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Brooks Allen

Chelsea improved to 3-0 on the season by winning its Class 6A, Region 3 opener in dramatic fashion Friday night, 35-28 over visiting Wetumpka.

Chelsea raced out to a 27-7 halftime lead, highlighted by touchdown passes from Matthew Marquet to Hunter Blackburn and Lee Rickard. But the Indians (2-1, 0-1) fought back to make a game of it in the second half.

With one final possession to try and force a tie, Wetumpka drove the ball inside the Chelsea 30-yard line with less than a minute to play. The Hornet defense came up big, though, notching a pair of sacks on the final set of downs, including fourth down, to seal the victory.

Zalon Reynolds led the Hornets on offense, rushing for 150 yards on 20 carries. Marquet was 13-for-20 passing for 245 yards and two scores. He also ran for two touchdowns. Austin Stallworth added his first rushing touchdown of the season.

Defensively, Bryson Hardy and Hunter Offord had 10 tackles each. Hardy also recorded an interception, while Regan Wortham and Warner Wright each notched a sack in the win.

Chelsea will continue with Region 3 play next week when it makes a trip to Alexander City to face Benjamin Russell.