Chelsea Scores 15-14 Come From Behind Victory Over Wetumpka
CHELSEA, AL – The Chelsea Hornets pulled off a narrow victory against the Wetumpka Indians, securing a 15-14 win on Friday night in north Shelby County.
Chelsea’s defense was instrumental in the win, limiting Wetumpka to just 30 total yards in the second half while recording an impressive seven sacks. Their efforts kept the game within reach, allowing the offense to seize the lead late in the contest.
The game began on a rocky note for Chelsea, as an opening kickoff miscue positioned Wetumpka at the Hornets’ 3-yard line. Tudrius Hetherington capitalized with a touchdown run, putting Wetumpka up early. Chelsea compounded their troubles with a negative-yard run and an interception on their next possession.
Wetumpka’s lead grew to 14-0 in the second quarter when Micah Bigelow intercepted a Hornets pass and returned it 30 yards into the endzone. However, Chelsea responded with a fake punt conversion leading to a 52-yard touchdown pass from Miller Bauman to C.J. Durbin, reducing the gap to 14-7.
A crucial safety by Chelsea’s defense, spearheaded by Romello Cooper and Briston Hardy, slashed the deficit to 14-9 at the half. Despite both teams struggling offensively, Chelsea endured through four turnovers in the first half.
The third quarter saw no change on the scoreboard, but Chelsea’s offense came alive midway through the fourth quarter. Chase Stracener’s 48-yard catch-and-run set Chelsea up at the 2-yard line, but the Hornets failed to find paydirt.
Chelsea’s defense forced a turnover shortly after, with a crucial interception at Wetumpka’s 31-yard line, giving the Hornets another chance. Key third and fourth-down conversions by Durbin and Bauman paved the way for Stracener’s go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run, giving the home team a 15-14 lead with just 1:27 left on the clock.
A failed two-point conversion didn’t faze the Hornets, whose defense pressured Wetumpka into submission with a sack and three forced incompletions in the final seconds.
Romello Cooper anchored Chelsea’s defense with an exceptional performance, tallying four tackles, two sacks, and six quarterback pressures in the first half alone, alongside additional stats in the second half. Stracener finished the game with 93 yards on 25 touches, including the decisive touchdown. Durbin contributed with four receptions totaling 71 yards.
This victory marks Chelsea’s second win against Wetumpka in their five-game history, echoing their last victory over the Indians in 2016—a season that also started with a 2-0 record.
Looking ahead, Chelsea heads to Shelby County rival Pelham to kick off region play, while Wetumpka hosts Russell County for its region opener.
