Golden Tigers squeak through first playoff game

It was a hard-fought win for the Golden Tigers, who nailed a touchdown in the nick of time to win 10-7 and advance to a second playoff game.

By Brannon King for the FCT

The Golden Tigers needed a big play late in the game against the Anniston Bulldogs to keep their season alive, and quarterback Payton Nichols provided it with a 75-yard touchdown run to give the Golden Tigers a 10-7 win.

Playing at home in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, Russellville (10-1) held a slim 3-0 lead until Anniston scored on a 47-yard touchdown pass with 8:21 remaining in the game.

The two teams traded possessions before the Golden Tigers took over on their own 20-yardline to begin the game-winning drive. Deyon Hill gained five yards on first down before Nichols scrambled on the next play for what proved to be the deciding TD with 1:35 remaining.

“I’m very proud of the kids and the way that they played,” Coach Mark Heaton said after the game.  “That play where we scored – we lined up the wrong way, we motioned the wrong way, and I’m so thankful that God has had his favor on us for a long time this year, and this was just another situation.”

Anniston had a chance to win on the last play of the game, but Russellville’s Colin Garrison knocked down a long pass in the end zone as time expired to add to the long list of big plays this season by the Russellville defense.

“I told them if we hold them to 14 or less, we feel like we have a chance to win every game. They held them to seven, and we almost didn’t score enough points, but God is good,” Heaton said.

Russellville’s first possession of the game looked promising as the Golden Tigers marched down the field with the help of a couple of big carries by Hill, but one was called back due to a holding call. Then the drive ended on a missed 35-yard field goal attempt.

Russellville’s defense, which played well in the big game, gave the ball right back to the offense to start the first scoring drive of the game. The 20-play drive started on the Golden Tigers’ 17-yardline and took up half of the second quarter. Marvin Betancourt nailed a 37-yard field goal this time to put Russellville up 3-0.

The Golden Tigers had another scoring chance just before the half, but a sack and an interception at the Anniston one-yardline ended the opportunity to add to the lead.

Anniston put together a 15-play drive of its own to start the second half but failed to convert on a fourth down trick play at the Russellville 12-yard-line.

Three plays later, it looked as though the Bulldogs were going to be back deep inside Golden Tiger territory, but offsetting penalties cancelled out an interception thrown by Russellville.

The Golden Tiger defense held strong late in the third quarter to stop Anniston on a fourth-down play at the Russellville 29-yard-line.

Russellville went three and out, and Anniston took over near midfield to begin the team’s only scoring drive of the night. It only took three plays for Da’ Monta Miller to find Christopher Beard for a 47-yard TD pass. Marcelous Mosley added the extra point, and, with 8:21 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs led, 7-3.

The following possessions for both teams ended with adventures for the punting teams. First, Russellville’s Payton Nichols scooped up a low snap on a punt attempt, but his knee was ruled down while he was picking up the ball. Then Anniston’s next possession ended when their snap sailed over the punter’s head, but he managed to pick up the ball and run before finally getting the kick away.

Two plays later, Nichols went 75-yards for the game winning TD, which was followed by a Marvin Betancourt extra point kick.

With the win, the Golden Tigers move on to the second round of the playoffs, where they will travel to Birmingham to take on Parker.