Offensive woes were the undoing of the Fort Campbell Falcons Friday night on post. The Falcons struggled coming out of the gate and then never found their stride, as they were upended by the Russellville Panthers 28-3 in the Falcons home opener.
The Falcon offense never could get in the flow of the game, and at times became it’s own worst enemy. Rusellville got on the board first at the 7:00 mark of the first quarter on a 37-yard run by Jacob Naylor, putting the Panthers in front 7-0. The score came after the Falcons went for a 4th and 2 in their own end of the field and were dropped for a loss.
Russellville was back on the board at the 3:53 mark of the 1st quarter . This time it was a one yard one by Edward Barber to put the Panthers up 14-0. The score came after the Falcons had a punt blocked deep in their own territory, with Russellville recovering the ball at the nine yard line. That score would hold as the teams went into the locker rooms at the half. Fort Campbell had only two first downs in the first half of play.
Russellville’s third score of the night came off another Falcon miscue. This time the Falcons mishandled a punt return, which the Panthers recovered inside the ten yard line. Edward Barber took it in from 10 yards out to put Russellville up 21-0 with 9:36 to go in the 3rd. Barber would score again, this time on a 34-yard run to make it 28-0 with 6:58 to go in the 3rd.
The Falcons only score of the night came on the last play of the 3rd quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Jhony Panigua-Solis to make it 28-3.
The Falcons could must only 107 yards of total offense on the night, 18 yards rushing and 89 through the air. Matt Middleton was 11-39-3 for the 89 yards. The leading receiver for the Falcons was Tyler MacKay with 4 catches for 44 yards. DeAndre Spence carried the ball 14 times for 28 yard.
Edward Barber had a huge night for Russellville, carrying the ball 13 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
The loss drops the Falcons to 0-2 on the season. They go on the road next Friday to take on the the Glasgow Scotties.
