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





The Greatest Games


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         Over the past 100 years, there have been over 150,000 high school football games played in the state of Alabama. While doing the research to find the scores of these games it often seems that scores just turn into numbers without meaning. Lost is the fact that players, coaches and fans were involved in each of the contests.

         Many of these games were memorable and exciting with dramatic endings and surprising results. These are the games that have been lost among the thousands of scores. It is our goal to bring back the memories of the greatest games ever played in Alabama.

          While most are games that ended with a spectacular comeback or a remarkable play, some are more memorable for other reasons. Among our list of games are overtimes, strange rules that came into play, court rulings that changed the outcome of a game and star players.

          Our list begins with a top ten of the most memorable games. These are the contests that define high school football in the state. The remaining games will be more familiar to the fans of those teams.

          It is our goal to preserve the memories of the greatest games ever played. The list will never be completed as more games are researched and brought to our attention. If you know of an unbelievable game, let me know and we can add it to our list.


The Memorable Games Top Ten
Year Teams Summary
1929 Tuscaloosa vs. University City, MO A cross country game for bragging rights.
1966 Lanier vs. Lee The first playoff state championship game.
1968 Carver vs. Cullman A game to break the color barrier.
1974 Banks vs. Woodlawn The most spectators in high school history.
1982 Berry vs. Enterprise A championship game tie?
1984 Phil Campbell vs. Cordova A supreme court ruling almost decides a game.
1991 Etowah vs. Oxford Six overtimes and a 69-63 score in a playoff game.
1992 Central Tuscaloosa vs. Lee The fumble that prevented a national championship.
2000 Homewood vs. Benjamin Russell A five overtime championship game.
2008 Houston County vs. Cottonwood Largest comeback in high school football history.
     
Other Memorable Games
1921 Aliceville vs. Buhl Aliceville wins 105-0.
1922 Sidney Lanier vs. Walker County The first game that decided state championship.
1926 Tuscaloosa vs. Senn A national championship game.
1958 Winston County vs. Cherokee The sad side of a football game.
1967 Russellville vs. Colbert County The title game determined by a punt returner.
1971 Tarrant vs. W.S. Neal Battle of stars in the championship game.
1971 Marion County vs. Addison A 15-year old is the hero in the state title game.
 
1972 Banks vs. Davidson The penetration rule.
1972 Mountain Brook vs. Tuscaloosa A huge homecoming upset.
1974 Lauderdale County vs. Crossville One of the first overtime games.
1975 Mountain Brook vs. Dothan Shealy and Ogilvie battle for a championship.
1978 Plainview vs. Bridgeport A first round playoff classic.
1979 Oneonta vs. Vinemont A safety decides a game.
1979 Murphy vs. Theodore A seven overtime game to decide a winner.
 
1980 Gordo vs. Southern Choctaw A comeback for a title.
1980 Vestavia Hills vs. Parker An all-Birmingham championship game.
1983 Brantley vs. Millport A downpour prevents teams from scoring, almost.
1984 T.R. Miller vs. Cherokee County A comeback for a championship.
1984 Millport vs. Reeltown Consecutive Championships for the Junior Tide.
1984 Hillcrest vs. Fayette County An unlikely upset victory.
1985 Sheffield vs. Deshler Two dramatic games in one season.
 
1986 Fairhope vs. Foley An errant fumble lead to a loss.
1987 Greenville vs. Russellville A championship game overtime win.
1988 Pike County vs. Tarrant Steven Coleman & Fred Baxter.
1988 Hazlewood vs. Cordova A blocked punt leads to a state title.
1990 Blount vs. Homewood A battle of great tailbacks.
1991 Cherokee County vs. North Jackson A last second win.
 
1992 Bob Jones vs. Huntsville A thirteen point comeback.
1994 Colbert County vs. Piedmont 35-34 comeback win.
1994 Fort Payne vs. Oxford Two blocked punts for a victory.
1995 Clay County vs. Hazlewood Two teams struggle in the rain to win a title.
1996 Scottsboro vs. Fort Payne A comeback from 28-0 deficit.
1996 Lynn vs. Addison Eighteen years of frustration ended.
1997 Tuscaloosa County vs. Jess Lanier A semi-final playoff rematch victory.
 
1998 Parrish vs. American Christian 33 unanswered points.
1998 Vigor vs. Tuscaloosa County A semi-final comeback victory.
1998 Etowah vs. Gadsden Semi-final overtime win.
1999 Murphy vs. McGill A huge rivalry comeback win.
2001 Mortimer Jordan vs. Pleasant Grove A fourth down surprise.
2003 St. Paul's vs. UMS-Wright A rivalry game for the ages.
2004 Oakman vs. Cold Springs 28 points in six minutes.
 
2005 Foley vs. McGill-Toolen Dramatic fourth quarter comeback.
2011 Prattville vs. Hoover A failed two-point play decides championship.
     





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