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By Lizi Arbogast Gwin | Alex City Outlook

Chilton County High School fell to 1-3 in 2024 after a trip to Benjamin Russell High School on Sept. 13 left them with a 55-21 defeat.

“We got a lead early, so that was big,” BRHS coach Smitty Grider said. “That was something we’ve been talking about a lot. I’m glad to see the guys do it. We had a lot of plays with special teams, and the defense got points on the board again this week. Our return game was really good, so it was a complete win.”

Special teams was the only facet in which Benjamin Russell (2-2, 2-0) didn’t score in the Class 6A Region 3 game, but they all but did.

The Wildcats blocked two punts, one by Kalib Spivey and one by Micah Murphree, setting the offense up in enemy territory on both occasions. On another punt, the snap went over Chilton County’s hands, and Spivey ultimately took down the punter in the backfield at the Tiger 8.

“(Special teams) set up a lot of scores for us,” Grider said. “We really emphasize that, so I’m glad to see us start playing better on special teams. It’s been an issue for us, but these last two games, they’ve been a lot better. If we can continue to get better with our punting game and our return game continues to give us short fields, that’s something we can lean on.”

Early on for the Wildcats, it was the Cederian Morgan show.

As the Division I-bound wide receiver does what he did best, Morgan put on a clinic for Chilton County (1-3, 0-2) and scored three touchdowns in the first quarter.

“Honestly, I think our kids played as well as they could on him,” Tiger coach Eddie Wall said. “But sometimes when they have a kid that can just jump higher than you and catch it, it is what it is. The (first touchdown), I preach to them all the time that you gotta make them beat you on plays like that. But then a couple of the other ones, he just jumped higher than we can jump, and I can live with that.”

The first touchdown of the game was the most highlight-reel worthy as it wasn’t just Morgan showing off his athleticism, jumping up for the score in double coverage. Quarterback Alijah Johnson also got to display his skills as he rolled to his right and had to scramble around before finding Morgan for the 27-yard touchdown.

Johnson was unstoppable Friday night. In addition to throwing three touchdown passes to Morgan on three straight possessions, he also started to get more weapons involved in the offense and scored a rushing touchdown of his own.

“He’s doing a great job of running our offense and leading his team,” Grider said. “That’s the most opportunities in game for touchdowns where we didn’t catch the ball, but he threw some great balls. He had a couple big runs for us, so we’re getting him more involved in the run game and that’s just going to make us better.”

Johnson threw a touchdown pass to T.J. Wilson, who also scored once on the ground, and he also had a nifty keeper to notch his own 8-yard rushing touchdown.

Benjamin Russell’s defense matched the offensive prowess as the Wildcats were flying to the ball throughout the game, but Chilton County still managed to put up some yardage.

Through the third quarter and before Benjamin Russell pulled its starters, the Tigers managed eight plays of 10 or more yards and even scored a 28-yard touchdown by Kelijah Lucas.

“The message I give these kids is they’ve earned and they deserve the right to get everybody’s best,” Wall said. “When we’re operating the way we’re supposed to, I think we’re a pretty good football team. We just gotta stay out of our own way and just continue to keep working because I preach to them greatness is coming. I know they’re tired of hearing it, but I firmly believe that we belong. “

Chilton County also got a 4-yard score from Lucas, and Logan Coppedge and Luke Moatts hooked up for the two-point conversion. In garbage time, the Tigers got a 60-yard scoop and score on a fumble recovery by Javen Turner.

Next up, Benjamin Russell will face Spain Park. Both teams are undefeated in the region and sit atop the standings, and although it’s early in the season, this has all the makings of a region championship.

“We’re playing the best team in our region outside of us,” Grider said. “This is a big game, and we’re on the road. We can’t make mistakes and put ourselves in a bind. If we play a clean game, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win. If we don’t, it’s going to be tough.”

Chilton County (1-3) will host Pelham High School on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in region play for its next contest.