After a terrific season on the gridiron, the Russell County Lakers' postseason run ended in heartbreaking fashion last Friday night as the host Allen County-Scottsville Patriots defeated the Lakers 24-15 after rallying in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers outscored the undefeated Patriots 13-0 in the first half and were in prime position to defeat one of the top teams in class 4A but the Patriots came out with a fire in the final quarter and put the Lakers, who end the season at 7-5, away.

Allen County-Scottsville scored four second-half touchdowns as the Laker defense couldn't stop the Patriots late in the game.

But it was all Russell County early on.

The Lakers tallied 160 yards in the first half and looked like an upstart team on a mission.

The Lakers scored on their first possession of the ballgame as kicker Lucas Williams booted a 28-yard field goal through the uprights for a 3-0 Laker lead. Later in the first quarter a Russell County interception led to another Williams' field goal, this one from 37 yards out to give Russell County a 6-0 lead.

Russell County was finally able to find paydirt on its next possession after the Laker defense held the Patriots' offense on three straight plays.

It took Russell County seven plays before senior quarterback Martin Cross completed a pass to senior Jeron Hammond for a 34-yard touchdown.

The score gave the Lakers a 13-0 lead with just over 10 minutes left to play in the half.

In the second half, the Lakers garnered just 84 total yards and scored on a safety following a bad snap on a Patriot punt play

Aside of that, the second half proved to be all Allen County Scottsville as they tallied four scores, led by the rushing attack of Brandon Boards, and downed the Lakers 24-15.

This Russell County team will go down in school history as only the second Laker team to win a playoff game after they defeated Hopkins County Central last week.

The last time the Russell County Lakers won a playoff game was a decade ago when Russell County, then in 2A, downed Washington County on the road.