Russellville got a big district win last week versus Crittenden County. This week they face an even bigger challenge taking on 4A Franklin Simpson. Russellville is probably the underdog in this one. The last time they stepped up in class Russellville got manhandled. Has Russellville improved enough to keep this game close and maybe even get the upset win? Is Franklin Simpson way too much for Russellville? What are your thoughts on this one?

Friday night will be the 72nd straight meeting of Franklin-Simpson and Russellville. The two started playing when FS began playing football in 1944. Russellville won the first seven games but FS holds an overall series lead of 46-24-1.

The Panthers have, however, won two of the last three with FS squeezing out a one point win in the 4th quarter at Rhea Stadium last fall.

Russellville comes to Franklin fresh from a District Championship clinching win at Crittenden County last week. RHS is 8-1 on the season and looking for a deep playoff run.

FS comes in a disappointing 5-4 record having alternated wins and losses throughout the season. The game has tangible meaning for the Wildcats as a win will clinch the second seed in 4A District two. Russellville would love to leave the Cats at 5-5 and knock them down to a three seed. That's how rivalries work.

 

Likely that the outcome will be decided in the 4th quarter. It could be that the FS depth will play a factor and may well prove to be the deciding factor.

Macdon, great analysis of the game and thanks for the history too!

 

I look for a really close game. Russellville has been playing well of late and I look for that to continue. Franklin will have Senior Night and bring alot of emotion into the game as well. I will go with Russellville 28-27.

If you like the ground game the FS/RHS game will be a special. Both teams treat the forward pass like it's1922. This will be trench warfare with the big grunts up front doing the dirty work.

If FS plays like they did against WE, they will have no problem. FS running backs are very good. Are all of those RB's seniors?

Hall (16) and Groves (9) are seniors.

 

Robey (4), Jones (injured) are Juniors

 

Brady(18) and Harvey(21) are Soph.

 

Brady may prove to be the best of the bunch.

Been watching some Russellville. They have a LOT of speed coming from a lot of directions. Plus they seem to have Coco Darden's clone at fullback. When he gets rolling it takes a bus to stop him.

Hall (16) and Groves (9) are seniors.

 

Robey (4), Jones (injured) are Juniors

 

Brady(18) and Harvey(21) are Soph.

 

Brady may prove to be the best of the bunch.

 

I saw Brady when he was at the middle school. I knew that kid was going to be a stud.

 

BTW, love all the info in your first post. I had no idea that the two teams have met every year since 1944.

Russellville is my third team. It's where my Dad got his coaching start in 1938.

 

That town loves their Panthers.

having just witnessed the Panthers in person at Crittenden... their running game is legit... #7 is a LOAD to bring down... one thing i did take away defensively they can/do get winded... might be they have not played into the 4th quarter alot this season but the hurry up offense that Crittenden got into in the second half did take its toll on them ... lots of guys going down with cramps (real or fake...hard to tell sometimes... just to slow things down).... if someone can speed up the game on them defensively it will take its toll....the key is to stop the run with them as they really do not pass at all (1 attempt at Crittenden) and to stop their return game (killed us last friday night 2 returns for TD's)

 

they can be scored on so a shootout might be the only chance someone has unless their run game is stopped