Saraland Overpowers Benjamin Russell 38-21, Secures Fourth Consecutive Trip to 6A State Championship

November 29, 2025

SARALAND, AL – The Saraland Spartans are heading back to the Class 6A state championship for the fourth straight year after a decisive 38-21 victory over the Benjamin Russell Wildcats on Friday night in south Alabama. With the win, Saraland advances to the Super 7 with an unblemished 14-0 record.

For Benjamin Russell, the loss caps a successful 12-2 season under first-year head coach Kirk Johnson. The Wildcats’ only two defeats this year came against state finalists, Opelika (7A) and Saraland.

Saraland’s high-powered offense proved too much for the Wildcats. Junior quarterback Jamison Roberts was a dual-threat force, throwing for 302 yards and two touchdowns while adding two more scores on the ground. His performance was pivotal in halting a late comeback attempt by Benjamin Russell.

After the Wildcats closed the gap to 24-14 with just over seven minutes remaining, Roberts answered immediately. On the very next play from scrimmage, he broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run, quickly extending the Spartans’ lead.

Benjamin Russell showed resilience, with sophomore quarterback Kingston Preyear connecting with Alabama commit CD Morgan for a touchdown to make it a ten-point game. Morgan had a standout performance, finishing with seven catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

However, the Spartans’ offense controlled the clock down the stretch. A late 14-yard touchdown run by PJ Brown sealed the victory for Saraland. Brown contributed 92 yards on 11 carries. Senior receiver DeShawn Spencer was another key playmaker, hauling in seven receptions for 199 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, Saraland amassed 456 yards of total offense. The team has been dominant all season, outscoring opponents 544-169 under the leadership of Head Coach Jeff Kelly, who has guided the Spartans to a remarkable 54-2 record over the past four seasons.

Saraland will now prepare for a championship showdown against the top-ranked and undefeated Clay-Chalkville Cougars (14-0). The Cougars advance to the title game after knocking off the Muscle Shoals Trojans 30-13, on the road, in the north semifinal. The game is a rematch of the 2023 title game, which saw the Cougars take down the Spartans 31-28 at Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Class 6A State Championship will be held next Friday at 7:00 PM at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.