2024 Team Previews
| |
Anniston Bulldogs |
|
Head Coach: Rico Jackson (second season) Career Record: 12 seasons, (64-63) At Anniston: one season, (6-4) Stadium: Lott/Mosby Memorial Stadium 2024 Enrollment: 384 Rank: 146th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 4A |
History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall Record: 601-404-27 (60.0%) Last 25 years: 134-135 (50.0%) (Rank: 197th in the AHSAA, 36th in Class 4A) Since 2010: 81-74 (52.3%) (Rank: 172nd in the AHSAA, 32nd in Class 4A) Last Playoff Appearance: 2023 Last Region Championship: 2022 Last Winning Season: 2023 Last Losing Season: 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class: 4A
Region: 4
Record: 6-4 Region Record: 4-2, (third) Playoff Record: First round loss to T.R. Miller by a score of 20-16. Final ASWA Poll: Not Ranked Scoring: 238 (23.8) Defense: 231 (23.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class: 4A
Region: 6
Strength of Schedule: 57-56 (50%) (195th in the AHSAA, 30th in Class 4A) Region Strength: 31-46 (40%) Non-Region Strength: 26-10 (72%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 Preview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anniston completed the 2023 season with a 6-4 record. With their 4-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 4A region four, the Bulldogs earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Anniston's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to T.R. Miller by a score of 20-16. The Bulldogs hope to get back closer to the 11-1 record in 2022. Since 2010, Anniston has gone a combined 81-74. Their 52.3% winning percentage ranks 32nd in Class 4A over the past fourteen seasons. Over the past 25 seasons, Anniston has managed to compile a record of 134-135. Their 50.0% winning percentage ranks 36th in Class 4A and 197th in the AHSAA. Graduated All-State Players: Anniston lost 4A All-State defensive back Jayden Lewis to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Head Coach: The Bulldogs are led by head coach Rico Jackson who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 6-4 record in his first season at Anniston. Under his direction the Bulldogs have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Jackson. Over the course of his career, Coach Jackson's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of four times and won one region championship. Season Outlook: The Anniston Bulldogs will play in Class 4A region six during the 2024 season. Following realignment, the Bulldogs remain in 4A but move from region four over to region six. The Bulldogs return seven players to the offense and six to the defense. So the nucleus of last year's team is still there with a solid backfield and two returning wide receivers. They should be fighting with Cherokee County and Oneonta for that top spot in region six. Anniston has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past six seasons and that trend should continue in 2024. Look for Anniston to be improved in 2024 and make another of their patented playoff runs come November. The Bulldogs return enough starters from last season to be very competitive in 4A. They also picked up a couple of transfers in RB Jabari Williams from Walter Wellborn and QB Jamorris Young from Saks. The Bulldogs should be in contention for a playoff spot in region six this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage. They have reached the playoffs every year since 2017 and will once again be in the hunt for a spot in 2024. Players to Watch in 2024: Jabari Williams rushed for 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns last season as a sophomore at Walter Wellborn and has transferred to Anniston this summer. QB Jamorris Young also transferred from Saks after completing 51-of-136 passes for 801 yards and 10 TDs last season. Returning Starters: OFFENSE: Damon Pope (Jr.)- QB; Andrew Nelson (Sr.)- Center; Sharontae Bailey (So.)- OL; Jamarco Rudolph Jr. (Jr.)- OL; Quintavious Cunningham (Jr.)- RB; Jakorie Carr (Jr.)- WR; Jaden Dobbins (Sr.)- WR DEFENSE: Khamar Holder (Sr.)- DE; Jalon McElderry (Sr.)- LB; Kevionte Johnson (Sr.)- LB; Dakyus Baker (Jr.)- Corner; Jaden Dobbins (Sr.)- Safety; Jaylne Henderson (Jr.)- DT Season Opener: The Bulldogs open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent Beauregard on Friday, August 30 at Lott/Mosby Memorial Stadium. Last year the Beauregard Hornets finished with an overall record of 6-5 and in fourth place in Class 5A region four. The Hornets lost in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs to Gulf Shores by a score of 48-7. Anniston and Beauregard have met a total of 3 times on the football field. The Bulldogs have a 2-1-0 record against the Hornets. They last met in 2005 with Anniston winning by a score of 40-12. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
The first night game played between high school teams in the state occurred on September 23, 1927 when Pike Road and Cloverdale met in the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.
The first night game played between high school teams in the state occurred on September 23, 1927 when Pike Road and Cloverdale met in the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.