Four members of Golden Tiger football team earn All-State honors after reaching finals

By Staff
Scot Beard
The Russellville football team was the only squad from Franklin County to get past the first round of the state playoffs, and it is the only team to have players named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Team.
Stratt Byars and Mason Willis were named to the Class 5A First Team while Nathan McAlister and Jesse Green earned honorable mentions.
Byars helped anchor an offensive line that helped the Golden Tiger offense average 338.3 yards per game this season.
Russellville had 2,336 rushing yards and 2,738 yards through the air.
Willis, who earned All-State honors at tight end, pulled down 43 catches for 592 yards.
He averaged 13.8 yards per catch and had five touchdowns, including an 8-yard touchdown in the state championship game against Vigor.
McAlister was the Golden Tigers' leading receiver with 52 catches for 914 yards and eight touchdowns.
He scored Russellville's final touchdown in the state title game when he hauled in a 75-yard pass with 1:34 remaining in the game.
Green led the Golden Tiger defense with 122 tackles this season, 83 of which were solo tackles.
He also had 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery.
Green had 16 tackles in the title game.
Byars and McAlister are seniors, but Green and Willis will return next year to try to lead the Golden Tigers back to the state championship game and improve on their All-State performances.