By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Kingwood Christian School Lions are off to their best start since 2013 after they took down the visiting Lee-Scott Academy Warriors 28-14 in a region matchup on Sept. 14.

The Lions (4-1, 1-1) used a balanced attack to take down the winless Warriors to bounce back from a loss the previous week to undefeated Tuscaloosa Academy, and have matched the success they saw through the first five games of 2013, when the Lions advanced to the second round of the AISA playoffs.

Kingwood jumped on the board in the first half when Peyton Long broke off touchdown runs of 15 and 5 yards. The Lions sealed the win in the second half when Antonio Ruiz reeled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Garrett Picklesimer and Garrett Helmers caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Picklesimer – his longest of the night.

Kicker Mason Collins was perfect on PATs for the night, converting all four attempts.

Picklesimer completed 6-of-13 passing attempts for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and Ruiz had a monster night catching six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Helmers caught two passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Tyler West was the Lions workhorse on the ground during the game, carrying the ball 23 times for 108 yards.

Defensive leaders for the Lions were Helmers, who recorded four solo tackles, a batted pass, a tackle for a loss and five assists and Connor Shaddix, who ended the night with three solo tackles, a tackle for a loss and two assists. Jayton Denard recorded four solo tackles and 10 assists.

Kingwood will travel to Columbiana on Sept. 21 to take on the Cornerstone Christian School Chargers in a non-region matchup.