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2023 Football Preseason Preview


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2023   Class 1A  Top Ten
1. Leroy (12-2) 6. Pickens County (11-4)
2. Elba (11-1) 7. Meek (11-1)
3. Lynn (11-2)8. Linden (9-2)
4. Millry (12-2) 9. Coosa Christian (9-5)
5. Brantley (10-3) 10. Loachapoka (9-2)
    
 
  2023 Predictions
 
      Class 1A is always the most difficult to predict. One player here and there can make a huge difference in how a team will perform throughout the season and the playoffs.  

      The favorite right now in 1A is Leroy. The Bears captured their sixth state championship and the first since 2010 last season with a 42-20 victory over Pickens County. The Bears return QB Brayden Huebner who rushed for 270 yards in the title game and will be back in 2023. Leroy also returns RB Malik Howell for his senior season after he rushed for 889 yards and 8 TDs. WR Taylor will be lined up again after catching 35 passes for 771 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Bears will need to replace a ton of talent on defense to make a return trip to Tuscaloosa but they will have the skilled players on offense to compete.

      Elba returns their dynamic running back Alvin Henderson who rushed for 2,636 yards and 47 TDs in 2022. Lynn QB Cale Title returns after putting up over 3,000 yards of total offense last year. The Lynn Bears also have a top running back and receiver returning in 2023.

      Millry will be fighting it out with not only Leroy in region one but will be competing for a shot at their first state title. They will need to find a replacement for QB Daylon Edmunds who transferred to Gulf Shores.

      Brantley will have QB Jayden Parks back for his junior season. Pickens County lost a lot of talent on both sides of the football but as always do not count them out in 2023.

      The surprise team last season had to be Meek. The Tigers ran through the regular season before losing to Pickens County in the playoffs. The teams you will want to keep an eye on in 2023 include: Appalachian, Billingsley, Florala, Hackleburg, Marion County, Ragland and Wadley.

      There will be plenty of excitement in 1A as the teams progress through the season.

 
Playoff Teams
Region 1Region 2
Leroy Elba
Millry Brantley
McIntosh Florala
Southern Choctaw Georgiana
    
Region 3 Region 4
Sweet Water Maplesville
Linden Loachapoka
Keith Autaugaville
Marengo Verbena
   
Region 5 Region 6
Pickens County Ragland
Lynn Spring Garden
Marion County Wadley
South Lamar Winterboro
   
Region 7 Region 8
Coosa Christian Meek
Appalachian Hackleburg
Valley Head Addison
Decatur Heritage Phillips Bear Creek
   

 Most Difficult Schedules 2023
 
   The Coosa Christian Conquerors have the most difficult schedule in 1A this season. They start the season against 3A Geraldine (9-4) and Spring Garden (10-2). They also host Heritage Academy MS (10-2) midseason and that is not including a very difficult region slate.

    Pickens County plays Aliceville and Gordo as their two non-region contests this season. Both are quality opponents.
Toughest Overall
Coosa Christian 61 49
Southern Choctaw 61 47
Ragland 59 49
Appalachian 59 51
Billingsley 56 49
Pickens County 59 54
Brantley 56 52
Holy Spirit 60 55
Brilliant 58 53
Houston County 50 46
Toughest Non-Region
Pickens County 22 4
Brantley 18 7
Ragland 32 13
Coosa Christian 33 14
Maplesville 22 11
Linden 16 8
Southern Choctaw 27 16
Billingsley 20 12
Appalachian 27 16
Holy Spirit 13 10

 
 Most Victories 2010-2022
 
   Maplesville has been the most consistent winner in 1A over the past thirteen years piling up 150 victories along with three state championships. It seems the usual suspects are on this list but it is changing with a few different schools coming onto the horizon lately that may be creeping toward the top over the next few seasons.
Titles
  Maplesville     150-21     87.7%   3
  Brantley     134-32     80.7%   1
  Elba     128-33     79.5%   2
  Linden     130-35     78.8%   1
  Pickens County     135-44     75.4%   1
  Sweet Water     125-41     75.3%   3
  Addison     109-43     71.7%  
  Spring Garden     105-48     68.6%  
  Hubbertville     100-50     66.7%  
  Leroy     106-56     65.4%   2
  Ragland     97-52     65.1%  
  Hackleburg     95-53     64.2%  
  Cedar Bluff     94-56     62.7%  
  Decatur Heritage Christian     91-55     62.3%  
  Wadley     91-56     61.9%  


 
 Last 25 seasons (1998-2022) 
 
    The usual suspects top our 1A list with Brantley leading Maplesville and Sweet Water. Those three schools have won 13 of the last 25 state championships. Only three teams have won more games in any classification than Brantley.
Titles
  Brantley 270-56 83% 3
  Maplesville 254-64 80% 3
  Sweet Water 234-81 74% 7
  Linden 224-77 74% 1
  Addison 216-78 74% 1
  Leroy 233-89 72% 2
  Pickens County 225-94 70% 1
  Wadley 203-92 69%
  Cedar Bluff 195-102 66%
  Ragland 188-98 66%
  Elba 189-101 65% 2
  Decatur Heritage Christian 91-55 62%
  Southern Choctaw 173-110 61% 3
  Millry 170-113 60%
  Hackleburg 166-113 60%
  Loachapoka 162-116 58%
  Lynn 153-122 56%
  Marion County 151-124 55% 1




David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org





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Murphy and Theodore battled through seven overtimes before the Panthers came out on top 33-26 in 1979.