Then again, quite a bit went right for Russellville in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs at Cyclone Stadium.
Russellville (6-5) was guilty of three interceptions, two fumbles, a safety and a multitude of untimely penalties, but also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, scooped up a blocked field goal and took advantage of several Jonesboro (5-6) mistakes on their way to victory.
"There's no panic," Cyclones head coach Jeff Weaver told the team after the game. "We were trailing 14 points at halftime, and there's no panic."
Weaver said it seemed like key players were "trying too hard" in the first half because they "wanted it so badly."
"We had to settle them down," he said. "After that, they played well."
Russellville scored on its first possession of the second half to pull within 20-12 with 9:42 left in the third quarter. The Cyclones moved the ball 60 yards in eight plays, capped by a 7-yard run by quarterback Ryan Talley. The touchdown was set up by a 24-yard reception by Jaidon Palmer.
After forcing the punt, Russellville took over on its 7, and two plays later Talley was pulled down in the end zone for a safety to put the Hurricane up 22-13.
The Cyclones made it 22-20 on their next possession when Talley connected with Marquis Peter for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 4:41 left in the third.
Russellville pinned Jonesboro on its 15 and three plays later, James Escue recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to put the Cyclones up 26-22 with 4:06 left in the third.
Four plays later, Daishon Fountain scored his fourth touchdown of the night, this one on a 32-yard reception to put the Hurricane up 29-26 with 2:27 left in the third.
Weaver said he was proud of his kids for keeping their heads up.
"What I liked was we went up, and then they go up, and our kids don't get their heads down," he said.
Russellville's Seth Plummer blocked a field goal attempt on the next Jonesboro drive and Jake Hogue returned it to the Hurricane 40. Five plays later, Talley cross the goal line on a 15-yard draw with 10:55 left in the game to make it 33-29.
The Cyclones set the final score with a 23-yard field goal.
Jonesboro took a 20-6 lead at halftime. Russellville was guilty of three turnovers, but defensive stops kept the score in check.
Fountain scored all three Hurricane touchdowns, the first coming with 10:44 left in the first quarter -- three plays after receiving the opening kickoff. Fountain took the handoff 55 yards for a touchdown, but Jonesboro missed the PAT to leave the score 6-0.
The Cyclones' next drive ended in an interception, and another pick gave the Hurricane possession on the RHS 25. Once again, Russellville's defense again came up with a stop.
The Cyclones tied the score 6-6 with 1:17 left in the first quarter. Russellville moved the ball 67 yards in 10 plays, with the touchdown coming on a 2-yard run by Rhett Adkins. The Cyclones drew Jonesboro offside twice on fourth down to keep the drive alive.
Fountain scored his second and third touchdowns in the second quarter, the first coming with 7:33 left in the second quarter on a 30-yard reception. After another interception gave the Hurricane possession on the Russellville 21, Fountain hauled in a 21-yard touchdown strike to make it 20-6 with 5:31 left in the half.
Russellville finished the game with 441 yards of total offense. Talley was 37-of-56 for 392 yards and two touchdowns. Talley also rushed for 57 yards on 20 carries and two more touchdowns.
Adkins had 153 yards on 16 catches and a touchdown. Peter had 99 yards on 10 catches and a touchdown.
Jonesboro quarterback Tyson Williams was 14-of-28 for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Fountain had 126 yards of 15 carries and a touchdown. He also hauled in six catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns.
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