Fultondale opened its season in  commanding fashion, with quarterback Ardarius Stewart throwing three touchdown passes and running for a fourth score as they trounced West End 50-13.

The Wildcats scored all of their points before the halfway mark of the third quarter, when coach Keith Register pulled his starters out of the game.

Stewart connected on scoring passes to Deundrea Marshall — who also scored twice rushing — plus Sherrod Brown and Chris Lewis. Thos passes accounted for three of his four completions in eight attempts for the night, good for 94 yards.

Stewart ran 10 times for 100 yards, but wasn’t the Wildcats’ leader in the ground game. That honor went to Dante Stanley, who had 108 yards on 12 rushes. Brown also gained 92 yards in 14 attempts. Fultondale had 479 yards for the game.

Julian Hardy led the Cats’ defense with three solo tackles and six assists.

Enrique Aguilar was good on six of seven extra points, and also hit a 33-yard field goal early in the first half.

The Wildcats forced seven fumbles and recovered four, one in the end zone for a  touchdown by Tyler Gibson.