By ROBERT HUDSON / Alex City Outpost

ALEXANDER CITY – The No. 6 Benjamin Russell Wildcats jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back, as they cruised to a 42-24 region win over the Chelsea Hornets on Thursday at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex.

It took only two plays from scrimmage for the Wildcats (7-1, 3-1 in Class 6A-Region 3) to get on the scoreboard, as quarterback Tyre Gray found DeVee Herron for a 59-yard touchdown pass. The Sean Rape extra point gave Benjamin Russell a 7-0 lead with 11:13 left in the first.

After forcing Chelsea (5-2, 2-2 in Class 6-Region 3) punt on a three-and-out, Benjamin Russell finished off a seven play, 55-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown run by Gray on the read option to make it a 14-0 game with 6:40 left in the first.

Another Chelsea drive stalled after only five plays, and the Wildcats capped another short drive off with a three-yard touchdown plunge up the middle by running back NeColby Maxwell, making it 21-0 with less than three minutes remaining in the first.

The Hornets finally got on the board with 6:58 left in the second quarter after Jeffery Thomas hit a 25-yard field goal to make it 21-3. But the Wildcats responded on the ensuing possession, going 71 yards on 10 plays, with Maxwell scoring on a seven-yard run that made it 28-3 with 3:26 left in the first half.

Benjamin Russell’s final score of the first half came on 71-yard scoring run by Maxwell with 1:42 left in the second that sent the Wildcats into halftime leading 35-3.

The Wildcats’ final score of the night was a 30-yard touchdown run by Gray with 7:36 left in the third quarter.

Chelsea got its running game going at the end of the third quarter, with Anthony Jones scoring on a 3-yard run and the Thomas extra point making it 42-10.

Chelsea’s Zalon Reynolds ran for a 10-yard score in the fourth and Hornets’ quarterback Matthew Marquet hit Joshua Gregg on the 2-point conversion to make it a 42-18 game with 7:22 left in the game.

Chelsea’s final score was a 1-yard run up the middle by Austin Stallworth in the fourth quarter.

Benjamin Russell ended both halves with an interception, as Benjamin Hendrix picked off a Marquet pass at the end of the second and Darius Jackson intercepted a Gregg pass to end the game.

Gray led the Wildcats going 6-of-6 passing for 145 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 106 yards on six carries for two more scores. Maxwell had 21 carries for 143 yards on the night, while Herron had four catches for 135 yards and score.

Chelsea gained 249 yards of total offense, while the Wildcats finished with 285 yards rushing and 167 yards passing on the night.