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.






2023 Team Previews 

  


Benjamin Russell Wildcats

Head Coach: Smitty Grider (second season)
Career Record: 18 seasons, (133-68)
At Benjamin Russell: one season, (8-3)
Stadium: Martin-Savarese Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  606
Rank:  86th in the AHSAA, 53rd in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   665-369-26   (64.0%)
Last 25 years:   178-112   (61.0%)  (Rank: 87th in the AHSAA, 17th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   85-60  (58.6%)  (Rank: 114th in the AHSAA, 22nd in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2013
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2021

 2022 
Class:  6A              Region:   3
Record:  8-3
Region Record:   4-2, (third)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Hueytown by a score of 56-28.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  374 (34.0)
Defense:  207 (18.8)


 2023 
Class: 6A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 54-55 (50%) (203rd in the AHSAA, 35th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  33-33 (50%)
Non-Region Strength:  21-22 (49%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ Sylacauga  (5A)   41-7   W  
 8/26  @ Central Clay County  (5A)   33-14   W  
 9/2  vs. Calera  (6A)  *  23-6   W  
 9/9   OPEN 
 9/16  @ Homewood  (6A)  *  24-31   L  
 9/23  vs. Smiths Station  (7A)   46-28   W  
 9/29  vs. Chilton County  (6A)  *  48-0   W  
 10/6  @ Pelham  (6A)  *  20-30   L  
 10/14  vs. Briarwood  (6A)  *  16-14   W  
 10/21  @ Helena  (6A)  *  47-14   W  
 10/28  vs. Valley  (5A)   48-7   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  @ Hueytown    28-56   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. Wetumpka  (6A)       
 9/1  vs. Central Clay County  (5A)       
 9/8  @ Calera  (6A)  *      
 9/15   OPEN 
 9/22  vs. Homewood  (6A)  *      
 9/29  @ Smiths Station  (7A)       
 10/6  @ Chilton County  (6A)  *      
 10/12  vs. Pelham  (6A)  *      
 10/20  @ Briarwood  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Helena  (6A)  *      
 11/3  @ Valley  (5A)       
 11/9  vs. Sidney Lanier        
 11/17  vs. Hueytown        
 11/24  vs. Pike Road        


Class  6A Region  3
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Homewood (6A) 10-3 6-0400-301
Pelham (6A) 6-6 4-2275-284
Benjamin Russell (6A) 8-3 4-2374-207
Calera (6A) 4-7 3-3228-307
Helena (6A) 6-4 3-3300-276
Briarwood (6A) 3-7 1-5222-303
Chilton County (6A) 4-6 0-6223-275

 2023 Preview 


       Benjamin Russell completed the 2022 season with a 8-3 record. With their 4-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 6A region three, the Wildcats earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Benjamin Russell's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Hueytown by a score of 56-28.

       The Wildcats won as many games as in any season since 2015. It marked the first time since the 2018 season that the Wildcats qualified for the playoffs. The Wildcats hope to continue the success they had last season. Coach Grider saw improvement as they won eight games following a 3-7 record in 2021.

       Since 2010, Benjamin Russell has gone a combined 85-60. Their 58.6% winning percentage ranks 22nd in Class 6A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Benjamin Russell has managed to compile a record of 178-112. Their 61.0% winning percentage ranks 17th in Class 6A and 87th in the AHSAA.




       The Wildcats are led by head coach Smitty Grider who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 8-3 record in his first season at Benjamin Russell. The Wildcats saw improvement from a 3-7 record the season before coach Grider arrived. Under his direction the Wildcats have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Grider. His 133 wins rank 42nd among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Grider's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of thirteen times and won five region championships.

       Coach Grider got the Wildcats back to winning in 2022. The question remains. Can he continue to rebuild this football program this season?

       Benjamin Russell enters the 2023 season with a string of 7 consecutive wins on their home field at Martin-Savarese Stadium.

       The Wildcats are considered one of the favorites for the region three championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

      QB Gabriel Benton will be returning after completing 152 of 253 passes for 2,761 yards last season along with 31 touchdowns.

      Malcolm Simmons will be back this season at running back after rushing for 753 yards and 11 TDs in 2022. He also caught 31 passes for another 513 yards.

      Receiver Chris Foster will return after grabbing 50 passes good for 767 yards and 5 TDs as a junior last season.

       The Wildcats open the 2023 season at home against non-region opponent Wetumpka on Friday, August 25 at Martin-Savarese Stadium. Last year the Wetumpka Indians finished with an overall record of 7-4 and in third place in Class 6A region two. The Indians lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Saraland by a score of 48-14.

       Benjamin Russell and Wetumpka have met a total of 46 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 26-19-1 record against the Indians. They last met in 2021 with Wetumpka winning by a score of 28-7.

       Benjamin Russell lost 6A All-State  athlete Corri Milliner to graduation. He was named to the second team last season.

       The Wildcats return 6A All-State Senior punter Malcom Simmons. He was named to the second team last season. The Wildcats also return Senior quarterback Gabe Benton. He was named to the honorable mention team.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Since 1966 the Colbert County Indians have made the state playoffs a record 37 times.