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






2022 Team Previews 

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Ariton Purple Cats

Head Coach: Steven Kilcrease (seventh season)
Career Record: 11 seasons, (92-38)
At Ariton: 6 seasons, (50-22)
Stadium: Robert F. Zumstien Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  206
Rank:  275th in the AHSAA, 11th in Class 2A

 History 
Overall Record:   350-277-1   (56.0%)
Last 25 years:   145-131   (52.0%)  (Rank: 167th in the AHSAA, 17th in Class 2A)
Since 2010:   67-66  (50.4%)  (Rank: 190th in the AHSAA, 28th in Class 2A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2021
Last Region Championship:   2019
Last Winning Season:   2021
Last Losing Season:   2020

 2021 
Class:  2A              Region:   2
Record:  10-2
Region Record:   6-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Clarke County by a score of 27-20.
Final ASWA Poll:   6th
Scoring:  486 (40.5)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense:  200 (16.7)


 2022 
Class: 2A              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 54-53 (50%) (195th in the AHSAA, 26th in Class 2A)
Region Strength:  35-37 (49%)
Non-Region Strength:  19-16 (54%)

Players to Watch
      Jordan Smith,  RB
      Ian Senn,  QB


 2021 Results 
 8/20  @ Dale County  (4A)   38-27   W  
 8/27  vs. Goshen  (3A)   49-0   W  
 9/3  @ Houston County  (2A)  *  49-0   W  
 9/10  vs. Geneva County  (2A)  *  42-0   W  
 9/17  vs. G.W. Long  (2A)  *  27-21   W  
 9/24  vs. Slocomb  (3A)   38-28   W  
 10/1  @ Abbeville  (2A)  *  49-6   W  
 10/8  @ Zion Chapel  (2A)  *  42-6   W  
 10/15  @ Elba  (2A)  *  25-41   L  
 10/22  vs. Cottonwood  (2A)  *  59-24   W  
 10/29   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/5  vs. LaFayette    48-20   W  
 11/12  @ Clarke County    20-27   L  

 2022 Schedule 
 8/19  vs. Dale County  (4A)       
 8/26  @ Highland Home  (2A)       
 9/2  @ Geneva County  (2A)  *      
 9/9  vs. G.W. Long  (2A)  *      
 9/16  vs. Zion Chapel  (2A)  *      
 9/23  @ Straughn  (3A)       
 9/30  vs. Cottonwood  (2A)  *      
 10/7  vs. Abbeville  (2A)  *      
 10/14  @ Wicksburg  (2A)  *      
 10/21  @ Samson  (2A)  *      
 10/28   OPEN 
 11/4  vs. Chickasaw        
 11/11  vs. Highland Home        


Class  2A Region  2
Team 2021 Record Scoring                            
Abbeville (2A) 2-7155-365
Ariton (2A) 10-2486-200
Cottonwood (2A) 5-5289-326
G.W. Long (2A) 8-2382-156
Geneva County (2A) 5-6279-323
Samson (1A) 7-4259-203
Wicksburg (3A) 7-4343-242
Zion Chapel (2A) 1-9181-403

 2022 Preview 


       Ariton completed the 2021 season with a 10-2 record. With their 6-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 2A region two, the Purple Cats earned a spot in the playoffs in 2021. Ariton reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Clarke County by a score of 27-20.

       The 486 points scored by the Purple Cats last year were a team record in a single season. The Purple Cats hope to continue the success they had last season. Coach Kilcrease saw improvement as they won ten games following a 5-6 record in 2020.

       The high-scoring Ariton offense ranked 18th in the AHSAA. They averaged 40.5 points a game.

       Since 2010, Ariton has gone a combined 67-66. Their 50.4% winning percentage ranks 28th in Class 2A over the past twelve seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Ariton has managed to compile a record of 145-131. Their 52.0% winning percentage ranks 17th in Class 2A and 167th in the AHSAA.




       The Purple Cats are led by head coach Steven Kilcrease who is entering his seventh season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 50-22 over the past six seasons at Ariton. Under his direction the Purple Cats have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times. They have won two region crowns with Coach Kilcrease.

       Coach Kilcrease's overall record as a head football coach in eleven season stands at 92-38 (70.8%). Over the course of his career, Coach Kilcrease's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of ten times and won three region championships. Coach Kilcrease won two state championships prior to arriving at Ariton, the last coming in 2009 at Pike Liberal Arts.

       If Ariton can win eight games this season, Coach Kilcrease will reach the 100 win milestone.

       The Ariton Purple Cats will play in Class 2A region two during the 2022 season.

       Ariton enters the 2022 season with a string of 8 consecutive wins on their home field at Robert F. Zumstien Stadium.

       The Purple Cats should be considered one of the favorites for the region two championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Purple Cats have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2014 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

       The Purple Cats open the 2022 season at home against non-region opponent Dale County on Friday, August 19 at Robert F. Zumstien Stadium. Last year the Dale County Warriors finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in fifth place in Class 4A region two.

       Ariton and Dale County have met a total of 9 times on the football field. The Purple Cats have a 3-6-0 record against the Warriors. They last met in 2021 with Ariton winning by a score of 38-27.

       Ariton returns 2A All-State Senior running back Jordan Smith. He was named to the second team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Robby James has won nine AISA State Championships during his career at Catherine Academy, Morgan Academy and Marengo Academy.