Russellville’s two-point conversion attempt in overtime was successful, but Logan County’s wasn’t. As a result, the Panthers won the Middle School Clash of the Football Cats at Rhea Stadium Saturday 20-18.
Labyan Nourse carried the ball into the end zone on both the touchdown and the conversion to seal the OT win. That was appropriate, since he also ran RMS’ other offensive touchdown, rushed for 83 yards while the rest of the team was losing 22 yards, and caught a pass for 19 yards.
Jeremiah Washington had been an offensive standout for the Cougars. He scored all three touchdowns on runs of 7 and 8 yards along with a 14-yard reception on a TD pass by Isaac Christian.
The Cougars couldn’t convert a two-point conversion the entire game, which cost them the win. Washington tried it twice—including in overtime—and Jackson Kemplin once.
The other Panther touchdown came on an interception by lineman Anthony Allen. Jerius Coleman had missed a point-after kick, so Coach Michael Morris went for two on the second touchdown, but Nourse was stopped short of the goal line.
Amarus Morrow, Javiyon Smith, Ethan O’Neal and Coleman joined Nourse (83 yards on 16 carries) as RMS rushers. Morrow caught a 15-yard pass.
Christian led Cougar runners with 40 yards on 11 carries. In addition to Washington’s 23 yards on 6 rushes, Damani Goodloe picked up 21 yards on just 3 carries, and Kemplin gained 15 yards on 4 tries.
Goodloe caught 2 of Christian’s passes for 20 yards and Ridge Holman another for 11. Goodloe returned a kickoff 55 yards. Kemplin returned two for a total of 26 yards. RMS’ only kickoff return for positive yards was by Maliak Clayton.
Elijah Sells led the Panthers on defense with 5 solo tackles and 2 assists; two of his tackles were for losses. Nourse added 3 solos and 2 assists. Montaious Johnson and number 72 shared a tackle for a loss. Johnson and Clayton each had 2 solos and an assist. Coleman had 2 solos.
Kemplin led Cougar tacklers with 2 solos and 6 assists; the solos were tackles for losses. Ryan Schultz and Christian each had 2 solos and 5 assists; Schultz was credited with a sack and another tackle for a loss. Holman was the solo tackles leader with 4, and he also had an assist and a tackle for a loss.
Joe Isaac Smotherman had a solo and assist, both of them going for tackles for losses. Washington joined him on one of them. Cooper Parker and Goodloe each had a solo and an assist plus a tackle for a loss.
Also credited with tackles were Jaden Bryant, Robert Cooper, Dayton Hurt and Chandler Jackson.