Indians Fall to Benjamin Russell, 36-0
Wetumpka faced one of its toughest tests of the season Friday night, falling 36-0 on the road to Benjamin Russell, but the Indians showed several encouraging signs against one of Class 5A’s top teams.
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. -- Wetumpka High School faced a challenging matchup on the road against Benjamin Russell on Oct. 2, 2026, falling 36-0. Despite the loss, the Indians demonstrated several promising aspects of their game against one of Class 5A’s top teams.
Wetumpka's offense, led by sophomore quarterback Karsen Tate, managed to generate significant yardage through the air, completing 15 of 28 passes for 221 yards. Two of his primary targets, Deon Floyd and Kaleb Ballard, played pivotal roles in the passing game. Floyd caught seven passes for 135 yards, while Ballard added five receptions for 75 yards, accounting for 210 of Wetumpka’s total passing yards.
Ballard made an immediate impact, showcasing his skills early in the game. On Wetumpka’s second possession, he caught a slant pass, broke a tackle, and gained approximately 20 yards. Wetumpka's offense saw its best opportunities through explosive plays, including a potential 70-yard reception by Jeremiah Sears that was negated by a holding penalty.
Floyd also provided a spark for the Indians. Just before halftime, Tate scrambled to avoid pressure and launched a deep pass to Floyd, who made a spectacular catch, setting Wetumpka up with a first-and-goal opportunity. Although the Indians could not convert the drive into points, the play helped build offensive momentum. After halftime, Tate again found Floyd for a 45-yard gain, moving Wetumpka back into the red zone, but an interception ended that drive.
Defensively, Wetumpka showed resilience, with Cooper Wilson leading the team with six solo tackles and four assists. Christian Wilkes contributed five solo stops, while Jorden Gray recorded four solo tackles and three assists. Zion Robinson added a tackle for loss. The defense forced Benjamin Russell to punt on each of its first two possessions, applying pressure that kept Alabama quarterback Kingston Prior uncomfortable. Jordan Hill nearly capitalized on that pressure with a near interception early in the second quarter.
Even late in the game, Wetumpka's defense continued to compete, with Wilson shedding a block to drop a Benjamin Russell runner for a loss. The Indians also forced a missed 44-yard field goal attempt, keeping the Wildcats scoreless in the fourth quarter. Wetumpka will return home for Senior Night against Park Crossing on Thursday, Oct. 8