News

We now have 836 teams &  
191,663 games on AHSFHS.org.


Search Site



AHSFHS Article Series


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






2023 Team Previews 

  



Sweet Water Bulldogs

Head Coach: Pat Thompson (tenth season)
Career Record: 9 seasons, (82-27)
At Sweet Water: 9 seasons, (82-27)
Stadium: Nolan Atkins Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  109
Rank:  359th in the AHSAA, 33rd in Class 1A

 History 
Overall Record:   584-364-25   (62.0%)
Last 25 years:   234-81   (74.0%)  (Rank: 20th in the AHSAA, 5th in Class 1A)
Since 2010:   125-41  (75.3%)  (Rank: 24th in the AHSAA, 5th in Class 1A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2015

 2022 
Class:  1A              Region:   3
Record:  8-3
Region Record:   5-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Millry by a score of 41-6.
Final ASWA Poll:   9th
Scoring:  363 (33.0)
Defense:  159 (14.5)


 2023 
Class: 1A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 44-56 (44%) (328th in the AHSAA, 37th in Class 1A)
Region Strength:  24-39 (38%)
Non-Region Strength:  20-17 (54%)




 2022 Results 
 8/19   OPEN 
 8/26  @ Thomasville  (3A)   0-34   L  
 9/2  vs. University Charter School  (1A)  *  44-0   W  
 9/8  @ R.C. Hatch  (1A)  *  47-14   W  
 9/16  vs. A.L. Johnson  (1A)  *  57-0   W  
 9/23   OPEN 
 9/30  @ Linden  (1A)  *  7-28   L  
 10/7  vs. Keith  (1A)  *  45-0   W  
 10/14  @ Marengo  (1A)  *  52-0   W  
 10/21  vs. St. Lukes  (2A)   30-14   W  
 10/28   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Verbena    48-8   W  
 11/11  @ Elba    27-20   W  
 11/18  vs. Millry    6-41   L  


 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  @ Clarke County  (2A)       
 9/1  vs. Thomasville  (3A)       
 9/7  @ University Charter School  (1A)  *      
 9/15  vs. R.C. Hatch  (1A)  *      
 9/22  @ A.L. Johnson  (1A)       
 9/29   OPEN 
 10/6  vs. Linden  (1A)  *      
 10/13  @ Keith  (1A)  *      
 10/20  vs. Marengo  (1A)  *      
 10/27  @ St. Lukes  (2A)       
 11/3   OPEN 
 11/10  vs. Florala        
 11/17  vs. Maplesville        



Class  1A Region  3
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Linden (1A) 9-2 6-0396-142
Sweet Water (1A) 8-3 5-1363-159
Keith (1A) 5-6 4-2276-265
R.C. Hatch (1A) 4-7 3-3244-375
Marengo (1A) 4-6 2-4186-260
University Charter School (1A) 2-8 1-5162-319
A.L. Johnson (1A) 0-10 0-642-527


 2023 Preview 


       Sweet Water completed the 2022 season with a 8-3 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 1A region three, the Bulldogs earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Sweet Water lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Millry team by a score of 41-6.

       The Bulldogs hope to get back closer to the 14-0 record in 2021.

       The defense was very stingy last season as Sweet Water ranked 33rd in the AHSAA. The defense allowed only 14.5 points a game.

       Over the past two seasons the Bulldogs have Finished 22-3 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. Since 2010, Sweet Water has gone a combined 125-41. Their 75.3% winning percentage ranks 5th in Class 1A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Sweet Water has finished a combined 234-81. Their 74.0% winning percentage ranks 5th in Class 1A and 20th in the AHSAA. The Bulldogs have been successful on the football field with twenty-two winning seasons during this time.




       The Bulldogs are led by head coach Pat Thompson who is entering his tenth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 82-27 over the past nine seasons at Sweet Water. Under his direction the Bulldogs have qualified for the playoffs a total of nine times. They have won four region crowns with Coach Thompson. Coach Thompson has won two state championships at Sweet Water, the last coming in 2021.

       While most teams rebuild during the off season, Sweet Water has been a consistent winner the past few years and will simply reload this season. The Bulldogs are considered one of the favorites for the region three championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2000 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

       The Bulldogs open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Clarke County on Friday, August 25 at H.G. Prim Stadium. Last year the Clarke County Bulldogs finished with an overall record of 7-6 and in first place in Class 2A region one. The Bulldogs lost in the quarter-finals round of the Class 2A playoffs to Highland Home by a score of 19-0.

       Sweet Water and Clarke County have met a total of 11 times on the football field. The Bulldogs have a 3-8-0 record against the Bulldogs. They last met in 1983 with Sweet Water winning by a score of 17-6.

      

       The Bulldogs return 1A All-State Senior defensive lineman Jayson Dixon. He was named to the first 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.