Spreading the wealth and the glory, the Russellville Panthers built a running clock in the first half and shut out district opponent Caverna on the road Friday night.

Coach Mikie Benton’s Panthers led 41-0 at halftime and won the mercy rule-shortened game 48-0. The Panthers are now 3-2 overall and 1-0 in their Class 1A district.

The Panther offense was not predictable in either whether it would be a rushing or passing play or who would be getting the workload. Consider this:

·        The Panthers ran 28 plays, 14 offensive and 14 defensive

·        Six different backs had double-figure rushing yardage

·        Each of the four players who caught a pass scored a receiving touchdown and had over 20 receiving yards

·        Three players scored rushing touchdowns

·        Seven players scored, six of them with six points each

·        Ten players recorded multiple tackles

·        Seven players had tackles for losses

·        Three players recovered fumbles

·        Eighteen different players were among those recording these statistics. They are Ben Allen, Dustin Brown, Xavier Coleman, Zach Dowlen, Kendahl Edmonds, D.J. Elliott, Chevis Elliott, Jovari Gamble, Jackson Hampton, Lawrence Hickman, Josh McMurry, Lennon Ries, Patrick Summerall, Xavier Thompson, Jaquis Todd, Josh Todd, Colby Williams, Monti Williams

Highlights

Quarterback Ries completed 8 of 14 passes for 181 yards and 4 touchdowns. He rushed 3 times for 13 yards.

Chevis Elliott and Jaquis Todd only rushed once each, but Elliott’s was for a 73-yard touchdown and Todd’s for a 47-yard score.

Gamble scored the other rushing touchdown and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. He was the only player to score two touchdowns.

Coleman was the leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Allen caught 2 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. Hampton matched with the pair of catches and the score. His total was 39 yards.

Dustin Brown was successful on kicking 6 of 7 extra point tries.

Hickman carried the ball twice for 27 yards and Monti Williams 3 times for 19. Thompson also had a 9-yard run.

McMurry recovered 2 fumbles while Edmonds and Dowlen recovered 1 each.

Chevis Elliott was the leading tackler with 10, including 8 sacks and a tackle for a loss (TFL). Dowlen was second in total tackles (7) and solos (4) while leading in TFLs with 2; he also had a sack. Colby Williams had 4 tackles, all but one of them a solo. Hickman also had 4 tackles. Josh Todd, Thompson, Allen and Ries also recorded TFLs. Thompson and Summerall shared a sack.

The Panthers will entertain Crittenden County (5-1) this Friday in what is expected to be the decisive game for the district championship.