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The Spain Park Jaguars are 4-0 for the first time since 2013 as they outpaced Benjamin Russell behind another stellar offensive performance. (For the Reporter/Dawn Harrison)

By SARAH TURNER | Special to the Reporter

HOOVER — The Spain Park Jaguars shut down Benjamin Russell for a colossal homecoming win, beating the Wildcats 42-15 and remaining undefeated on Friday, Sep. 20.

“We put our kids through a lot,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. “They put a lot into this, it’s rewarding to see success come from it.”

The Jags entered this Class 6A, Region 3 matchup undefeated through three games, looking to keep their streak alive with a homecoming victory.

Benjamin Russell entered the jungle with a 2-2 record, looking to spoil the Jaguars night.

Spain Park took down Hoover by two points back in Week 2, and their battle-tested offense took the field first but would quickly go three-and-out.

Wildcats junior quarterback Alijah Johnson connected with junior wide receiver Cederian Morgan in the end zone not long after, stunning the home crowd.

Benjamin Russell also opted for a 2-point conversion, putting it up 8-0 early on in Spain Park’s homecoming celebration.

The star-studded Spain Park offense retook the field, led by future Clemson Tiger, junior quarterback Brock Bradley.

Wasting no time after the Wildcats’ touchdown, Bradley found junior wide receiver Corey Barber on a short pass from their own 31-yard line, where Barber blazed all the way to the end zone, putting the Jags down just a point.

Spain Park clicked off two more touchdowns early in the first half, with Barber on the receiving end of a flea flicker thrown by sophomore running back CJ Cowley in the end zone, followed by another six-point pass from Bradley.

With the score now 21-8, the Wildcats were looking for any way to claw themselves back into the game.

This came in the form of an interception from junior Lajayvious Calhoun on the Jaguars’ 40-yard line with 7:40 left to play in the first half.

Spain Park came up with a massive defensive response, with a tackle on second down sending the Wildcats backwards, and a sack from junior EJ Kerley on the following play.

With Bradley back calling the shots, the Jags would punch in one more before halftime off of a short rush from Cowley, bringing Spain Park up by 20 points.

Coming out of the half, both teams traded blows before Benjamin Russell opened up the scoring. Morgan found himself in the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, cutting the deficit to 28-15.

Spain Park’s defense knew they would have their hands full in containing Benjamin Russell’s Morgan, one of the most highly-touted wide receiver recruits in the 2026 class.

“We knew he was going to make his plays because he’s really good, and he did, but we just told our kids to keep swinging,” said Vakakes.

Even though they were down by 13, the Wildcats wouldn’t quite go away. A block on a Jags field goal attempt kept the Benjamin Russell momentum up with 4:42 left to play in the third quarter.

Johnson, Morgan and the Wildcats took the ball all the way inside the Spain Park 5-yard line on their final possession of the third quarter, but the Spain Park defense came up big on a fourth down stop.

The Jags owned the fourth quarter on both sides of the ball with another rushing touchdown from Barber and an interception from junior safety Joe Cross.

Spain Park sealed the deal with a short rush from senior fullback Dakarai Shanks, bringing the final score to 42-15 with just over four minutes left to play in the game.

Bradley ended the night 10-for-18 for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Barber caught five passes for 202 yards, with three touchdowns included. Shanks had 13 carries for 70 yards, Cowley ran for 53 yards on 8 carries, and both of them scored touchdowns.

With this win, this is the first time since 2013 that Spain Park has started their season 4-0.

“I’m not smart enough to come up with cute ways to get better, we just keep doing what we do,” Vakakes said.

The Jags will go on the road next week to face Class 7A’s James Clemens on Friday, Sep. 27.

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