Briarwood Christian 49, Westminster Christian 7: Lions Cruise to 3-0
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Briarwood Christian spread the ball around and let seven different players find the end zone Friday night, rolling to a 49-7 win over visiting Westminster Christian in a Private AA, Region 2 opener at Lion’s Pride Stadium.
Matthew Forester’s Lions (3-0, 1-0) turned a balanced, high-tempo attack into 394 total yards while averaging a crisp 10.1 yards per play. Westminster (0-3, 0-1) managed just a single score, and it came on special teams rather than offense.
A Fast, Balanced Start
Briarwood set the tone early by getting production from every corner of its roster. Issac Kerley punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, and Jackson Reyer added another short-yardage score from a yard out to build the lead. Neither drive relied on a single star, a theme that would define the entire night.
The Lions leaned on their ground game with purpose. Ten different backs logged a carry, giving Briarwood a physical edge and keeping fresh legs on the field throughout.
Big Plays Break It Open
The margin ballooned when the Lions started breaking off long gains. Ben Reynolds ripped off a 59-yard scoring run, and Jamison Barnes followed with a 39-yard touchdown burst of his own. Those explosive plays fueled the double-digit yards-per-play average and quickly put the game out of reach.
Griff Schmidt added a spark on special teams, weaving through the coverage for a 64-yard punt return touchdown. The return score gave Briarwood points in all three phases and further tilted the field position battle.
Depth Through the Air
Even in a run-first performance, Briarwood mixed in enough passing to keep Westminster honest. Three quarterbacks combined for just 10 attempts, but they made one count when Sam Canale hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception.
Bryace Gothard capped the scoring parade with a 7-yard touchdown run, completing the seven-player touchdown roll call. The efficiency stood out: minimal pass attempts, maximum results, and contributions from up and down the depth chart.
Westminster’s Lone Highlight
Westminster searched for answers against a deep and disciplined Lions squad but struggled to find sustained offense. Its brightest moment belonged to JH Caldwell, who took a kickoff 93 yards to the house for the team’s only touchdown.
The kickoff return showcased the kind of big-play ability the Warriors will need to build on as they look to break into the win column. Now 0-3, Westminster faces the challenge of turning flashes into full-game consistency.
Looking Ahead
Briarwood hits the road next week, visiting Lee-Scott Academy with its unbeaten record and early region lead on the line. The Lions’ balance and depth give them plenty of momentum heading into their trip to Auburn.
Westminster returns home to host rival Madison Academy, aiming to convert its special-teams spark into a complete team effort and chase their first victory of the season.
