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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Huntsville Panthers

Head Coach: Mark Fleetwood (seventh season)
Career Record: 6 seasons, (25-37)
At Huntsville: 6 seasons, (25-37)
Stadium: Milton Frank Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  1,403
Rank:  15th in the AHSAA, 16th in Class 7A

 History 
Overall Record:   549-466-33   (54.0%)
Last 25 years:   134-137   (49.0%)  (Rank: 194th in the AHSAA, 20th in Class 7A)
Since 2010:   58-80  (42.0%)  (Rank: 259th in the AHSAA, 24th in Class 7A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2008
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2021

 2022 
Class:  7A              Region:   4
Record:  6-5
Region Record:   4-3, (third)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Thompson by a score of 34-0.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  308 (28.0)
Defense:  247 (22.5)


 2023 
Class: 7A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 42-63 (40%) (373rd in the AHSAA, 33rd in Class 7A)
Region Strength:  33-40 (45%)
Non-Region Strength:  9-23 (28%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19   OPEN 
 8/26  vs. Oxford  (6A)   20-35   L  
 9/2  @ Grissom  (7A)  *  27-7   W  
 9/9  vs. James Clemens  (7A)  *  23-27   L  
 9/15  @ Bob Jones  (7A)  *  28-24   W  
 9/23  vs. Mae Jemison  (6A)   54-0   W  
 9/30  @ Albertville  (7A)  *  34-7   W  
 10/7  @ Florence  (7A)  *  7-27   L  
 10/13  vs. Sparkman  (7A)  *  14-55   L  
 10/21  @ Austin  (7A)  *  38-24   W  
 10/28  @ Hazel Green  (6A)   63-7   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  @ Thompson    0-34   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25   OPEN 
 9/1  @ Oxford  (6A)       
 9/8  vs. Grissom  (7A)  *      
 9/15  @ James Clemens  (7A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Bob Jones  (7A)  *      
 9/28  @ Mae Jemison  (6A)       
 10/5  vs. Albertville  (7A)  *      
 10/13  vs. Florence  (7A)  *      
 10/20  @ Sparkman  (7A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Austin  (7A)  *      
 11/2  vs. Hazel Green  (6A)       


Class  7A Region  4
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Austin (7A) 7-4 6-1270-277
Florence (7A) 8-3 6-1329-226
Huntsville (7A) 6-5 4-3308-247
Bob Jones (7A) 5-6 4-3335-302
James Clemens (7A) 4-6 4-3317-300
Sparkman (7A) 5-5 3-4383-188
Grissom (7A) 3-7 1-6125-322
Albertville (7A) 1-9 0-7110-417

 2023 Preview 


       Huntsville completed the 2022 season with a 6-5 record. With their 4-3 region record and a third place finish in Class 7A region four, the Panthers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Huntsville's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Thompson by a score of 34-0.

       It marked the first time since the 2017 season that the Panthers qualified for the playoffs.

       Since 2010, Huntsville has gone a combined 58-80. Their 42.0% winning percentage ranks 24th in Class 7A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Huntsville has managed to compile a record of 134-137. Their 49.0% winning percentage ranks 20th in Class 7A and 194th in the AHSAA.




       The Panthers are led by head coach Mark Fleetwood who is entering his seventh season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 25-37 over the past six seasons at Huntsville. Under his direction the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Fleetwood.

       Look for the Panthers to be improved over their 6-5 record of last season. They could be the surprise team in 7A.

       The Panthers should be in contention for a playoff spot in region four this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage.

      QB Jacks McClung will be returning after completing 145 of 233 passes for 1,676 yards last season along with 16 touchdowns.

      Carlin Long will be back this season at running back after rushing for 1,425 yards and 15 TDs in 2022.

      Receiver Huck Hensley will return after grabbing 42 passes good for 570 yards and 7 TDs as a junior last season.

       The Panthers open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Oxford on Friday, September 1 at Lamar Field. Last year the Oxford Yellow Jackets finished with an overall record of 5-6 and in fourth place in Class 6A region six. The Yellow Jackets lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Gardendale by a score of 31-14.

       Huntsville and Oxford have met a total of 6 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 0-6-0 record against the Yellow Jackets. They last met in 2022 with Oxford winning by a score of 35-20.

       Huntsville lost 7A All-State  linebacker Malik Woods to graduation. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

       The Panthers return 7A All-State Senior receiver Huck Hensley. He was named to the second team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Bart Starr received coaching from Kentucky great Babe Parilli his senior season at Sidney Lanier in hopes of joining Bear Bryant at Kentucky. He had to settle for Alabama.