By Staff
Kim West
FCT Sports Editor
Franklin County schools played a total of 56 games this year, including the regular season and the state playoffs.
Two teams made return trips to the playoffs as No. 8 Russellville advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs and No. 4 Red Bay won the Class 2A, Region 8 title and made its first appearance in the state semifinals under coach Dale Jeffreys, who has guided the Tigers to nine straight playoff appearances in 11 years.
In its first full varsity season, Tharptown finished 7-3 and will play its first region schedule next year in Class 1A, Region 8, while 1A Vina struggled through injuries to several starters to finish 2-8.
Phil Campbell, which made the playoffs last year and appeared in the state quarterfinals as recently as 2001, experienced one of the toughest seasons in school history as the 2A Bobcats finished 0-10.
Below is a list of the Top 10 games in 2007 (in chronological order):
10. Vina-Tharptown
Vina spoiled the debut of Tharptown's new stadium with a 47-28 season-opening victory as senior running back Nash Creekmore scored two touchdowns, including an 85-yard opening kickoff return for a score.
9. Russellville-Deshler
In Week 1, the Golden Tigers traveled to Tuscumbia and survived a double-overtime effort by Deshler to win 35-28.
8. Red Bay-Phil Campbell
In the only other county matchup this season, Red Bay's Pablo Makepeace turned in the performance of the year – the senior receiver rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown, returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score, kicked two extra points and a field goal and picked off a pass on defense – to lead the Tigers past a stubborn Phil Campbell squad 29-7 in Week 2.
7. Red Bay-Tanner
In Week 3, Red Bay held off No. 5 Tanner after senior Anthony Horton scored on a quarterback sneak and the Red Bay defense forced an extra-point miss by the Rattlers to win 21-20.
6. Tharptown-Parkway Christian
The Wildcats pounded Parkway Christian 60-18 for a Week 4 road victory as junior Daniel Scott scored five touchdowns, including his third kickoff return for a score this season.
5. Red Bay-West Morgan
The Tigers scored 21 points in less than five minutes to stun West Morgan 31-28 in Week 4 and preserve their unbeaten record. Senior running back Josh Senkbeil returned a kickoff 85 yards and Horton scored on a 1-yard keeper after Makepeace recovered his own onside kick.
4. Decatur-Russellville
In a clasic clash of Top 10 teams, No. 9 Decatur snapped then-No. 2 Russellville's 46-game win streak in Region 8 play and clinched the region title with a 24-23 overtime win, despite a 10-point comeback by the Golden Tigers.
3. Red Bay-Addison
Senkbeil, who finished as the county's leading rusher this season, with 1,760 yards and 27 touchdowns, scored four TDs as Red Bay secured a No. 1 seed in the playoffs and won its first region title since 2004 with a 42-14 win over Addison in Week 8.
2. Russellville-Florence
After being upset by 6A Florence in 2006, Russellville crushed the No. 10 Falcons 41-13 as senior running back Mike Abernathy played his best game of the season with 219 yards on 32 carries and four touchdowns, while a swarming Golden Tigers defense stifled Falcons star Shawn Southward to only 44 yards on 13 carries.
Russellville (10-2) beat E.B. Erwin in the opening round of the 5A playoffs before falling to top-ranked Briarwood in the second round.
1. Red Bay-Fyffe
The fourth-ranked Tigers nearly upset No. 1 Fyffe in the Class 2A semifinals Nov. 30, but the Red Devils scored late in the fourth quarter to win 28-20.
After losing Horton in the first week of the playoffs, Red Bay played Makepeace at quarterback and the senior wide receiver responded with 2-of-3 passing for 59 yards and 202 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
In the last two minutes of the final quarter, the Tigers drove to Fyffe's 14-yard line and had an opportunity to tie the game with a touchdown and 2-point conversion but the Red Devils recovered a fumble during a handoff exchange to seal a trip to Birmingham, where they lost to defending champion Leroy 25-20 in the 2A championship game.
Red Bay finished 10-0 during the regular season and 13-1 overall.
Kim West is sports editor for The Franklin County Times. She can be reached at kim.west@fct.wpengine.com or (256) 332-1881, ext. 30.