WEST POINT, Ala. – The West Point Warriors hosted Russellville in a huge region game Friday night, looking to keep up their momentum going after collecting a pair of wins in their last two games but unfortunately for the home crowd, it was all Russellville in this one, and the Tigers ended up rolling past the Warriors 44-13.
West Point got the ball to start out the game and were faced with a third and 11 from the 23. Hunter Hensley picked up 11 on the ground and a first down. Two plays later, Hensley hit Bryant Moon for a 31-yard gain. A 17-yard run by Ollie Howell put the Warriors at the 11, then two plays later, Hensley found Moon for an 11-yard score to give them a 7-0 lead with 8:44 remaining in the opening period. Russellville picked up a huge third down to help keep its series alive, and later on in the drive, they scored on an 18-yard run to tie the game up at seven.
The Golden Tigers quickly broke the series on its next defensive series, as they picked up off a Hensley pass and returned it for a touchdown to give them a 14-7 lead with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter. Howell broke a couple of big runs to start out West Point’s next drive, but Russellville forced a Warrior fumble two plays later to get the ball back at the 47. A 40-yard run on just the second play of the series put them at the one, and the Golden Tigers punched it in on the next play to make it 21-7.
After converting on fourth down to help keep its series alive, the Warriors’ drive stalled after that, and they were forced to punt. A 66-yard pass on second down quickly put Russellville at the 29. After allowing another first down, West Point’s defense stiffened, and the Golden Tigers settled for a 32-yard field goal to push their lead to 24-7. Howell picked up a trio of first downs on the ground and another one on a 12-yard reception as the Warriors looked to cut into the deficit before the half. Russellville, though, picked off another Hensley pass to keep the score at 24-7 going into the locker room.
The Golden Tigers didn’t waste any time driving the ball down the field to start out the second half. A 14-yard run on the first play put them at the 49, and two plays later, a pass interference penalty on the Warriors moved the ball up to the 25. Russellville scored on the next play to give them a 31-7 lead. West Point looked to answer on its first drive of the second half. Howell broke free for a 59-yard run to put the Warriors at the 17. Later that drive, a nine-yard run by Howell put them at the five. On fourth down from the one, Hensley punched it in to cut it to 31-13 with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter.
The defense forced their first turnover of the game, as Conner Crawford picked off a Golden Tiger pass at the 48. Dawson Smith picked up a big first down during the drive, and later that drive, a huge personal foul penalty on Russellville gave the Warriors new life. After Smith picked up another first down, the offense stalled, and they were forced to turn the ball over on downs. On the second play, a 75-yard run, plus a face mask penalty on the Warriors, quickly put the Golden Tigers at the seven. They scored on the next play to make it 37-13.
The Warriors were forced to punt on its next series, but they recovered a fumble during the return. After picking up a first down on a pass, they didn’t do much after that and were forced to turn the ball over on downs. Russellville added a 22-yard score late in the game to give them the 44-13 win over West Point (2-6, 2-3).
Hensley finished 9/21 for 101 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, plus a rushing score as well for the Warriors. Moon finished with three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. Howell added 186 yards rushing on 21 carries.
West Point will go to Ardmore next Friday night for another region game.
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