News

We now have 836 teams &  
192,249 games on AHSFHS.org.





Search Site

AHSFHS Article Series


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





2023 Football Preseason Preview


     Share on Facebook         
      




 
 
2023   Class 5A Top Ten
Top Ten
1. Ramsay (13-2)6. Moody (10-2)
2. Charles Henderson (12-2) 7. Demopolis (10-2)
3. Faith Academy (11-3) 8. Beauregard (10-2)
4. Pleasant Grove (11-2) 9. UMS-Wright (12-1)
5. Leeds (11-1) 10. Central Clay County (9-3)
    
 
 2023 Predictions 
 
      Make no mistake, the Ramsay Rams are loaded in 2023. Junior QB Kameron Keenan will be returning along with Ashton Ashford in the backfield. The duo accounted for over 3,700 yards of offense in 2022 and will be back this fall.

      Charles Henderson will also return an excellent signal caller in Parker Adams. The Trojans snuck up on their opponents last year. That will not happen in 2023. Somehow I think Coach Hambrite will have his troops ready for another run at a state championship.

      Faith Academy returns QB Jarrett Daughtry who threw for over 2,300 yards and 21 TDs last year. The Rams also have receiver Tynean Goodwill back for another season in 2023. Edwin King will lead the defense.

      Will this be the year of the Spartans? Can Pleasant Grove finally win that elusive state title? The Spartans have won 47 games over the past four seasons but lost to the eventual state champions in the playoffs each season.

      Leeds will be loaded on defense. If it is true that defense wins championships then look for the Greenwave to be in Tuscaloosa in December. Kavion Henderson and Chris Burge will lead one of the best defenses in the state this fall.

      Other contenders for a title will be Moody, Central Clay County, and UMS-Wright. Look for a surprise team or two from the likes of Boaz, Fairview and Russellville.
     
      The competitive balance rules set up by the AHSAA may slow down the championship runs for UMS-Wright but make no mistake the Bulldogs will still be competitive.

      Class 5A may be the most competitive classification across the board. Region one has three teams capable of making reservations for Tuscaloosa in December. Look for Williamson and Vigor to be much improved this season too. Region six will be fun to watch as the season unfolds. Beyond that the competition seems to be fairly even around the state.

 
Playoff Teams
Region 1 Region 2
Faith Academy Charles Henderson
UMS-Wright Eufaula
Gulf Shores Headland
Vigor Carroll
   
Region 3 Region 4
Demopolis Central Clay County
Selma Beauregard
Marbury Tallassee
Jemison Elmore County
   
Region 5 Region 6
Ramsay Leeds
Pleasant Grove Moody
Jasper Southside Gadsden
Hayden Alexandria
   
Region 7 Region 8
Guntersville Russellville
Boaz Fairview
Scottsboro East Limestone
Arab Brewer
   


 Most Difficult Schedules 2023
 
   The most difficult schedule in any classification belongs to Sylacauga. The Aggies play Moody (10-2), Trinity (9-3), Leeds (11-1) and Piedmont (12-3) as non-region opponents. They play eight teams that reached the playoffs in 2022. The Aggies finished last year 0-10 and any improvement will be hard to come by for first year coach Chris Smelley.

    The easiest overall schedules in 5A belong to rivals Moody (32%) and Leeds (36%).
Toughest Overall
Sylacauga 82 35
Scottsboro 74 39
Elberta 69 46
Charles Henderson 67 46
LeFlore 59 42
Citronelle 66 48
Carroll 65 48
Valley 65 48
Fairfield 63 47
Rehobeth 64 49
Toughest Non-Region
Elberta 19 6
Sylacauga 45 15
Charles Henderson 44 17
Ramsay 27 11
Scottsboro 40 17
UMS-Wright 17 8
Russellville 30 15
Fairfield 21 11
Jasper 22 12
LeFlore 7 4

 
 Most Victories 2010-2022
 
   UMS-Wright has won twenty-nine more games over the past dozen seasons than any other 5A school. Only five other teams in any classification have won more games than the Bulldogs during that time.
Titles
    UMS-Wright     144-31     82.3%   3
    Central Clay County     105-34     75.5%   2
    Guntersville     107-40     72.8%  
    Demopolis     111-44     71.6%  
    Pleasant Grove     113-49     69.8%  
    Leeds     115-50     69.7%   3
    Beauregard     103-46     69.1%   1
    Ramsay     93-43     68.4%   1
    Russellville     102-49     67.5%   1
    Eufaula     99-49     66.9%  
    Alexandria     95-49     66.0%  
    Vigor     100-56     64.1%  
    Tallassee     90-54     62.5%  
    Sylacauga     88-53     62.4%  


 
 Last 25 seasons (1998-2022) 
 
    The UMS-Wright Bulldogs have the third most wins in any classification with 276. Russellville with 236 victories over the past twenty-five seasons is the most for any team not winning a state championship during that time. The Demopolis Tigers are one of only four teams that have not had a losing season since 1998.
Titles
  UMS-Wright 276-64 81% 8
  Central Clay County 105-34 76% 2
  Russellville 236-77 75%  
  Demopolis 230-75 75% 2
  Alexandria 203-79 72%
  Eufaula 207-84 71%
  Guntersville 193-92 68% 1
  Ramsay 93-43 68% 2
  Vigor 201-100 67% 2
  Pleasant Grove 200-100 67%
  Jasper 182-97 65%
  Leeds 194-113 63% 4
  Charles Henderson 167-112 60%
  Beauregard 160-114 58% 1
  Tallassee 160-116 58%
  East Limestone 153-121 56%
  Sylacauga 149-119 56%




David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org





Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.