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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Gulf Shores Dolphins

Head Coach: Mark Hudspeth (fourth season)
Career Record: 3 seasons, (32-6)
At Gulf Shores: 3 seasons, (32-6)
Stadium: Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  681
Rank:  75th in the AHSAA, 43rd in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   101-149   (40.0%)
Last 25 years:   101-149   (40.0%)  (Rank: 283rd in the AHSAA, 47th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   65-84  (43.6%)  (Rank: 237th in the AHSAA, 39th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2023
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2020

 2023 
Class:  5A              Region:   1
Record:  15-0    (Team record for wins in a season)
Region Record:   8-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Won the Class 5A State Championship by defeating Ramsay at the Alabama Super Seven 21-14 in Birmingham.
Final ASWA Poll:   1st
Scoring:  576 (38.4)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense:  138 (9.2)


 2024 
Class: 6A              Region:   1
Strength of Schedule: 70-45 (61%) (32nd in the AHSAA, 6th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  48-41 (54%)
Non-Region Strength:  22-4 (85%)



 2023 Results 
 8/24  vs. St. Michael  (4A)   41-20   W  
 9/1  vs. Citronelle  (5A)  *  31-0   W  
 9/8  @ Faith Academy  (5A)  *  31-16   W  
 9/15  vs. UMS-Wright  (5A)  *  17-0   W  
 9/22  @ LeFlore  (5A)  *  44-0   W  
 9/28  @ Murphy  (6A)   37-14   W  
 10/6  vs. Williamson  (5A)  *  45-13   W  
 10/13  @ Elberta  (5A)  *  55-7   W  
 10/20   OPEN 
 10/27  vs. Vigor  (5A)  *  42-12   W  
 11/3  vs. B.C. Rain  (5A)  *  43-21   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/10  vs. Beauregard    48-7   W  
 11/17  vs. Charles Henderson    41-0   W  
 11/24  @ Headland    35-14   W  
 12/1  vs. Eufaula    45-0   W  
 12/7   Ramsay    21-14   W  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  vs. Choctawhatchee FL   (10-3)       
 8/30  @ Mary Montgomery  (7A)       
 9/6  vs. Saraland  (6A)  *      
 9/13  @ McGill-Toolen  (6A)  *      
 9/20  @ Blount  (6A)  *      
 9/27   OPEN 
 10/4  vs. St. Pauls  (6A)  *      
 10/11  @ Spanish Fort  (6A)  *      
 10/18  vs. Theodore  (6A)  *      
 10/25  @ Baldwin County  (6A)  *      
 11/1  @ Murphy  (6A)  *      


Class  6A Region  1
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Gulf Shores (5A) 15-0 8-0576-138
Saraland (6A) 14-1 8-0754-220
Spanish Fort (6A) 9-3 7-1330-174
Theodore (6A) 7-4 6-2257-158
St. Pauls (6A) 7-4 5-3236-189
McGill-Toolen (6A) 5-5 4-4271-266
Murphy (6A) 2-8 2-6123-330
Blount (6A) 2-8 2-6129-274
Baldwin County (6A) 2-8 2-6213-317

 2024 Preview 


       Gulf Shores completed the 2023 season with a 15-0 record. Last year Gulf Shores captured the region one title and a number one seed in the Class 5A playoffs. They finished region play with a 8-0 record. It was the first region championship for the Dolphins. The Dolphins reeled off five straight playoff wins to claim the Class 5A State Championship by defeating Ramsay at the Alabama Super Seven 21-14 in Birmingham.

       No team at Gulf Shores ever won more games in a season than the fifteen victories last year. The 576 points scored by the Dolphins last year were a team record in a single season.

       The defense was very stingy last season as Gulf Shores ranked 8th in the AHSAA. The defense allowed only 9.2 points a game.

       Over the past two seasons the Dolphins have Finished 26-2 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. Since 2010, Gulf Shores has gone a combined 65-84. Their 43.6% winning percentage ranks 39th in Class 6A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 24 seasons, Gulf Shores has managed to compile a record of 101-149. Their 40.0% winning percentage ranks 47th in Class 6A and 283rd in the AHSAA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       The Dolphins lost a ton of talent to graduation off the 2023 squad. Replacing these players will be a key to another successful season. Gulf Shores lost 5A All-State  defensive lineman Kingston Lowe to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating were teammates defensive back Braden Jackson, athlete Ronnie Royal, kicker Will Langston and defensive lineman Otto Brewer.

Head Coach:
       The Dolphins are led by head coach Mark Hudspeth who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 32-6 over the past three seasons at Gulf Shores. Under his direction the Dolphins have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have won one region crown with Coach Hudspeth. Coach Hudspeth led to a state championship in 2023.

Season Outlook:

       The Gulf Shores Dolphins will play in Class 6A region one during the 2024 season. The Dolphins move up in classification to Class 6A. They may find the going slightly tougher with the move.

       The Dolphins have one of the toughest overall schedules in Class 6A. Their opponents had a combined record of 70-45 last season. That ranks 6th in Class 6A and 32nd in the AHSAA.

       The Dolphins enter the 2024 season riding a 15 game winning streak. They have also won 16 consecutive regular season games. Gulf Shores has won 13 consecutive region games. They have won 9 straight games on their home turf at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

       There is not a single person who thought there was any possibility that Gulf Shores could ever win a state championship until a couple of years ago. Well, look at the Dolphins now. They are the reigning 5A state champions and the coveted Blue Map resides on the beaches of Pleasure Island.

       Replacing Ronnie Royal will be at the top of the list of things to do before August 23rd. He was an important component in last year's title run. Kolin Wilson is back and should carry the load running the football.

       The largest task for the Dolphins will be navigating the waters of Class 6A after making the off season move up in classification. Region One has long been considered one of the toughest in the state and it just got more difficult with the loss of Robertsdale and addition of Gulf Shores. Their 16 game regular season winning streak could be in serious jeopardy with games against the likes of Choctawhatchee, Florida, Mary Montgomery and Saraland to open the season.

    The Dolphins are considered one of the favorites for the region one championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Don't be surprised if the Dolphins are making another deep run into the playoffs.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      RB Kolin Wilson will be returning for his senior season after rushing for 2,010 yards and 31 TDs last season.

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: RB Kolin Wilson, TE/FS Price Stephens, QB Jud Harris, OL Brantley Akins, OL Tyler Burkett
DEFENSE: FS/WR Carter Byrd, RB/LB Landon Everett, LB Jamichael Garrett

Season Opener:
       The Dolphins open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent Choctawhatchee FL on Friday, August 23 at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

       This will be the second meeting between Gulf Shores and Choctawhatchee FL on the football field. The Dolphins have a 0-1-0 record against Choctawhatchee FL. They last met in with

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Demopolis scored a record 761 points during the 2004 season. The Tigers finished the season 15-0.