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The best of the best in Alabama High
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2024 Team Previews
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| Mars Hill Panthers |
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Head Coach: Darrell Higgins (ninth season) Career Record: 8 seasons, (78-26) At Mars Hill: 8 seasons, (78-26) Stadium: Mars Hill Stadium 2024 Enrollment: 177 Rank: 302nd in the AHSAA, 58th in Class 3A |
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Overall Record: 81-43 (65.0%) Last 25 years: 81-43 (65.0%) (Rank: 64th in the AHSAA, 10th in Class 3A) Since 2010: 81-43 (65.3%) (Rank: 80th in the AHSAA, 10th in Class 3A) Last Playoff Appearance: 2023 Last Region Championship: 2022 Last Winning Season: 2023 Last Losing Season: 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 3A
Region: 8
Record: 10-2 Region Record: 5-1, (second) Playoff Record: Second round loss to Madison Academy by a score of 21-14. Final ASWA Poll: 4th Scoring: 556 (46.3) Defense: 175 (14.6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 3A
Region: 7
Strength of Schedule: 66-46 (59%) (47th in the AHSAA, 8th in Class 3A) Region Strength: 35-39 (47%) Non-Region Strength: 31-7 (82%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mars Hill completed the 2023 season with a 10-2 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 3A region eight, the Panthers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Mars Hill reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Madison Academy by a score of 21-14. The high-scoring Mars Hill offense ranked 7th in the AHSAA. They averaged 46.3 points a game. The Panthers defense dominated most opponents as they ranked 35th in the AHSAA. The defense gave up just 14.6 points a game. Mars Hill is a relatively new football program having fielded a team only ten seasons. They have managed a record of 81-43 over the past ten years. Over the past 10 seasons, Mars Hill has managed to compile a record of 81-43. Their 65.0% winning percentage ranks 10th in Class 3A and 64th in the AHSAA. Graduated All-State Players: Mars Hill lost 3A All-State athlete Griffin Hanson to graduation. He was named to the second team last season. Head Coach: The Panthers are led by head coach Darrell Higgins who is entering his ninth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 78-26 over the past eight seasons at Mars Hill. Under his direction the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs a total of seven times. They have won five region crowns with Coach Higgins. Coach Higgins has won two state championships at Mars Hill, the last coming in 2020. Season Outlook: The Mars Hill Panthers will play in Class 3A region seven during the 2024 season. Following realignment, the Panthers remain in 3A but move from region eight over to region seven. The Panthers have one of the toughest overall schedules in Class 3A. Their opponents had a combined record of 66-46 last season. That ranks 8th in Class 3A and 47th in the AHSAA. The Panthers of Mars Hill have won at least ten games in each of the past six football seasons. They have won 19 playoff games and a couple of state championships along the way. Even as they moved up in classification from 1A to 3A the winning just continued. They did see their string of region titles come to an end at five as Lauderdale County took the championship last year. It should be a great season in Region 7 between those two schools as the fight for the right to bring home another region crown in 2024. Over those seven seasons the Mars Hill offense has averaged scoring over 44 points a game. William Mann is expected to get the call at starting quarterback to replace Griffin Hanson when the season opens. Cam Isbell and William Embry will lead the defense from their linebacker positions. The Panthers are considered one of the favorites for the region seven championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Panthers have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2016 and expect to be included again when November rolls around. Season Opener: The Panthers open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Madison Academy on Friday, August 23 at Bill Washington Stadium. Last year the Madison Academy Mustangs finished with an overall record of 14-1 and in first place in Class 3A region seven. The Mustangs lost in the Class 3A State Championship game last season when they were defeated by Mobile Christian. They final score was 55-28 in the Super Seven finals in Birmingham. Mars Hill and Madison Academy have met a total of 2 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 1-1-0 record against the Mustangs. They last met in 2023 with Madison Academy winning by a score of 21-14. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Spence McCracken won a record 21 Area/Region Championships at Montgomery Academy, Lee Montgomery and Opelika during his coaching career.
Spence McCracken won a record 21 Area/Region Championships at Montgomery Academy, Lee Montgomery and Opelika during his coaching career.
