In Sept. 25 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Sports Editor

The Russell County Lakers (1-3, 0-1 in district play) dropped their second straight game Friday night as they lost their district opener, 35-28, at host Franklin-Simpson.
Franklin-Simpson star Courtney Dalcourt rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the Lakers’ loss.
Dalcourt had touchdown runs of 15 and 75 yards in the second half to rally the Wildcats from a 20-14 halftime deficit.
The Laker offense looked good throughout the first half of play as quarterback Bryon Ellis scored on a 32-yard scamper with 5:28 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Ellis would score on another run, a 7-yarder, with 9:36 remaining before halftime. Halfback Jeron Hammond ran the ball in after that score for the two point-conversion.
The Lakers would score again when Ellis connected an 8-yard pass to Austin Hill just before halftime, giving the Lakers a 20-14 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, the Wildcats scored twice on a touchdown pass from Dalcourt to Jim Murphee and on a Dalcourt run, giving them a 28-20 lead going into the game’s final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Dalcourt managed a 75-yard touchdown run with 8:33 remaining to put the Lakers down 35-20.
The Lakers made one last comeback attempt as Martin Cross scored on a 1-yard run with just under three minutes left in the game. Bryon Ellis then completed a pass for the two-point conversion but the Lakers couldn’t muster any more scores, losing 35-28.
Russell County returns home this Friday to take on Logan County (1-3) at Laker Field at 7 p.m.
The game is also Homecoming for the Lakers as many past Laker football greats will be on hand for the festivities as well as the crowning of the 2008 Homecoming Queen.
Tyla Bailey, Audra Beckmann, Shelby Bell, Katlin Blakey, Kelly Bunch, Jessica Cain, Nikki Coffey, April Emerson, Britney Foley, Casey Gadberry, Naomi Galito, Sabeth Harden, Sharla Keen, Yasmin Montanez, Alicia Roy and Isabell Wolter are vying for the queen’s crown.