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2024 Team Previews
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| Sylacauga Aggies |
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Head Coach: Chris Smelley (second season) Career Record: 8 seasons, (67-29) At Sylacauga: one season, (2-8) Stadium: Legion Stadium 2024 Enrollment: 517 Rank: 110th in the AHSAA, 21st in Class 5A |
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Overall Record: 605-431-40 (58.0%) Last 25 years: 139-126 (52.0%) (Rank: 159th in the AHSAA, 19th in Class 5A) Since 2010: 90-61 (59.6%) (Rank: 110th in the AHSAA, 17th in Class 5A) Last Playoff Appearance: 2021 Last Region Championship: 1999 Last Winning Season: 2021 Last Losing Season: 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 5A
Region: 4
Record: 2-8 Region Record: 1-4, (fifth) Playoff Record: Did not qualify. Final ASWA Poll: Not Ranked Scoring: 184 (18.4) Defense: 387 (38.7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 5A
Region: 4
Strength of Schedule: 61-47 (56%) (83rd in the AHSAA, 19th in Class 5A) Region Strength: 40-26 (61%) Non-Region Strength: 21-21 (50%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sylacauga finished the 2023 season with a disappointing 2-8 record. Last year Sylacauga just missed making the playoffs with a fifth place finish in Class 5A region four with a 1-4 region record. Sylacauga was inconsistent offensively last year and they need some improvement if the Aggies want to be competitive. They only averaged 18.4 points a game. Sylacauga struggled on the defensive side of the football last year. The defense found little success in stopping opposing offenses as they gave up an average of 38.7 points a game. The Aggies would prefer to forget the past two seasons as they have finished with a 2-18 record. Since 2010, Sylacauga has gone a combined 90-61. Their 59.6% winning percentage ranks 17th in Class 5A over the past fourteen seasons. Over the past 25 seasons, Sylacauga has managed to compile a record of 139-126. Their 52.0% winning percentage ranks 19th in Class 5A and 159th in the AHSAA. Head Coach: The Aggies are led by head coach Chris Smelley who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 2-8 record in his first season at Sylacauga. The Aggies saw improvement from a 0-10 record the season before coach Smelley arrived. The Aggies have yet to reach the playoffs under his direction. They have not won a region crown with Coach Smelley. Over the course of his career, Coach Smelley's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times and won three region championships. Season Outlook: The Sylacauga Aggies will play in Class 5A region four during the 2024 season. Sylacauga will face six opponents that reached the playoffs last season. The Aggies finished 2-8 last season making it two consecutive losing season for the first time since 2005. Don't look for the losing seasons to continue. Sylacauga played much better in the second half of 2023 and we think that trend will continue into 2024. A much easier non-region schedule this year will give the young Aggies confidence early in the season. Coach Smelley said ''The Aggies will be replacing key starters both on offense and defense. We will have a mix of young and old guys that are going to have key roles on offense and defense. QB CJ Franklin started some games as a sophomore, so he has some experience leading the team behind center. ''The skill positions are going to be young this year, but both OL and DL have guys that are experienced and have played a good bit of meaningful football. The running back group is senior Heavy with Rance Machen, Carmelo Kelley, and Jamaury Thomas, but Sophomore RB Zakoriean Chambliss will look to have a role in the backfield. Senior Gabe Harrell will lead a young receiver group.'' ''The offensive line will be lead by seniors Nathan Gordon, Trevan Kirksey, and Michael Funderburg. The defense will be young is some spots, but the defensive line will have the most experience Lead by seniors Anijae Russell and Brooks Turner. The Linebacker group is returning three starters in Lionel Chenau, Nolan Gordon, and KD Cannon, but will have some more depth with guys such as Tae Parker and Colton Patterson. The secondary is returning two starters in Quell Toney and Corbyn Patterson, but there are guys like Tre Wright, Kinsen Threatt, and Trent Welborn all have played minutes in their careers. Thank you for all that you do, I enjoy the AHSFHS more than you know!'' The Aggies could find themselves challenging for one of the playoff spots for region four this season with a few breaks and a little improvement. Sylacauga missed the playoffs the past couple of seasons but hope to return to the post season in 2024. Returning Starters: OFFENSE: Nathan Gordon-LG, Michael Funderburg-RG, Trevan Kirksey-RT, Gabe Harrell-WR, Rance Machen-RB, Nolan Gordan-TE, Logan Fisher-Hback DEFENSE: Anajae Russell-DL, Nolan Gordon-LB, Lionel Chenau-LB, KD Cannon-LB, Corbyn Patterson-DB. Quell Toney-DB, Ethan Pruitt-K NEWCOMERS: CJ Franklin-QB, Jamaury Thomas-WR/RB, Zakorien Chambliss- RB, Tre Wright-DB, Brooks Turner-DL, Erick O'Neal-WR Season Opener: The Aggies open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Central Coosa on Friday, August 23 at Central Stadium. Last year the Central Coosa Cougars finished with an overall record of 3-7 and in eighth place in Class 2A region four. The Cougars ended last season on a positive note with a win over Autaugaville by a score of 58-34 after failing to gain a playoff spot. Sylacauga and Central Coosa have met a total of 21 times on the football field. The Aggies have a 17-4-0 record against the Cougars. They last met in 2009 with Sylacauga winning by a score of 41-0. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
The Hazlewood Golden Bears have won 11 state titles. The most of any team in any classification since the playoffs began in 1966.
The Hazlewood Golden Bears have won 11 state titles. The most of any team in any classification since the playoffs began in 1966.
