2017 Team Previews
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Sparkman Senators |
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Head Coach: Laron White (first season) Stadium: Sparkman Field Career Record: 14 seasons, (148-30) At Sparkman: First season 2017 Enrollment: 1,834 Rank: 3rd in the AHSAA, 3rd in Class 7A |
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall Record: 205-350-5 (37.0%) Last 25 years: 84-170 (33.0%) (Rank: 336th in the AHSAA, 31st in Class 7A) Since 2010: 17-53 (24.0%) (Rank: 347th in the AHSAA, 30th in Class 7A) Last Playoff Appearance: 2006 Last Region Championship: 2006 Last Winning Season: 2006 Last Losing Season: 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class: 7A
Region: 4
Record: 4-6 Region Record: 3-4, (fifth) Playoff Record: Did not qualify. Final ASWA Poll: Not Ranked Scoring: 285 (28.5) Defense: 333 (33.3) College Signees lost to Graduation Zach Cangelosi, OL [Jacksonville St.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class: 7A
Region: 4
Strength of Schedule: 59-51 (54%) (84th in the AHSAA, 16th in Class 7A) Region Strength: 40-38 (51%) Non-Region Strength: 19-13 (59%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2017 Preview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sparkman completed the 2016 season with a 4-6 record. Last year Sparkman just missed making the playoffs with a fifth place finish in Class 7A region four with a 3-4 region record. The Senators have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2006 season and would love to end that streak this year. Since 2010, the Sparkman football program has struggled with a record of 17-53. Over the past 25 seasons, Sparkman has not won much with a record of 84-170. Their 33.0% winning percentage ranks 31st in Class 7A and 336th in the AHSAA. The Senators have struggled on the football field with only four winning seasons during this time. Their last winning season was 2006. Chris Cagle resigned during the off season after three seasons at Sparkman as the head football coach. His three teams went a combined 11-19 without reaching the playoffs. In fourteen seasons at Tanner, Laron White won 148 games and a couple of state championships. He hopes to bring that sort of success to Sparkman as he assumes the head coaching duties at the school. His teams at Tanner went 91-6 in Region play and 29-12 in the post seasons. Every one of his teams qualified for the playoffs. Coach White's overall record as a head football coach in fourteen season stands at 148-30 (83.1%). His 148 wins rank th among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach White's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of fourteen times and won nine region championships. Coach White won two state championships prior to arriving at Sparkman, the last coming in 2013 at . Coach White needs two wins this season to reach the 150 win milestone. The Sparkman Senators will play in Class 7A region four during the 2017 season. It will be an uphill battle for the Senators if they hope to grab one of the four playoff slots in region four this season. Devin Kimbrough returns for his Senior season after completing 156 of 264 passes for 2,116 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,005 yards and another 9 scores. Senior Hunter Gibson returns after rushing for 1,003 yards on 128 carries and scoring 10 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 359 yards and another score. Senior Parker Swords returns after catching 38 passes for 490 yards and 5 touchdowns along with Junior Rondell Cole with his 32 catches for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Senators open the 2017 season at home against non-region opponent Athens on Friday, September 1 at Sparkman Field. Last year the Athens Golden Eagles finished with an overall record of 3-7 and in seventh place in Class 6A region eight. The Golden Eagles ended last season on a positive note with a win over Huntsville by a score of 35-7 after failing to gain a playoff spot. Sparkman and Athens have met a total of 26 times on the football field. The Senators have a 9-17-0 record against the Golden Eagles. They last met in 2016 with Sparkman winning by a score of 35-19. Sparkman returns 7A All-State Senior quarterback Devin Kimbrough. He was named to the honorable mention team last season. The Senators also return Senior athlete Hunter Gibson. He was named to the first team. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.
Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.