 47-28 last Friday in an offensive showdown that featured 11 touchdowns and 41 first downs. Red Devils senior running back Nash Creekmore led a 311-yard team rushing attack and finished with 153 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game. Sophomore quarterback Brent Townsend also had a productive game with three rushing touchdowns and no interceptions.
Vina hosts Shoals Christian, which is coming off a 41-7 loss to Red Bay, tonight at 7 p.m. in both teams' first Class 1A, Region 8 game. The game will feature two completely different offenses, since the Flame relies on the passing game and the Red Devils prefer to run.
Red Bay travels to Phil Campbell in the Class 2A, Region 8 opener for both teams.
Red Bay is coming off an emotional 41-7 win over Shoals Christian, a team that beat the Tigers in 2006, while Phil Campbell is rebounding from a 32-6 loss at 4A Haleyville last Friday.
Senior running back Josh Senbeil established himself as one of the area's top runners with a 234-yard, four-touchdown performance that triggered a 499-yard offensive attack by the Tigers.
The Bobcats moved the ball against Haleyville and matched the Lions in first downs (12), but struggled to find consistency, thanks to five interceptions that led to three scores for Haleyville.
Phil Campbell has the home advantage, but must protect the ball and find room to run against a Red Bay defense that allowed just 87 yards rushing by Shoals Christian and forced two fumbles, intercepted two passes and blocked two punts and a point-after attempt.
Tharptown hosts its second-ever home game tonight against Mt. Hope at a stadium so new that the field house hasn't been built yet.
Both teams are coming off Week 1 losses – Tharptown fell to Vina, 47-28 and Mt. Hope lost to Brinley Mtn., 42-13.
The Wildcats proved last Friday that they can move the ball with 275 yards of total offense, but they will need to reduce penalties (9 for 60 yards against Vina) and turnovers (one fumble, one INT) and get a more consistent performance from their physically-imposing defensive line, which is still young and developing stamina.