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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Helena High School took a rain-soaked game on Sept. 6 over Chilton County High School 48-13 on the road to move to 2-0 on the young 2024 season. The Huskies were aided by an explosive second half after a cagey affair between the two teams in the first 30 minutes to win the first Class 6A Region 3 game for both teams.

Rainy weather and a slick playing surface were all ingredients for both defenses to have their way early, and it was evident throughout the first half they would do just that. Three of the four drives in the first half were three and outs — two for CCHS and one for Helena. The lone drive in the opening quarter that went further resulted in points as the Huskies’ Austin Lewis knocked through a 43-yard field goal to put them on top 3-0.

The weather made an impact again early in the second quarter as Helena muffed a punt deep inside their own territory, and the Tigers’ Luke Moatts made the tackle to give CCHS great field position inside the Helena 10-yard line. CCHS could not turn the opportunity into points, missing a 28-yard field goal attempt to tie the game.

Helena took their next possession and turned it into points off the leg of Lewis again, this time from 42 yards out to put the visitors on top 6-0. The Huskies got their defensive highlight they seemed to be on the brink of throughout the first half as J.T. Alvis picked off Logan Coppedge’s pass. The offense needed just one play to score as Nate Ferguson connected with Torrey Ward for a 36-yard touchdown connection to stretch the Helena lead to 13-0 going into halftime.

“This is a tough place to play, and every time we come here we seem to start kind of slow, but some of that was to be expected after the big win we had last week,” Helena head coach Richie Busby said. “I thought we came out of the half and made some adjustments and played a little faster, and it ended up pretty well.”

After the stagnant first half, a scoring barrage came in the second half, starting with Jeremy Spratling taking in the five-yard touchdown run to extend the Huskies’ lead to 20-0. They continued to pour it on as Lane Harris tipped a pass up at the line of scrimmage and made the interception deep in Tigers’ territory. This set up the easy pitch and catch touchdown from Ferguson to Spratling to stretch the lead to 27-0 midway through the third quarter.

“(Helena) just kept playing their game, and we have to figure out how to take the first quarter of Jemison, the second half of Bibb County and the first half of Helena to make it a whole team game,” Chilton County head coach Eddie Wall said. “I think I got a little stale near the end and they were able to tee off on some schematic things. Defensively, our kids played hard all night and they fought to the end.”

The Tigers were set up with their best field position all game after a great kickoff return by Draden Brown. Kaleb Yarenko punched in the 21-yard touchdown to get CCHS on the board at 27-6 following the missed extra point.

However, Helena did not let off the gas, responding quickly with a 15-yard touchdown scamper by Spratling to make it 34-6 after three quarters. The Huskies added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter — a three-yard connection from K.J. Underwood to J.P. Schultz and a scoop-and-score by linebacker Grayson Owens.

“I have to keep working to find the right button to press, and maybe the right lineup because the kids are the right kids, I just have to do a better job of trying to find what we need to get a full game out of us,” Wall said. “I am just going to do what I do, because that is all I know how to do. These kids are still loved, and we can be frustrated for 24 hours, but come Monday we are going to get ready for Ben Russell.”

Chilton County’s Bam Parker recovered two fumbles for the Tigers on defense in the fourth quarter, and the first one resulted in Yarenko’s second rushing touchdown of the night late in the game from three yards out.

“We need to get more consistent up front running the football,” Busby said. “Defensively, we are coming along … We are a growing football team, and we have four really tough weeks ahead of us.”

Helena (2-0) hosts Spain Park High School on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in their next Class 6A Region 3 matchup. Chilton County (1-2) travels to Benjamin Russell High School on the same day and time for their next game, also in region play.