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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Mars Hill Panthers

Head Coach: Darrell Higgins (eighth season)
Career Record: 7 seasons, (68-24)
At Mars Hill: 7 seasons, (68-24)
Stadium: Mars Hill Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  181
Rank:  299th in the AHSAA, 59th in Class 3A

 History 
Overall Record:   71-41   (63.0%)
Last 25 years:   71-41   (63.0%)  (Rank: 70th in the AHSAA, 12th in Class 3A)
Since 2010:   71-41  (63.4%)  (Rank: 87th in the AHSAA, 13th in Class 3A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2022
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2016

 2022 
Class:  3A              Region:   8
Record:  10-2
Region Record:   6-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Geraldine by a score of 17-14.
Final ASWA Poll:   1st
Scoring:  525 (43.8)
Defense:  130 (10.8)


 2023 
Class: 3A              Region:   8
Strength of Schedule: 55-55 (50%) (197th in the AHSAA, 29th in Class 3A)
Region Strength:  28-37 (43%)
Non-Region Strength:  27-18 (60%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  vs. Cullman  (6A)   10-13   L  
 8/26  @ Brooks  (4A)   64-35   W  
 9/2  @ Colbert Heights  (3A)  *  56-6   W  
 9/8  vs. Clements  (3A)  *  52-8   W  
 9/16  @ Elkmont  (3A)  *  69-8   W  
 9/23  @ Russellville  (5A)   31-30   W  
 9/30  vs. Colbert County  (3A)  *  35-0   W  
 10/7  vs. Phil Campbell  (3A)  *  56-0   W  
 10/14  @ Lauderdale County  (3A)  *  38-0   W  
 10/21   OPEN 
 10/28  vs. Linden  (1A)   38-6   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Danville    62-7   W  
 11/11  @ Geraldine    14-17   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/24  @ Cullman  (6A)       
 9/1  vs. Brooks  (4A)       
 9/8  vs. Colbert Heights  (3A)  *      
 9/15  @ Clements  (3A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Elkmont  (3A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Russellville  (5A)       
 10/6  @ Colbert County  (3A)  *      
 10/12  @ Phil Campbell  (3A)  *      
 10/20  vs. Lauderdale County  (3A)  *      
 10/27  @ Scottsboro  (5A)       
 11/3   OPEN 
 11/9  vs. Oakman        
 11/17  @ Madison Academy        


Class  3A Region  8
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Mars Hill (3A) 10-2 6-0525-130
Lauderdale County (3A) 7-5 5-1348-203
Colbert County (3A) 7-5 4-2392-338
Phil Campbell (3A) 7-4 3-3324-274
Colbert Heights (3A) 4-6 2-4154-289
Clements (3A) 2-8 1-5276-436
Elkmont (3A) 1-9 0-6108-457

 2023 Preview 


       Mars Hill completed the 2022 season with a 10-2 record. Last year Mars Hill captured the region eight title and a number one seed in the Class 3A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. Mars Hill reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Geraldine by a score of 17-14.

       The high-scoring Mars Hill offense ranked 9th in the AHSAA. They averaged 43.8 points a game.

       The Panthers defense dominated most opponents as they ranked 8th in the AHSAA. The defense gave up just 10.8 points a game.

      

       Mars Hill is a relatively new football program having fielded a team only nine seasons. They have managed a record of 71-41 over the past nine years.

       Over the past 9 seasons, Mars Hill has managed to compile a record of 71-41. Their 63.0% winning percentage ranks 12th in Class 3A and 70th in the AHSAA.




       The Panthers are led by head coach Darrell Higgins who is entering his eighth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 68-24 over the past seven seasons at Mars Hill. Under his direction the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times. They have won five region crowns with Coach Higgins. Coach Higgins has won two state championships at Mars Hill, the last coming in 2020.

       The move to 3A did not slow down the Panthers at all. They won at least ten games for the fifth season in a row and will be prepared for more in 2023.

       The Panthers enter the 2023 season riding a 9 game regular season winning streak.

       The Panthers are considered one of the favorites for the region eight championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Panthers have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2016 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

       The Panthers open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Cullman on Thursday, August 24 at Woodard Stadium. Last year the Cullman Bearcats finished with an overall record of 7-4 and in fourth place in Class 6A region seven. The Bearcats lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Gadsden City by a score of 41-24.

       Mars Hill and Cullman have met a total of 4 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 2-2-0 record against the Bearcats. They last met in 2022 with Cullman winning by a score of 13-10.

       Mars Hill lost 3A All-State  offensive lineman Koby Keenum to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating was teammate linebacker Sam Williams.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Homewood defeated Benjamin Russell in five overtimes during the Class 5A Super Six state championship game in 2000.