The Russellville Middle School Panthers kept their undefeated season going Tuesday with a 30-8 blowout of the Todd County Rebels.
The game opened like the previous two, with a strong stance by the Russellville defense and quick score by the offense. On the defensive side of the ball, newcomers Johnathan Zamarripa and Jacoby Covington anchored a defensive line that had their hands full with a very big Todd County front five.
After a four-and-out by Todd County, the Panthers quick-strike offense lived up to its name with a 60-yard run by Lennon Ries to open the scoring. Nick Bollenbecker punched in the 2-point conversion and the Panthers were up 8-0.
Todd County did not lie down and responded with a nice drive of their own to knot the score at 8. This was the first time the Russellville defense had been scored on all year.
The offense would regain the lead for the Panthers on the next series with a 23-yard strike from Ries to A.J. Taylor. Bollenbecker converted the 2-point conversion for 16-8 halftime lead.
The Panthers opened the second half being a little too careless with football but some halftime adjusts on defense allowed the Panthers to gain control of the game. Two more long touchdowns runs by Ries would put the game out of reach.
“We got some really hard-nosed play on both sides of the football by Jovari Gamble, Camden Phillips, Pharell Hines, Clifton Faughn, Ben Allen and Landon Bollenbecker,” says Coach Pete Ries.