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2024 Team Previews
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| Tuscaloosa Academy Knights |
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Head Coach: Josh Wright (fourth season) Career Record: 16 seasons, (158-48) At Tuscaloosa Academy: 3 seasons, (27-11) Stadium: Knights Stadium 2024 Enrollment: 153 Rank: 318th in the AHSAA, 46th in Class 2A |
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Overall Record: 229-238-3 (49.0%) Last 25 years: 148-124 (54.0%) (Rank: 160th in the AHSAA, 19th in Class 2A) Since 2010: 102-55 (65.0%) (Rank: 74th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 2A) Last Playoff Appearance: 2023 Last Region Championship: 2023 Last Winning Season: 2023 Last Losing Season: 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 2A
Region: 5
Record: 10-3 Region Record: 5-1, (first) Playoff Record: Quarter-finals loss to Pisgah by a score of 36-29. Final ASWA Poll: 8th Scoring: 482 (37.1) Defense: 256 (19.7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 2A
Region: 5
Strength of Schedule: 73-44 (62%) (28th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 2A) Region Strength: 38-28 (58%) Non-Region Strength: 35-16 (69%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tuscaloosa Academy completed the 2023 season with a 10-3 record. Last year Tuscaloosa Academy captured the region five title and a number one seed in the Class 2A playoffs. They finished region play with a 5-1 record. Tuscaloosa Academy lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Pisgah team by a score of 36-29. Since 2010, Tuscaloosa Academy has gone a combined 102-55. Their 65.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 2A over the past fourteen seasons. Over the past 25 seasons, Tuscaloosa Academy has managed to compile a record of 148-124. Their 54.0% winning percentage ranks 19th in Class 2A and 160th in the AHSAA. Graduated All-State Players: Tuscaloosa Academy lost 2A All-State receiver Mills Powell to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating was teammate defensive lineman Sam Garner. Head Coach: The Knights are led by head coach Josh Wright who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 27-11 over the past three seasons at Tuscaloosa Academy. Under his direction the Knights have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times. They have won two region crowns with Coach Wright. His 158 wins rank 31st among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Wright's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of fifteen times and won ten region championships. He has a 31-11 record in the playoffs during his career. The playoff victories rank with the best among active coaches. Coach Wright won four state championships prior to arriving at Tuscaloosa Academy, the last coming in 2019 at Bessemer Academy. Season Outlook: The Tuscaloosa Academy Knights will play in Class 2A region five during the 2024 season. The Knights have one of the toughest overall schedules in Class 2A. Their opponents had a combined record of 73-44 last season. That ranks 2nd in Class 2A and 28th in the AHSAA. Tuscaloosa Academy will face six opponents that reached the playoffs last season. The Knights enter the 2024 season riding a 5 game regular season winning streak. They have won 6 straight games on their home turf at Knights Stadium. Get ready 2A. Here come the Knights. They did not really sneak up on anyone last year but this will be a veteran squad put on the field this season by Coach Wright in Tuscaloosa. Lancaster is back at quarterback along with two very good receivers. The defense will be solid. The Knights did lose two good receivers in Mills Powell and James Stanard but have capable replacements in Hamiter and Colgrove. The schedule is brutal to say the least. The Knights open with 4A American Christian and close with Coosa Christian and Bayside Academy. The Knights face eight teams that finished last year with a winning record. Only Green County lost more games than they won in 2023. The Knights will also see the same eight opponents who qualified for the playoffs last year. The Knights enter the season with expectations of not only a region crown but will be contending for a trip to the state championship game. They are considered one the favorites in region five and could very well be representing the North in the Class 2A title game. Players to Watch in 2024: QB Preston Lancaster will be returning for his senior season. Lancaster is a talent, completing 254-of-365 passes for 3,941 yards and 46 TD's in 2023. WR Ellis Hamiter will be returning for his senior season after catching 64 passes for 882 yards and 6 touchdowns. WR Kaleb Colgrove will be returning for his senior season after catching 36 passes for 500 yards and 8 touchdowns. LB Ford Beeker collected 181 tackles (124 solo) including 4 sacks and will be back for his senior season. LB Hudson Powell had 95 tackles (62 solo) and will also be back for his senior season. Returning Starters: TE/LB Hunter Burrelson, QB/S Mark Norris, LB/RB Ford Beeker, SS/RB Hudson Powell, RB/SS Mason Corder, LB/RB Harwood Beeker, WR/CB Mills Turnipseed, WR/SS Matthew Atkins, Kicker Simon Mitrev Season Opener: The Knights open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent American Christian on Friday, August 23 at Knights Stadium. Last year the American Christian Patriots finished with an overall record of 8-3 and in second place in Class 4A region three. The Patriots lost in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs to B.T. Washington by a score of 22-12. Tuscaloosa Academy and American Christian have met a total of 7 times on the football field. The Knights have a 4-3-0 record against the Patriots. They last met in 2023 with American Christian winning by a score of 33-20. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
