LLOYD —
Coming into the season, Russell running back Troy Huffine had only two career touchdowns. He doubled that in the first game of the year Friday.
Huffine had three rushing touchdowns to go along with one through the air as the Red Devils won the “Backyard Brawl” over Greenup County, 45-10, at Greenup County High School.
The senior running back finished the game with a game-high 86 yards on 12 carries and one catch for 60 yards.
“It’s a great feeling to perform for my team,” Huffine said. “It’s a team effort and it’s not just me. I’m just glad I could contribute to the team tonight.”
The team started off hot, when the Russell defense caused a fumble on Greenup County’s second play from scrimmage.
Bronson Korzep scooped up the ball and ran it back for a 20-yard touchdown, sparking the Red Devils’ first-half dominance.
Russell pitched a shutout in the first half, and the defense limited the Musketeers to only 45 yards.
“I thought our defense played with great intensity tonight,” said Russell coach Ivan McGlone. “When you play your first game you never know what’s going to happen, and we came out ready to play.”
The offense looked ready to play too, as the Red Devils scored on their first six drives.
After two 1-yard rushing touchdowns by Huffine, Googie Hayes had a 62-yard punt return to set up an 8-yard Huffine rushing score.
The next drive was followed by a Dylan Campbell 62-yard touchdown from new Red Devils quarterback Lance Evans, a transfer from Boyd County.
“That’s what we do and that’s what we expect,” McGlone said.
But probably the back-breaking touchdown for Greenup County was after the Red Devils faced two penalties that gave them a 1st-and-28 on their own 40. Evans threw a bomb to Huffine that resulted in a 60-yard touchdown and a 39-0 Russell lead at halftime.
“I really thought the defender was going to get it,” Huffine said. “He went up and I lost it in the lights for a second. Then I got a glimpse of it over his hands and then I just was able to grab it and run.”
Evans moved the ball efficiently for limited times throwing the ball. He was 3 of 4 for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Greenup County (0-2) struggled to move the ball the entire first half and had bad news at halftime.
Leading rusher Jeffery Williams had lost all range of motion in his arm, and was forced to the hospital for tests. The worst-case scenario could be a broken collarbone.
Along with limited ball movement, the offensive and defensive line also failed to move Russell the entire first half, something Greenup County coach Chris Mullins said kept down the Musketeers.
“We really got whipped up front,” Mullins said. “Our offensive line got whipped, our defensive line got whipped. They really did whip us and it looked like we were playing a professional football team out there.”
But Greenup County wouldn’t quit. After Russell scored one more time on a Gage Stevens 1-yard run to open the third, which forced a running clock, the Musketeers still worked to get into scoring position.
They finished the fourth quarter with a Wade Reed 29-yard field goal and then a Matt Lawson 6-yard touchdown to bring the score to 45-10.
With the loss of Williams, Lawson was asked to carry the load at a position he was not used to, and finished with 55 yards on six carries.
“Matt was unfamiliar with the position and he did a great job,” Mullins said. “He was leading really well and stayed positive despite the negative things happening. He ran hard and he played hard.”
Greenup County has an off night next week.
“A week off is huge,” Mullins said. “If we’re lucky these injuries aren’t a big deal and they will be back next week. So this week off is huge for us.”
For Russell (1-0), coach McGlone was happy to finally get back on the field. He used a walker to get up and down the sidelines.
That seemed to be the only thing he complained about on Friday night.
“This would be better if I didn’t have this walker, but it feels good to be out here,” McGlone said smiling.
McGlone and the Red Devils will take on Ironton at home next week.
KYLE HOBSTETTER can be reached at khobstetter@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2658.
Local Sports
Devils look ready for long ‘Brawl’
- Local Sports
-
-
THE WEEKLY CYCLE: Holding the key to upset city?
It takes only one game. Few are more firm believers in that fact than the small schools that find themselves in underdog roles year after year.
-
Locals struggle to make impact
Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug.
It is a saying that proved to be all too true for Rowan County on Friday night at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park. -
Rough Ending
Fairview senior Kennedy Womack wasn’t her consistent self in Saturday morning’s state tennis semifinals at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary Boone Tennis Complex.
As a result, the top seed fell to Lexington Sayre sophomore Madeline Rolph 6-1, 6-0.
Womack was obviously disappointed with her finish, especially after losing in last year’s state finals, but she was happy for her good friend Rolph. -
FLYING HIGH
If Fairview could have fielded a combined track and field team at Saturday’s Class A State Track and Field Championships, the Eagles and Lady Eagles would have had a record day. Instead, the Fairview girls had to “settle” for fifth, while the boys’ claimed 10th.
-
Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
-
Big-inning Dawgs
It looked for a while that a questionable call may have determined the outcome of the game, but in the end, it was just an afterthought.
-
Boyd County finds senior spark
Losers of four straight, Boyd County was searching for something positive Friday night before beginning postseason play Monday night.
-
Doubles teams head to semis at state tourney
With rain staying away, the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament got into full swing on Friday afternoon.
Semifinals and finals will be held today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex for boys and girls singles competitions. -
McKnight hurdling to Georgetown
Fairview’s Paige McKnight is known for jumping hurdles. She cleared a pretty big one on Thursday.
In front of friends and family at Fairview Elementary School, McKnight signed a letter of intent to run track for Georgetown College. -
Several area schools will be represented at State Track and Field championships
Local track and field athletes are ready to try to carry region competition success onto the state stage.
Several area schools will be represented at this weekend’s State Track and Field championships at the University of Louisville. The Class 2A meet is set for today at 3:15 p.m. and Class A competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
THE WEEKLY CYCLE: Holding the key to upset city?
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
