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






2022 Team Previews 

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Benjamin Russell Wildcats

Head Coach: Smitty Grider (first season)
Career Record: 17 seasons, (125-65)
At Benjamin Russell: First season
Stadium: Martin-Savarese Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  606
Rank:  86th in the AHSAA, 53rd in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   657-367-26   (64.0%)
Last 25 years:   182-113   (62.0%)  (Rank: 77th in the AHSAA, 15th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   77-58  (57.0%)  (Rank: 137th in the AHSAA, 25th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2018
Last Region Championship:   2013
Last Winning Season:   2019
Last Losing Season:   2021

 2021 
Class:  6A              Region:   3
Record:  3-7
Region Record:   1-5, (sixth)
Playoff Record:   Did not qualify.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  199 (19.9)
Defense:  291 (29.1)


 2022 
Class: 6A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 64-45 (59%) (45th in the AHSAA, 14th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  42-25 (63%)
Non-Region Strength:  22-20 (52%)

Players to Watch
      Corri Milliner,  WR


 2021 Results 
 8/20  vs. Huffman  (6A)   19-21   L  
 8/27  vs. Central Clay County  (5A)   26-35   L  
 9/3  vs. Stanhope Elmore  (6A)  *  20-42   L  
 9/10  @ Helena  (6A)  *  0-32   L  
 9/17  @ Wetumpka  (6A)  *  7-28   L  
 9/24  @ Smiths Station  (7A)   33-30   W  
 10/1   OPEN 
 10/7  vs. Pelham  (6A)  *  14-20   L  
 10/15  vs. Chilton County  (6A)  *  28-14   W  
 10/22  @ Calera  (6A)  *  17-41   L  
 10/29  vs. Sylacauga  (5A)   35-28   W  

 2022 Schedule 
 8/19  @ Sylacauga  (5A)       
 8/26  @ Central Clay County  (5A)       
 9/2  vs. Calera  (6A)  *      
 9/9   OPEN 
 9/16  @ Homewood  (6A)  *      
 9/23  vs. Smiths Station  (7A)       
 9/29  vs. Chilton County  (6A)  *      
 10/6  @ Pelham  (6A)  *      
 10/14  vs. Briarwood  (6A)  *      
 10/21  @ Helena  (6A)  *      
 10/28  vs. Valley  (5A)       
 11/4  @ Hueytown        


Class  6A Region  3
Team 2021 Record Scoring                            
Benjamin Russell (6A) 3-7199-291
Briarwood (6A) 10-2392-239
Calera (6A) 7-4324-257
Chilton County (6A) 3-7170-238
Helena (6A) 9-2342-232
Homewood (6A) 6-6315-288
Pelham (6A) 7-4264-207

 2022 Preview 


       Benjamin Russell finished the 2021 season with a disappointing 3-7 record. Last year Benjamin Russell finished sixth in Class 6A region three with a 1-5 region record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

       Benjamin Russell was inconsistent offensively last year and they need some improvement if the Wildcats want to be competitive. They only averaged 19.9 points a game.

       Since 2010, Benjamin Russell has gone a combined 77-58. Their 57.0% winning percentage ranks 25th in Class 6A over the past twelve seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Benjamin Russell has managed to compile a record of 182-113. Their 62.0% winning percentage ranks 15th in Class 6A and 77th in the AHSAA.




       The Wildcats will be under the direction of new head football coach Smitty Grider as they enter the 2022 season.  Coach Grider arrives at Benjamin Russell after serving as the head football coach at Dothan High last season.

       Coach Grider's overall record as a head football coach in seventeen season stands at 125-65 (65.8%). His 125 wins rank 44th among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Grider's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of twelve times and won five region championships.

       The Wildcats will start the season with their third new head football coach in as many seasons. Rebuilding the once proud program is at the top of the list for 2022. The school hired two new coordinators in Greg Crager on offense and Jason Simmons on defense.

       The Benjamin Russell Wildcats will play in Class 6A region three during the 2022 season.

       It will be an uphill battle for the Wildcats if they hope to grab one of the four playoff slots in region three this season.

       The Wildcats open the 2022 season on the road against non-region opponent Sylacauga on Friday, August 19 at Legion Stadium. Last year the Sylacauga Aggies finished with an overall record of 7-4 and in second place in Class 5A region four. The Aggies lost in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs to Andalusia by a score of 42-7.

       Benjamin Russell and Sylacauga have met a total of 62 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 41-16-5 record against the Aggies. They last met in 2021 with Benjamin Russell winning by a score of 35-28.

       Benjamin Russell returns 6A All-State Senior receiver Corri Milliner. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Robby James has won nine AISA State Championships during his career at Catherine Academy, Morgan Academy and Marengo Academy.