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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Bessemer City Purple Tigers

Head Coach: Antonio Nelson (fourth season)
Career Record: 3 seasons, (6-25)
At Bessemer City: 3 seasons, (6-25)
Stadium: Bessemer City Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  601
Rank:  89th in the AHSAA, 57th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   663-412-34   (62.0%)
Last 25 years:   141-130   (52.0%)  (Rank: 175th in the AHSAA, 34th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   66-86  (43.4%)  (Rank: 247th in the AHSAA, 41st in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2009
Last Winning Season:   2019
Last Losing Season:   2023

 2023 
Class:  6A              Region:   4
Record:  5-6
Region Record:   4-3, (third)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Spanish Fort by a score of 28-0.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  274 (24.9)
Defense:  323 (29.4)


 2024 
Class: 6A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 41-62 (40%) (360th in the AHSAA, 55th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  26-37 (41%)
Non-Region Strength:  15-25 (38%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  vs. Woodlawn  (6A)   35-12   W  
 9/1  @ Tuscaloosa County  (7A)   33-55   L  
 9/8  vs. McAdory  (6A)  *  48-21   W  
 9/15  vs. Northridge  (6A)  *  15-34   L  
 9/22  @ Hueytown  (6A)  *  0-47   L  
 9/29  @ Shades Valley  (6A)   40-41   L  
 10/6  @ Brookwood  (6A)  *  34-24   W  
 10/13  vs. Hillcrest Tuscaloosa  (6A)  *  0-28   L  
 10/20  vs. Central Tuscaloosa  (6A)  *  28-21   W  
 10/27  @ Paul Bryant  (6A)  *  41-12   W  
 11/3   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/10  @ Spanish Fort    0-28   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  vs. Center Point  (5A)       
 8/30  @ Woodlawn  (6A)       
 9/6  vs. Brookwood  (6A)  *      
 9/13  @ Central Tuscaloosa  (6A)  *      
 9/20  @ Hueytown  (6A)  *      
 9/27  vs. Jackson-Olin  (6A)       
 10/4  vs. Paul Bryant  (6A)  *      
 10/11   OPEN 
 10/18  @ Northridge  (6A)  *      
 10/25  vs. McAdory  (6A)  *      
 10/31  @ Wenonah  (5A)       
 11/8  @ Pike Road        


Class  6A Region  4
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Hueytown (6A) 8-4 6-1394-232
Bessemer City (6A) 5-6 4-3274-323
McAdory (6A) 6-5 4-3324-288
Central Tuscaloosa (6A) 5-5 3-4286-270
Paul Bryant (6A) 3-7 2-5181-350
Northridge (6A) 3-7 2-5222-293
Brookwood (6A) 1-9 0-7130-365

 2024 Preview 


       Bessemer City completed the 2023 season with a 5-6 record. With their 4-3 region record and a third place finish in Class 6A region four, the Purple Tigers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Bessemer City's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Spanish Fort by a score of 28-0.

       It marked the first time since the 2019 season that the Purple Tigers qualified for the playoffs.

       Since 2010, Bessemer City has gone a combined 66-86. Their 43.4% winning percentage ranks 41st in Class 6A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Bessemer City has managed to compile a record of 141-130. Their 52.0% winning percentage ranks 34th in Class 6A and 175th in the AHSAA.

Head Coach:
       The Purple Tigers are led by head coach Antonio Nelson who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 6-25 over the past three seasons at Bessemer City. Under his direction the Purple Tigers have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Nelson.

Season Outlook:

       The Bessemer City Purple Tigers will play in Class 6A region four during the 2024 season.

      

       The five wins last season were the most for the Purple Tigers since 2019 so there was some improvement last year. They also claimed a playoff spot for the first time in four years. Can the team and Coach Nelson use last year's success to build on? Time will tell at Bessemer City.

       Only three opponents on the Tiger's 2024 schedule qualified for the playoffs last season.

    The Purple Tigers could find themselves challenging for one of the playoff spots for region four this season with a few breaks and a little improvement.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      DB Jeremiah Atkins had 101 tackles (37 solo) as a sophomore last season.

Returning Starters:
DE Emanuel Ruffin, MLB Razarius Horn

Season Opener:
       The Purple Tigers open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent Center Point on Friday, August 23 at Bessemer City Stadium. Last year the Center Point Eagles finished with an overall record of 7-4 and in third place in Class 6A region six. The Eagles lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Hartselle by a score of 28-18.

       Bessemer City and Center Point have met a total of 4 times on the football field. The Purple Tigers have a 4-0-0 record against the Eagles. They last met in 2015 with Bessemer City winning by a score of 37-16.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Foley outscored their opponents 433-6 in 1961. The Lions were named state champions by the Alabama Sports Writers Association that season.