News

We now have 832 teams &  
189,846 games on AHSFHS.org.


Search Site






AHSFHS Article Series


   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2023 Team Previews 

  


Fort Payne Wildcats

Head Coach: Chris Elmore (sixth season)
Career Record: 10 seasons, (64-44)
At Fort Payne: 5 seasons, (37-19)
Stadium: Wildcat Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  798
Rank:  61st in the AHSAA, 29th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   582-403-30   (59.0%)
Last 25 years:   173-101   (63.0%)  (Rank: 73rd in the AHSAA, 14th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   98-48  (67.1%)  (Rank: 62nd in the AHSAA, 15th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2019
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2016

 2022 
Class:  6A              Region:   8
Record:  8-3
Region Record:   4-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Decatur by a score of 31-8.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  296 (26.9)
Defense:  174 (15.8)


 2023 
Class: 6A              Region:   8
Strength of Schedule: 60-56 (52%) (152nd in the AHSAA, 28th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  17-37 (32%)
Non-Region Strength:  43-19 (69%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ Scottsboro  (5A)   20-6   W  
 8/26  vs. Etowah  (4A)   26-14   W  
 9/2  @ Mae Jemison  (6A)  *  49-8   W  
 9/9  vs. Gadsden City  (6A)  *  0-18   L  
 9/16   OPEN 
 9/23  @ Arab  (5A)   21-0   W  
 9/30  vs. Lee Huntsville  (6A)  *  56-12   W  
 10/7  vs. Hazel Green  (6A)  *  46-14   W  
 10/14  @ Buckhorn  (6A)  *  14-7   W  
 10/21  @ Athens  (6A)   21-48   L  
 10/28  vs. Cherokee County  (4A)   35-16   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Decatur    8-31   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. Scottsboro  (5A)       
 9/1  @ Etowah  (4A)       
 9/7  vs. Mae Jemison  (6A)  *      
 9/15  @ Gadsden City  (6A)  *      
 9/22   OPEN 
 9/29  vs. Arab  (5A)       
 10/6  @ Lee Huntsville  (6A)  *      
 10/13  @ Hazel Green  (6A)  *      
 10/20  vs. Buckhorn  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Athens  (6A)       
 11/3  @ Cherokee County  (4A)       
 11/10  vs. Mortimer Jordan        
 11/17  @ Muscle Shoals        


Class  6A Region  8
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Gadsden City (6A) 7-5 5-0317-289
Fort Payne (6A) 8-3 4-1296-174
Hazel Green (6A) 4-7 3-2230-426
Buckhorn (6A) 3-8 2-3284-385
Lee Huntsville (6A) 3-7 1-4205-352
Mae Jemison (6A) 0-10 0-5104-528

 2023 Preview 


       Fort Payne completed the 2022 season with a 8-3 record. With their 4-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 6A region eight, the Wildcats earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Fort Payne's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Decatur by a score of 31-8.

       Since 2010, Fort Payne has gone a combined 98-48. Their 67.1% winning percentage ranks 15th in Class 6A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Fort Payne has managed to compile a record of 173-101. Their 63.0% winning percentage ranks 14th in Class 6A and 73rd in the AHSAA. The Wildcats have been successful on the football field with twenty-one winning seasons during this time.




       The Wildcats are led by head coach Chris Elmore who is entering his sixth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 37-19 over the past five seasons at Fort Payne. Under his direction the Wildcats have qualified for the playoffs a total of five times. They have won two region crowns with Coach Chris. Over the course of his career, Coach Chris' teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of seven times and won two region championships.

       The Wildcats graduated 24 seniors from last years team but return eight players who played a lot last year on each side of the ball. With over one hundred players out for fall practice the numbers are there to continue their success. The majority of their offensive production will be back this season and the defense returns most of their key players especially in the back end. So look for the Wildcats to be more than just competitive.

       A very difficult non-region schedule will challenge the Wildcats but the players expect to win all those games. Junior Dax Varnadore is expected to start at quarterback for his junior season.

       The Wildcats are considered one of the favorites for the region eight championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2016 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

      Kaden Dubose will be back this season at running back after rushing for 917 yards and 8 TDs in 2022.

      Receiver Skyler Cody will return after grabbing 28 passes good for 551 yards and 5 TDs as a junior last season.

      Bennett Blakes will lead the defense this season after collecting 116 total tackles last season. Carter Tinker will also return to his LB position.

       The Wildcats open the 2023 season at home against non-region opponent Scottsboro on Friday, August 25 at Wildcat Stadium. Last year the Scottsboro Wildcats finished with an overall record of 7-5 and in second place in Class 5A region seven. The Wildcats lost in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs to Leeds by a score of 35-10.

       Fort Payne and Scottsboro have met a total of 89 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 54-32-3 record against the Wildcats. They last met in 2022 with Fort Payne winning by a score of 20-6.

      

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Etowah defeated Oxford 69-63 in 1991 to set a state record for most points scored by both teams in a playoff game.