Two high-powered offenses will take snaps on Ken Barrett Field at Rhea Stadium Friday night. Most likely it will be the defenses that decide the winner.
The homestanding Russellville Panthers have outscored their five opponents 198-68. That difference could have been even greater had it not been for a running clock as Coach John Myers’ reluctance to run up scores against friends in a couple of them.
The 5-0 Panthers are the fourth highest scoring team in Class 1A.
Franklin is 3-1. Coach Doug Preston’s Wildcats have outscored their opponents 119-80. Their first game was cancelled because of lightning. One game had a running clock. Last week the Cats ran into a buzzsaw in the persons of the Battle Ground Academy Wildcats from the Nashville area. BGA won 42-12.
F-S was without its most experienced running back in that game. Injured senior back Jerry Billups had carried for 316 yards on 33 carries in the first three games, but he didn’t play against BGA, and his availability for this week’s game at Rhea. He didn’t practice early this week.
Junior Nick Groves has run 49 times for 274 yards, sophomore Josiah Robey 21 times for 158, and sophomore Jackson Caudill 18 times for 74. All three of them have a rushing TD.
Colton Hurt, who followed his brother Eli into the quarterback’s role last year, is a versatile athlete, starting in baseball and seeing extensive action in basketball. He has rushed 27 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns, and he has completed 18 of 36 passes for a pair of touchdowns with two interceptions. His favorite receivers are tight end D’Shawn Martin along with Cody Uhls, Tay Jones, and Billups and Robey.
Among the leading defenders is Evan Figert, a familiar name also for his basketball and baseball skills. Hurt, Robey and Caudill also figure prominently in the defense.
The Panthers have rushed for 1,605 yards in those five wins. Leading the way is senior Desmon Quarles with 440 yards on 68 carries for seven touchdowns. Junior Josh Bigbee has 368 yards on 41 carries for 4 touchdowns. Sophomore Johnny Drumgole has run for 367 yards on 27 carries for five scores.
Every Panther fan and opponent knows who Coco Darden is, but most of them aren’t sure what position he plays. He was the quarterback the first three games, and has been a running back the last two. He has rushed for 266 yards on 31 carries and has completed 11 of 23 passes for three touchdowns. He’s also caught two passes for 62 yards, one of them going for six points.
When Darden isn’t the quarterback, sophomore Jaylin McMurry is. He’s played most of the last two games while Darden nurses a sore hand. This is valuable experience for McMurry and the Panthers, in case Darden suffers a more serious injury. McMurry has completed three of seven passes for 61 yards.
Their favorite target is senior Lee McMurry, Jaylin’s brother. He has 8 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown. M.J. Jones and Bigbee have also caught touchdown passes, and it appears Jason Mitchell is working into being a key part of the aerial attack.
Darden also is a force on defense. He has three interceptions and is all over the field. Drumgole has two interceptions and Jones has two fumble recoveries, one of them going for a touchdown. Senior co-captain Tremon Morris, freshman Javaren Robey and Drumgole have also recovered fumbles.
Milam Watkins has been successful on 14 of 16 conversion attempts on the season.
Honorary captains Darwin Washington and Jerry Humble (see the story on The LoJo at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=sports554 ) will join the other captains at midfield to start the game, and the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Rhea Stadium will be held at halftime (see http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=features239 ).
It had been hoped that the two surviving players from that 1939 team, John Williams and Owen Chapman, would be in attendance, but health concerns will prevent both of them from being present.
WRUS will carry the game live with Chris McGinnis and John Brett Reynolds calling the action on 610 AM and www.network1sports.com/station/wrus