CHELSEA – New season, new classification and a brand new grandstand: The Chelsea High School football team showed a performance on Friday night that has not been seen in years.

The Hornets cruised to a comfortable 24-3 victory over defending 3A state champion Mobile Christian. It was the home team’s first game as a 6A school after spending the last two seasons at the 7A level, their first win by at least three possessions since 2021, and their first season-opening win since 2016.

“A win like this is great for this community,” said Chelsea head coach Todd Cassity. “We filled the new stands tonight and I think a lot of people are starting to feel a bit of a turnaround.”

Chelsea — looking to rebound after a 2-8 season last year — scored a touchdown on its first possession of the new season. Junior running back Chase Stracener opened the game with a 52-yard run, bouncing off tacklers and running down the sidelines, and capped the seven-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.

The Leopards responded with a 13-play drive that ended with a 49-yard field goal by junior Carter Lewis.

The Hornets began the second quarter with a 14-play drive in which five different players touched the ball. Senior receiver CJ Durbin was the main player on the drive, making five appearances as the Wildcat quarterback, including the final play of the drive, a 1-yard run into the end zone.

Mobile Christian failed to capitalize on a botched punt, as three plays later a low snap led to a Chelsea recovery by Sam Trout for the Hornets. The home team capitalized in just two plays when Miller Bauman threw a pass to Aiden Hughes. The senior wideout caught the pass with ease after his defender tripped while trying to pursue him into coverage. The 49-yard touchdown increased Chelsea’s lead to 21-3, with the half capped by an interception by junior safety John Leith.

The second half was quiet for both offenses. The Hornets defense stood strong with an interception by senior linebacker Ethan Prickett and big plays by the trio of sophomore inside linebacker Briston Hardy, junior safety Sam Parrish and junior defensive lineman Porter Schott.

Chelsea limited the Leopards’ offense to a total of 38 yards in the second half.

“Our defense played really well,” Cassity said. “We started tackling better in the second half, our secondary played well and we won the battle for possession.”

The only goal in the last 24 minutes was a 40-yard field goal by Luke Miller with 9:51 minutes left in the game.

The Hornets’ versatile running attack used three different players at least seven times, with junior running back Morgan Barnes joining Durbin and Stracener. Cassity said that was in part because Bauman recently dislocated his elbow and the team had to get creative with its offensive strategy.

Stracener led all players with 117 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Bauman completed 4 of 10 passes for 90 yards through the air. Hughes was the game’s best receiver with 3 catches for 77 yards.

The Leopards had won 21 of their last 22 games entering the evening. Senior quarterback Damian Gatson, the MVP of last year’s 3A state championship game, was limited to 13 of 28 passing, two interceptions and 3 rushing yards on 9 carries.

Chelsea stays home next week to play Wetumpka. Mobile Christian has a bye before opening their 4A slate as they settle into a new classification.

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