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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Handley Tigers

Head Coach: Larry Strain (ninth season)
Career Record: 24 seasons, (169-116)
At Handley: 8 seasons, (67-30)
Stadium: Wright Field
2022 Enrollment:  368
Rank:  159th in the AHSAA, 14th in Class 4A

 History 
Overall Record:   567-452-28   (56.0%)
Last 25 years:   190-104   (65.0%)  (Rank: 64th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 4A)
Since 2010:   107-50  (68.2%)  (Rank: 60th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 4A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2018

 2022 
Class:  4A              Region:   4
Record:  11-2
Region Record:   5-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Catholic Montgomery by a score of 21-14.
Final ASWA Poll:   4th
Scoring:  472 (36.3)
Defense:  215 (16.5)


 2023 
Class: 4A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 60-53 (53%) (123rd in the AHSAA, 23rd in Class 4A)
Region Strength:  29-36 (45%)
Non-Region Strength:  31-17 (65%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  vs. Valley  (5A)   22-20   W  
 8/26  @ St. James  (3A)   48-35   W  
 9/2  @ Jacksonville  (4A)  *  54-41   W  
 9/9  vs. White Plains  (4A)  *  48-0   W  
 9/16  vs. Central Clay County  (5A)   26-15   W  
 9/23  @ Lanett  (2A)   37-0   W  
 9/30  @ Anniston  (4A)  *  7-32   L  
 10/7  vs. Talladega  (4A)  *  48-3   W  
 10/14  @ Cleburne County  (4A)  *  46-14   W  
 10/21  vs. Munford  (4A)  *  49-14   W  
 10/28   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. West Blocton    46-6   W  
 11/11  @ T.R. Miller    27-14   W  
 11/18  @ Catholic Montgomery    14-21   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  @ Valley  (5A)       
 9/1  vs. St. James  (3A)       
 9/8  vs. Jacksonville  (4A)  *      
 9/15  @ White Plains  (4A)  *      
 9/22  @ Central Clay County  (5A)       
 9/29  vs. Lanett  (2A)       
 10/6  vs. Anniston  (4A)  *      
 10/12  @ Talladega  (4A)  *      
 10/20  vs. Cleburne County  (4A)  *      
 10/27  @ Munford  (4A)  *      
 11/3   OPEN 
 11/10  vs. St. Michael        
 11/17  @ B.T. Washington        


Class  4A Region  4
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Anniston (4A) 11-1 6-0494-170
Handley (4A) 11-2 5-1472-215
Jacksonville (4A) 8-4 4-2436-276
Munford (4A) 6-5 3-3307-303
Cleburne County (4A) 2-8 2-4208-343
White Plains (4A) 2-8 1-5189-360
Talladega (4A) 0-10 0-6151-586

 2023 Preview 


       Handley completed the 2022 season with a 11-2 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 4A region four, the Tigers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Handley lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Catholic Montgomery team by a score of 21-14.

       Since 2010, Handley has gone a combined 107-50. Their 68.2% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 4A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Handley has managed to compile a record of 190-104. Their 65.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 4A and 64th in the AHSAA.




       The Tigers are led by head coach Larry Strain who is entering his ninth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 67-30 over the past eight seasons at Handley. Under his direction the Tigers have qualified for the playoffs a total of seven times. They have won three region crowns with Coach Strain. Coach Strain has won two state championships at Handley, the last coming in 2020. His 169 wins rank 25th among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Strain's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of nineteen times and won five region championships. He has a 31-17 record in the playoffs during his career. The playoff victories rank with the best among active coaches.

       Handley enters the 2023 season with a string of 9 consecutive wins on their home field at Wright Field.

       While most teams rebuild during the off season, Handley has been a consistent winner the past few years and will simply reload this season. The Tigers are considered one of the favorites for the region four championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

      Cannon Kyles will open the season at quarterback for the Tigers in 2023.

       The Tigers open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Valley on Friday, August 25 at Rams Field. Last year the Valley Rams finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in fifth place in Class 5A region four. The Rams closed out the regular season with a loss to Benjamin Russell by a score of 48-7.

       Handley and Valley have met a total of 39 times on the football field. The Tigers have a 10-29-0 record against the Rams. They last met in 2022 with Handley winning by a score of 22-20.

       Handley lost 4A All-State  running back Jamarius Haynes to graduation. He was named to the first team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The Hazlewood Golden Bears have won 11 state titles. The most of any team in any classification since the playoffs began in 1966.