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‘Cats pop Bulldogs, start season off with win
Published 5:33pm Tuesday, September 4, 2012Benjamin Russell High School head football coach Danny Horn has challenged his team to be physical since the spring months of last season.
The Wildcats made sure that fans understood that idea when they took down Class 6A and longtime rival Opelika 14-7 last night.
The Wildcats started off with the ball on their own 46 yard line and went the distance of the field for an opening drive touchdown to start the game.
Making a name for himself for BRHS was junior LaBrenkin Johnson who has pass receptions of 33 and 11 yards for the Wildcats to put them in prime scoring position.
BRHS junior quarterback Bryant Horn then connected with senior wideout Woo Varner for the first score of the game at 7-0.
The rest of the first half was slow for both offenses, as Opelika didn’t manage a first down in the quarter, and penalties slowed up BRHS.
In what would have been the biggest offensive play of the game for Opelika in the second quarter, a Bulldog wideout reeled in a 25 yard catch down the right sideline, but the play was called back for offensive pass interference.
BRHS then took advantage of the turn over on downs, when Horn connected with Trey Minnifield for passes of 23 and 33 yards to but BRHS at the Opelika goal line.
Johnson then scored from three yards out to take the score to 14-0.
The Benjamin Russell defense made the statement of the first half, allowing Opelika only 40 yards of total offense to set the tone.
The third quarter saw the slowest offensive input in the contest, as both teams struggled offensively.
Opelika pled their case with nine minutes left in the game when they connected on consecutive pass plays of 46 and 12 yards and then scored on a three yard run with eight minutes remaining.
The Benjamin Russell defense, led by seniors Woo Varner and Javion Banks, as well as juniors Tabias Russell and Drey Graham wouldn’t let up, forcing the Bulldogs to go three and out two more times to run the clock out.
Horn led BRHS in the air, going 9-of-13 for 97 yards. Johnson was the leading rusher for BRHS, running for 52 yards on eight carries and Quez Alvies ran for 33 yards on 12 carries.
“The defense played lights out all night long,” said BRHS head coach Danny Horn, whose defense only allowed 200 total yards and only 40 in the first half.
“We knew they were going to run the ball and I commend our guys for playing tough.
“I challenged my guys to play physical and we saw that tonight.”
Benjamin Russell will host Marbury in the Region opener next Friday at home.
