Pythons win the 4th of July North Alabama Classic

HUNTSVILLE,AL – There where a lot of fireworks this fourth of July weekend around the GDFL and this game, would not be a disappointment!!!  The #5 River City Pythons (5-2) defeated the #4 Huntsville Rockets (5-2), 28-21, Saturday at Goldsmith Schiffman Park in Huntsville, AL  Pythons wide receiver Tony Rudolph had the game winning score by catching a 56 yard touchdown reception with one minute left in the game. Rudolph finished with two receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Carl Davis completed 13 of 22 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns and 1 interception. Davis was named Most Valuable Player for the first time this season he connected touchdown passes to all three starting wide outs he also had a 40 yard pass reception to Charles Buchannon and three pass receptions to Thomas Sims who added 20 more yards to Davis totals.For his efforts, Rudolph was named Offensive Player of the Game.

 River City sacked the Rockets quarterback four times with defensive linemen Jeremy Young and former Tennessee Vol & Minnesota Vikings player Darren Myles hauling in two sacks each. Myles also led the team with a total 13 tackles which included two vicious hits and 5 quarterback hurries. Tariq Baugh ended the game with an interception with 7 seconds remaining.  

Huntsville scored their first six points when quarterback Marvin Flowers completed a pass to wide receiver Chris Ungacta for a 52-yard touchdown. The Pythons answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Boshe Watkins. The 2 point conversion failed game was tied 6-6 at halftime. Huntsville found the end zone again in the third quarter when their quarterback Flowers completed a 30 yard pass to wide receiver Chris Ungacta for his second touchdown of the game, 2 point conversion was successful.  Pythons receiver Dustin Woods scored his first touchdown of the night with a 60-yard pass reception from Davis.

Both teams traded blows in the third quarter ending with the Pythons trailing by two points 14 to 12.

  The Pythons defense prevented Huntsville from scoring on their next three possessions, Pythons got the ball with 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter that's when Davis connected with another pass to Watkins for a 24-yard touchdown , 2 point conversion was successful by Jeremy Young 20-14. Huntsville would not go down without a fight with 3:25  remaining in the game Flowers found Montarius Smith streaking down the sideline for a 52-yard Rocket touchdown pass, PAT successful, Rockets 21 Pythons 20. 

 Tony Rudolph put River City ahead for good on a second and 10 play, ball is sitting on the Rockets 56 yard line with one minute left in the ball game that's when Carl Davis hit Rudolph on a ten yard curl route and Tony made a move on the defensive back and turned on his after burners and racked up the yards (RAC) and a Python game winning touchdown! Game Over: Pythons 28 vs Rockets 21

“It was a big win for us,” River City Pythons Head Coach Derek Baker said.  “First time in franchise history we have beaten the Rockets. Huntsville is a very physical team, has a very good defense with a good young quarterback. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I’m happy for our guys.”

MVP:  Pythons QB Carl Davis, 13 passes, 352 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Pythons WR Tony Rudolph 2 receptions, 110 yards, 1 touchdown

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Pythons DB/LB Darren Myles, 13 total tackles (8 solo), 2 sacks

The River City Pythons take on the Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs in Decatur, Alabama on Saturday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. Bulldawgs won 40-6 against the Pythons at Nashville 3 weeks ago. This will be the teams second match-up of the season.