The Russellville Middle School football team got a chance to work on skills for the upcoming season by hosting Florence Middle for a competition day at the stadium.

Seventh- and eighth-grade players from both schools braved the hot July weather and competed in a range of drills, including seven-on-seven passing and an all-11 scrimmage. Linemen also worked on technique and even held a tug-of-war competition to show their strength.

“It was a really good day for our kids,” said Russellville Middle School head coach Corey Flanagan. “Florence brought about 90 over here, and we had about 65 kids. Getting to compete against a quality team like them and getting to see that speed on the field and getting going – it was a really good opportunity for us.”

The competition day was part of a summer-long process of working toward the football season for the young Tigers.

“It’s been a really good summer,” Flanagan shared. “We’ve had very good attendance. We’ve got 65 total on the roster, and we’ve been about 90 percent or better every day – which, at the middle school level, is really good.

“The kids have been committed, the coaches have been committed, and we’ve worked really hard. We’re just hoping to finish it out the right way the next couple of weeks.”

The Golden Tigers will be learning how to play the game the right way as they continue to grow, with an eye on having another successful season. The 2022 schedule features games against a group of solid opponents, and RMS will be trying to win another Northwest Middle School Conference title.

“The opportunity for these kids to play in a conference and compete for a championship,” Flanagan noted, “is a big part of what we do and why we work so hard.”