Russellville falls to Hartselle 24-14
Russellville players Terrance Graham (8) and Darrian Graham (center) walk off the field following the Golden Tigers’ 24-14 loss to Hartselle in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs. | Scot Beard/FCT
HARTSELLE — Russellville’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive state championship game came crashing down Friday night as the Golden Tigers fell to Hartselle 24-14 in the quarterfinals.
Hartselle scored three minutes into the game on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Will Lang to Malcolm Fossett and never looked back.
“We just didn’t make enough plays,” Russellville coach Doug Goodwin said. “They were better tonight.
Russellville followed the Hartselle score with 36-yard drive, but turned the ball over on downs at the Hartselle 37-yard line. The Golden Tigers nearly went three-and-out to start the drive, but Tevin Cross picked up nine yards on a fake punt to help Russellville retain possession.
Hartselle extended its lead to 14-0 with 4:42 remaining in the first half on a 3-yard run by Fossett.
Russellville answered a couple of minutes later when Brent Calloway broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run.
Hartselle drove to the Russellville 15-yard line in the closing seconds. William Marsh’s field goal attempt was no good and the Tigers took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Russellville got the ball to open the second half, but Brent Calloway fumbled on the second play of the drive and Hartselle recovered the ball at the Golden Tiger 14-yard line.
Hartselle scored three plays later on a 10-yard pass from Lang to William Tiffin to extend the Tiger lead to 21-7.
“We knew coming in we couldn’t turn it over,” Goodwin said. “That was a killer.”
Marsh added a field goal late in the third quarter.
Russellville provided fans with some excitement in the fourth quarter as they cut into the Hartselle lead with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Devan Parker to Darrian Graham with 4:57 remaining in the game.
Instead of attempting an onside kick, Russellville kicked deep. Hartselle picked up one first down, but was forced to punt after taking a little more than two minutes off the clock.
“Our chances of pinning them deep and stripping the ball for a turnover were better than recovering an onside kick,” Goodwin said.
Russellville drove from its own 31-yard deep into Hartselle territory. On fourth-and-four from the Hartselle 5-yard line Parker scrambled for three yards.
Hartselle took over possession with 36 seconds remaining in the game and ran out the clock.
