2024 Russellville High School football schedule features mix of old, new opponents

The Russellville Golden Tigers are working during the summer months to prepare for the upcoming football season. Their schedule for the upcoming season will be the first time the Golden Tigers take the field under the leadership of new head coach Dustin Goodwin.

Russellville will be competing in Class 5A Region 7, and the Golden Tigers have won four consecutive region championships. RHS finished last season with a 9-3 record and a second-round 5A playoff appearance.

Here’s a look at the 2024 varsity schedule.

Aug. 23 Deshler Tigers at RHS

The Russellville-Deshler annual rivalry game is back in the season-opening week for the first time since 2019. Russellville leads the all-time series between the two schools which stands at 47-46-4. RHS won last season’s contest, which was also at home, over Deshler 35-13. Coach Patrick Malone’s DHS team went 8-4 in 2023 with a second-round loss in the 4A playoffs.

Aug. 30 RHS at Mars Hill Panthers

The non-region matchup with Mars Hill moves to earlier in the schedule this season. This will be the third meeting on the football field between the two schools, with the Panthers winning by one point at RHS in 2022 and by three points a year ago at MHBS. Coach Darrell Higgins’ Mars Hill team went 10-2 last season with a second-round loss in the 3A playoffs.

Sept. 6 RHS at Lawrence County Red Devils

Russellville will travel to Moulton to open region play against LCHS. The Golden Tigers won last year’s game at Lawrence County by a 37-7 score. RHS leads the all-time series over the Devils 26-5. Coach Trent Walker’s LCHS team went 6-5 in 2023 with a first-round loss in the 5A playoffs.

Sept. 13 RHS at East Limestone Indians

The Golden Tigers will visit East Limestone for the second consecutive season for another region contest. RHS extended its lead in the series to 12-2 with a 53-7 victory last year. The Indians went 3-7 in 2023 after starting the season 0-7. The Golden Tigers have outscored East Limestone 497-203 all-time.

Sept. 20 Ardmore Tigers at RHS

Russellville’s first home region game of the season will be against Ardmore. The Golden Tigers defeated AHS 56-0 a year ago in Russellville. RHS leads the series 8-1, with the only loss coming in 1937. Coach Jonathan Snider’s Ardmore squad went 1-9 in 2023.

Oct. 4 Fairview Aggies at RHS

After a week off, RHS will return to the field for region action versus Fairview. The Aggies were 9-2 last year, finishing second in the region to Russellville. The Golden Tigers defeated FHS 31-14 in 2023 to take a 2-1 lead all-time. Coach George Redding Jr.’s Fairview team lost in the opening round of last season’s 5A playoffs.

Oct. 11 Hatton Hornets at RHS

Hatton moves from Class 2A to 4A this year and the Hornets come to Russellville tfor the first meeting between the two schools on the football field. Coach Denton Bowling’s team went 7-4 during the 2023 season with a first-round loss in the playoffs.

Oct. 18 RHS at West Point Warriors

First-year West Point head coach Kevin McCravy was an assistant at Russellville a season ago when the Golden Tigers defeated the Warriors 48-14. The two teams remain region opponents this season. West Point went 5-6 in 2023 with a first-round loss in the 5A playoffs. RHS leads the all-time series 10-0.

Oct. 25 RHS at Priceville Bulldogs

Priceville moves up from 4A into Class 5A Region 7 this season. The Bulldogs went 5-7 in 2023 with a second-round loss in the playoffs. This year will be the first season for Seth Parker as head coach at Priceville. The Golden Tigers and PHS have never met on the varsity football field.

Nov. 1 Athens Golden Eagles at RHS

Russellville finishes the regular season with a non-region game versus 6A Athens. The Golden Eagles led by head coach Cody Gross defeated RHS 41-14 last year at AHS. Athens finished 2023 with a record of 8-3 including a first-round 6A playoff loss. Russellville leads the all-time series 20-10.