News

We now have 832 teams &  
189,846 games on AHSFHS.org.


Search Site


AHSFHS Article Series


   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2017 Team Previews 

    Share on Facebook        
     
  



Benjamin Russell Wildcats

Head Coach: Danny Horn (ninth season)
Stadium: Sportsplex
Career Record: 28 seasons, (280-79)
At Benjamin Russell: 8 seasons, (55-39)
2017 Enrollment:  713
Rank:  70th in the AHSAA, 38th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   634-339-26   (65.0%)
Last 25 years:   205-106   (66.0%)  (Rank: 50th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   54-30  (64.0%)  (Rank: 91st in the AHSAA, 17th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2016
Last Region Championship:   2013
Last Winning Season:   2015
Last Losing Season:   2016

 2016 
Class:  6A              Region:   3
Record:  3-8
Region Record:   3-3, (fourth)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Hillcrest Tuscaloosa by a score of 40-16.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  267 (24.3)
Defense:  401 (36.5)    (Team record for points allowed in a season)

College Signees lost to Graduation
      NeColby Maxwell,   RB  [Tuskegee]

 2017 
Class: 6A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 80-37 (68%) (1st in the AHSAA, 1st in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  37-30 (55%)
Non-Region Strength:  43-7 (86%)




 2016 Results 
 8/19   OPEN 
 8/26  @ Central Clay County  (5A)   16-19   L  
 9/2  @ Pelham  (6A)  *  42-21   W  
 9/9  vs. Chelsea  (6A)  *  40-29   W  
 9/16  @ Opelika  (6A)  *  0-34   L  
 9/23  @ Oxford  (6A)   21-29   L  
 9/30  vs. Chilton County  (6A)  *  37-34   W  
 10/7  vs. Minor  (6A)   22-56   L  
 10/14  vs. Helena  (6A)  *  24-35   L  
 10/21  @ Wetumpka  (6A)  *  14-41   L  
 10/27  @ Beauregard  (5A)   35-63   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  @ Hillcrest Tuscaloosa    16-40   L  


 2017 Schedule 
 8/25   OPEN 
 9/1  vs. Central Clay County  (5A)       
 9/8  vs. Pelham  (6A)  *      
 9/15  @ Chelsea  (6A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Opelika  (6A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Oxford  (6A)       
 10/6  @ Chilton County  (6A)  *      
 10/12  vs. Minor  (6A)       
 10/20  @ Helena  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Wetumpka  (6A)  *      
 11/3  vs. Beauregard  (5A)       
 11/10  vs. Saraland        



Class  6A Region  3
Team 2016 Record Scoring                            
Benjamin Russell (6A) 3-8267-401
Chelsea (6A) 8-3455-347
Chilton County (6A) 3-7292-340
Helena (6A) 3-7197-261
Opelika (6A) 13-2540-234
Pelham (6A) 2-8242-363
Wetumpka (6A) 8-3399-283


 2017 Preview 


       Benjamin Russell finished the 2016 season with a disappointing 3-8 record. With their 3-3 region record and a fourth place finish in Class 6A region three, the Wildcats earned a spot in the playoffs in 2016. Benjamin Russell's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Hillcrest Tuscaloosa by a score of 40-16.

       Benjamin Russell took a step backwards last year with their first losing season since 2010. The Wildcats lost as many games as in any season since 2010. The defense allowed a team record 401 points last season. The Wildcats hope to rebound after a down year. Last season they struggled winning just three games which followed a 12-2 record in 2015.

       Benjamin Russell struggled on the defensive side of the football last year. The defense found little success in stopping opposing offenses as they gave up an average of 36.5 points a game.

       Since 2010, Benjamin Russell has gone a combined 54-30. Their 64.0% winning percentage ranks 17th in Class 6A over the past seven seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Benjamin Russell has managed to compile a record of 205-106. Their 66.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 6A and 50th in the AHSAA.

       The Wildcats are led by head coach Danny Horn who is entering his ninth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 55-39 over the past eight seasons at Benjamin Russell. Under his direction the Wildcats have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times. They have won two region crowns with Coach Horn.

       Coach Horn's overall record as a head football coach in twenty-eight season stands at 280-79 (78.0%). His 280 wins rank th among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Horn's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of twenty-five times and won fourteen region championships. He has a 61-19 record in the playoffs during his career. The playoff victories rank with the best among active coaches. Coach Horn won six state championships prior to arriving at Benjamin Russell, the last coming in 2005 at .

       The Benjamin Russell Wildcats will play in Class 6A region three during the 2017 season. The Wildcats have one of the toughest schedules in Class 6A. Their opponents had a combined record of 80-37 last season. That ranks 1st in Class 6A and 1st in the AHSAA.

       The Wildcats will be in the mix for one of the last two playoff spots in region three this season. They have qualified for the playoffs every year since 2010 and are hopeful to continue that streak in 2017.

      Landon Cotney returns for his Junior season after completing 73 of 152 passes for 926 yards and 5 touchdowns.

       The Wildcats open the 2017 season at home against non-region opponent Central Clay County on Friday, September 1 at Sportsplex. Last year the Central Clay County Volunteers finished with an overall record of 9-3 and in first place in Class 5A region four. The Volunteers lost in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs to St. Pauls by a score of 48-14.

       Benjamin Russell and Central Clay County have met a total of 10 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 5-5-0 record against the Volunteers. They last met in 2016 with Central Clay County winning by a score of 19-16.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Foley outscored their opponents 433-6 in 1961. The Lions were named state champions by the Alabama Sports Writers Association that season.