Following the latest segment of the continued homage being paid to venerable Rhea Stadium and 2014 homecoming Friday, the Russellville Panthers (7-1) not only played a football game but also clinched a home game to start the Class A playoffs in a 56-0  romp over Fulton City..

It was a huge night for senior Coco Darden, who accounted for four touchdowns in the first quarter alone after being named Homecoming King. Darden rushed for touchdowns on runs of 17 and 45 yards. Then he threw scoring passes of 9 and 21 yards to Jecory Bard and Johnny Drumgole to round out the first quarter scoring, with a kick by Milam Watkins thrown in.

For good measure, Darden retuned a kick for 87 yards in the third quarter. Queen Katelyn Suiter, Prince Dillon Porter and Princess Victoria Bilyeu wastched his heroics.

Also scoring in the Panthers’ second straight shutout and fourth running clock in the last five games were lineman Truston Clayton with a 15-yard fumble recovery, Jason Mitchell on a 65-yard interception return, and Josh Bigbee on a 36-yard run.

No Panther carried the ball more than four times, but four of them—Darden (2 carries for 62 yards), Bard (4 for 38), Bigbee (2 for 35) and Jaylyn McMurry (2 for 26)—picked up 25 or more yards. Javaren Robey, Desmon Quarles and Drumgole each rushed once.

Darden completed 5 of 12 passes. Bigbee caught a pair of them for 26 yards, Drumgole 1 for 21, Lee McMuury 1 for 14 and Bard 1 for 9.

Mitchell pulled in two interceptions while M.J. Jones and Jacolbie Mason each picked off one. Bard recovered a pair of fumbles and Clayton one for the touchdown.

Before the game, two of the stars of RHS’ 1964 state runner-up team, Michael Benton and Joe Hicks, served as honorary captains while the season-long celebration of 75 years of football at Rhea Stadium continued. Albert Head, a manager on that history-making team, and Roland Cox, who was representing his brother Benny, were also on the field. The late Benny Cox was the quarterback of the ’64 team.

Now Darden, Coach John Myers and the rest of the team and their fans turn their attention to this week’s visit from defending state champion Mayfield. At stake is a second home game in the playoffs, probably against each other.