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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Austin Black Bears

Head Coach: Jeremy Perkins (fifteenth season)
Career Record: 14 seasons, (98-60)
At Austin: 14 seasons, (98-60)
Stadium: Austin Football Field
2024 Enrollment:  1,136
Rank:  29th in the AHSAA, 29th in Class 7A

 History 
Overall Record:   315-324-5   (49.0%)
Last 25 years:   149-125   (54.0%)  (Rank: 164th in the AHSAA, 20th in Class 7A)
Since 2010:   98-60  (62.0%)  (Rank: 98th in the AHSAA, 10th in Class 7A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2022
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2021

 2023 
Class:  7A              Region:   4
Record:  8-3
Region Record:   5-2, (second)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Vestavia Hills by a score of 38-17.
Final ASWA Poll:   10th
Scoring:  377 (34.3)
Defense:  180 (16.4)


 2024 
Class: 7A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 53-54 (50%) (197th in the AHSAA, 24th in Class 7A)
Region Strength:  30-43 (41%)
Non-Region Strength:  23-11 (68%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  vs. Hartselle  (6A)   28-17   W  
 9/1  @ Decatur  (6A)   35-3   W  
 9/8  @ Sparkman  (7A)  *  18-21   L  
 9/15  vs. Florence  (7A)  *  7-20   L  
 9/22  vs. Albertville  (7A)  *  56-13   W  
 9/29  @ Gardendale  (6A)   38-7   W  
 10/6  @ Grissom  (7A)  *  49-7   W  
 10/13  vs. James Clemens  (7A)  *  28-7   W  
 10/20  vs. Bob Jones  (7A)  *  49-22   W  
 10/27  @ Huntsville  (7A)  *  52-25   W  
 11/3   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/10  vs. Vestavia Hills    17-38   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Hartselle  (6A)       
 8/30  vs. Decatur  (6A)       
 9/6  vs. Sparkman  (7A)  *      
 9/13   OPEN 
 9/20  @ Albertville  (7A)  *      
 9/27  @ Florence  (7A)  *      
 10/4  vs. Huntsville  (7A)  *      
 10/11  @ Bob Jones  (7A)  *      
 10/18  @ James Clemens  (7A)  *      
 10/25  vs. Grissom  (7A)  *      
 10/31  vs. Muscle Shoals  (6A)       
 11/8  vs. Enterprise        


Class  7A Region  4
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
James Clemens (7A) 7-4 6-1313-257
Austin (7A) 8-3 5-2377-180
Bob Jones (7A) 5-6 5-2300-352
Florence (7A) 6-5 5-2200-183
Sparkman (7A) 5-5 3-4321-199
Huntsville (7A) 5-5 3-4333-277
Grissom (7A) 2-8 1-6111-301
Albertville (7A) 0-10 0-791-439

 2024 Preview 


       Austin completed the 2023 season with a 8-3 record. With their 5-2 region record and a second place finish in Class 7A region four, the Black Bears earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Austin's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Vestavia Hills by a score of 38-17.

       Since 2010, Austin has gone a combined 98-60. Their 62.0% winning percentage ranks 10th in Class 7A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Austin has managed to compile a record of 149-125. Their 54.0% winning percentage ranks 20th in Class 7A and 164th in the AHSAA.

Head Coach:
       The Black Bears are led by head coach Jeremy Perkins who is entering his fifteenth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 98-60 over the past fourteen seasons at Austin. Under his direction the Black Bears have qualified for the playoffs a total of ten times. They have won four region crowns with Coach Perkins.

       If Austin can win two games this season, Coach Perkins will reach the 100 win milestone.

Season Outlook:

       The Austin Black Bears will play in Class 7A region four during the 2024 season.

      

       The Black Bears enter the 2024 season riding a 6 game regular season winning streak.

       The Black Bears have reached the playoffs eight of the past nine seasons and this year should be no different. Region four remains the same as the past two years where Austin finished either first or second both seasons. Look for them to be at or near the top again when November rolls around.

       They return five starters on offense plus the kicker but just three return form last season's defense. Coach Perkins will start a new group of players on defense but has players he believes can fill the void left by graduation.

       Coach Perkins told us ''We return a lot of production in the skill positions offensively with some size on the offensive line, but will be inexperienced defensively. This team has a lot of potential and will improve tremendously as we gain experience and find our identity.''

    The Black Bears are considered one of the favorites for the region four championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      JL Davis will return at QB for the Black Bears in 2024 after completing 53-of-100 passes for 1,020 yards last season. Jaxon Potter will be back after catching 31 passes for 584 yards last year.

      Running back Gavin Fuqua rushed for 1,188 yards and 18 touchdowns last year and will also return to the starting lineup in 2024.

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: William Orr-OL, Josiah Flood-OL, Jaxon Potter-WR, Kenneth Joshua-WR, JL Davis-QB, Hayden Wynn-Kicker
DEFENSE: Cortavious Mason-DE, Caleb Caudle-Safety, Reco Willingham-DL
NEWCOMERS: Ethan Brooks-FB, Jacobi Phillips-OL, Xavier Yelder-OL, Nathan Gray-OLB, Jamarri Vinson-OLB, Mark Green-ILB, DJ Orr-ILB, Landon Buttleman-CB

Season Opener:
       The Black Bears open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Hartselle on Friday, August 23 at J.P. Cain Stadium. Last year the Hartselle Tigers finished with an overall record of 9-3 and in second place in Class 6A region seven. The Tigers lost in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs to Gadsden City by a score of 22-15.

       Austin and Hartselle have met a total of 58 times on the football field. The Black Bears have a 25-32-1 record against the Tigers. They last met in 2023 with Austin winning by a score of 28-17.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

In 1970 Monroe Academy won the first championship in the A.I.S.A. by defeating Lowndes Academy 6-0.