Eight of the 10 opponents the Russellville Panthers are scheduled to play this fall and in 2015 are the same. One of the two differences is of great significance, though.
Coach John Myers’ team has played the Mayfield Cardinals four times in the last three years, and they will meet again at least once in 2014. In the three seasons they’ve been district opponents, Coach Joe Morris’ team has reached the Class A state finals all three years, winning the state championship the last two . There’s no reason to think they won’t be in the mix for another state title next year.
In 2015, however, the seven-letter word MAYFIELD does not appear on the Panthers’ schedule. In its place is Crittenden County.
Realignment, blessed be thy name.
Mayfield is expected to move up to Class 2A in 2015. Russellville is staying put in Class 1A, reserved for the smallest football-playing schools in the commonwealth. Crittenden County has taken the Cardinals’ place. The Rockets are not a pushover, but they aren’t Mayfield either.
“That will be good news for us if it happens,” Myers told The LoJo during basketball season, “but it would have been a lot better news if had come two years earlier.” Myers believes—as do most Panther fans—that Russellville was the second best team in the state in Class 1A in 2013, but when the best team is in your district and region, there’s not much to show for it.
The other change in the 2015 schedule from this fall finds one of the Panthers’ oldest opponents, Murray, returns to the list. The Tigers replace the Panthers’ youngest (in terms of school years) opponent, South Warren, which is moving up the classification ladder.
If that matchup had happened last year or for several recent seasons, the Murray coach would have been Steve Duncan. Now, however, Coach Duncan will be calling the shots for the Logan County Cougars, beginning this fall at LCHS.
Logan County has not yet released its schedule for 2014, but realignment is also favorable for the Cougars. Instead of having to be in the same 5A district with three-time defending state champion Bowling Green and powerful Warren Central, the Cougars will drop down to Class 4A in ’15. Their district will include Madisonville-North Hopkins, Hopkinsville, Hopkins County Central and Calloway County—strong opponents but not BGH and Central.
Central, too, is moving down and will be in a 4A district with South Warren, Franklin-Simpson, Warren East and Allen County-Scottsville.
Greenwood and Barren County are left to contend with the Purples along with Grayson County.
The Panthers’ schedules follow:
2014 Panther Football
Russellville High School
Varsity Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
8/14 Glasgow Home 6:00
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8/22 Trigg Co. Home 7:00
8/29 Ft. Campbell Away 7:00
9/5 Butler Co Home 7:00
9/12 Logan Co. Away 7:00
9/20 Todd Co. McCracken/Calloway Co. Bowl 3:00
@ McCracken Co. High School
9/26 Franklin-Simpson Home 7:00
10/3 Fulton Co. Away 7:00
10/10 Open
10/17 Fulton City Home 7:30
10/24 Mayfield Home 7:00
10/30 (Thur) South Warren Away 7:00
2015 Panther Football
Russellville High School
Varsity Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
8/14 Glasgow Away 6:00
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8/21 Trigg Co. Away 7:00
8/28 Ft. Campbell Home 7:00
9/4 Butler Co Away 7:00
9/11 Logan Co. Home 7:00
9/18 Todd Co. Home 7:00
9/25 Murray Home 7:00
10/2 Fulton Co. Home 7:00
10/9 Open
10/16 Fulton City Away 7:30
10/23 Crittenden Co. Away 7:00
10-29 (Thur) F-S Away 7:00