Wayne County Outlook

Russell County tops Wayne County 35-16
Shannon Hutchinson
Sports Writer

The Wayne County Cardinals hosted Russell County last Friday night at

Jewell Field in an important contest for both teams. The Cards entered the

homecoming contest with a 3-1 record, while the Lakers owned a perfect 4-0

mark. The game marked the 29th meeting between the two schools, with the

Cards winning the last three in the series, including a 31-0 decision last

season at Laker Field.

Russell County senior Nick Huckaby rushed 17 times for 153 yards and 3

touchdowns, as the Lakers built a 20-0 lead and held on to take a 35-16 win.

Huckaby, a 5-11 182 lbs. quarterback, scored on runs of 51, 41 and 1 yard,

as the Lakers rushed for 320 yards and totaled 336 yards in the win.

Chris Willis, a 6-1 234 lbs. senior fullback, added 108 rushing yards,

on 18 attempts as the Laker improved to 5-0 on the season.

"Russell County has a good football team and their offense all starts

with Huckaby. He�s the heartbeat of their offense and has good speed, plus

makes good decisions in the open field. Give Russell County all the credit,

they are playing with a lot of confidence and really do a good job of

getting off the ball on both sides of the football. I thought we played with

better intensity and effort, but we have to start making plays when given

the opportunity," said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.

Wayne County, which dropped to 3-2, totaled 263 yards of offense and 15

first downs led by Ryan Steele. Steele rushed 11 times for 76 yards and

completed 9 of 31 passes for 92 yards with two scores. Steele completed

scoring of 4 yards each to Wesley Dick and Tyler King, as the Cards had

their chances after a slow start.

"I was proud of the way our guys didn�t quit and played hard to the end.

After watching the tape the effort and intensity were both better, but we

have to make plays in key situations. I know it�s easy to play the what-if

game, but we�re a few plays here and there away from having a chance to

win," said Thompson.

Russell County opened the game with the football and needed just five

plays to march 74 yards and score on a Nick Huckaby 51 yard touchdown run.

Huckaby added the extra-point, as the Lakers owned a 7-0 lead with 9:21 left

in the opening quarter.

Wayne County�s first two offensive possessions of the contest resulted

in just six plays and two punts, as the Cards failed to gain a first down.

The Lakers scored again late in the first period as Nick Huckaby

completed a 16 yard pass to Grant Sharp, which set up Huckaby�s 41 yard

touchdown run. The extra-point pushed the lead to 14-0, with 2:13 left in

the first quarter.

The Cards answered with a 8-play, 34-yard drive, but the drive stalled

and Wayne County turned the ball over on downs on the Laker 35 yard line.

After the squads traded punts, the visitors added their third score of

the night. Russell County marched 38 yards and Nick Huckaby added his third

rushing score of the night on a 1 yard touchdown run. The extra-point was

blocked, leaving the score 20-0 with 3:52 left in the first half.

The Cards put together a 12-play, 74-yard drive and scored on Ryan

Steele�s 4 yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Wesley Dick. Steele�s 22

yard completion to Bryant Gregory was the biggest play on the drive. Joe

Coffey added the extra-point to close the gap to 20-7, with only :16 left in

the second period.

Wayne County had another chance to score before the half, as Russell

County fumbled away the kickoff on their own 18 yard line.

The Cards attempted a pass to the end zone, before settling for a 37

yard field goal attempt. The Joe Coffey attempt was wide-right, as Russell

County held a 20-7 halftime lead.

"We had a chance to put some points on the board with the pass and the

kick, but didn�t and that would�ve given us some big momentum going into the

locker room. That�s the breaks of the game," said Thompson.

The Cards opened the second half with the football, but couldn�t get

anything going and were forced to punt. The punt attempt was blocked and the

Lakers recovered the football on the Wayne County 15 yard line.

Wayne County�s defense, led by the 13 tackles of Tyler King, was up to

the challenge and held Russell County out of the end zone, as the Lakers

turned the ball over on downs.

After the Cards punted the ball away, the visitors were able to add to

their lead.

The Lakers stayed on the ground and rushed 7 times for 51 yards and

scored on a Chris Willis 2 yard touchdown run. The conversion run pushed

Russell County�s lead to 28-7, with 4:07 left in the third quarter.

After the teams traded empty possessions, the Wayne County defense

helped put some points on the board. The Lakers attempted to punt, deep in

their own territory, but the snap sailed through the end zone and resulted

in a safety. The score closed the gap to 28-9, with 10:26 left in the

contest.

The Cards scored again after the free kick. The hosts used 6 plays to

march 53 yards and scored on a Ryan Steele 7 yard pass to Tyler King. Chris

Burks ignited the drive with a 23 yard run, while the extra-point left the

score 28-16 with 7:39 remaining in the fourth period.

"Our kids never quit and that�s certainly something to build on. We just

have to give a more consistent effort on each play," said Thompson.

Russell County added the game�s final score late, on a Chris Coffey 37

yard touchdown run. The Nick Huckaby extra-point pushed the score to 35-16,

with 1:22 left in the game.

Neither team would score again as Russell County claimed the 35-16 win.

The win improved the Lakers to 18-11 all-time against the Cards and marked

their first win in the series, since a 29-14 decision in 2001, at Jewell

Field.

"We just have to go back to work and build on the positives and try to

improve," said Thompson.

A review of the defensive stats shows the Cards were led by the tandem

of Tyler King and Ryan Steele. King tallied 13 stops and Steele added 12,

while the duo of Charles Spradlin and Bryant Gregory contributed 8 tackles

each.

"Defensively we did some good things in spots, but we didn�t do a very

good job of containing Huckaby. We have to work on making tackles on the

initial contact, and we have to become better tacklers," said Thompson.

The road doesn�t get any easier for the Cards this week, as the squad

travels to Scott County. Scott County was the 4A State Runner-up last season

and is off to a 1-3 start against a brutal schedule.

"They certainly have it all, size, strength, numbers and speed, what can

you say except they�re a real good 4A football team," said Thompson.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Georgetown�s Rawlings

Stadium.

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