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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Ragland Purple Devils

Head Coach: Wes Tidwell (fourth season)
Career Record: 7 seasons, (42-35)
At Ragland: 3 seasons, (21-13)
Stadium: Joan Ford Field
2024 Enrollment:  83
Rank:  378th in the AHSAA, 49th in Class 1A

 History 
Overall Record:   351-387-4   (48.0%)
Last 25 years:   185-100   (65.0%)  (Rank: 65th in the AHSAA, 11th in Class 1A)
Since 2010:   103-57  (64.4%)  (Rank: 88th in the AHSAA, 14th in Class 1A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2012
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2019

 2023 
Class:  1A              Region:   6
Record:  6-5
Region Record:   4-2, (third)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Valley Head by a score of 30-14.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  385 (35.0)
Defense:  246 (22.4)


 2024 
Class: 1A              Region:   8
Strength of Schedule: 48-55 (47%) (250th in the AHSAA, 20th in Class 1A)
Region Strength:  29-33 (47%)
Non-Region Strength:  19-22 (46%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  vs. Vincent  (2A)   20-29   L  
 9/1  vs. Southeastern  (2A)   13-6   W  
 9/8  vs. Donoho  (1A)  *  66-0   W  
 9/15  vs. Randolph County  (3A)   34-40   L  
 9/22  @ Wadley  (1A)  *  6-32   L  
 9/29  @ Pleasant Valley  (2A)   39-6   W  
 10/6  vs. Victory Christian  (1A)  *  59-17   W  
 10/13  @ Winterboro  (1A)  *  46-26   W  
 10/20  vs. Talladega County Central  (1A)  *  61-19   W  
 10/27  @ Spring Garden  (1A)  *  27-41   L  
 11/3   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/10  @ Valley Head    14-30   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23   OPEN 
 8/30  @ Donoho  (1A)       
 9/6  vs. Spring Garden  (1A)  *      
 9/13  vs. Southeastern  (2A)       
 9/20  @ Woodville  (1A)  *      
 9/27  vs. Fayetteville  (1A)       
 10/4  vs. Valley Head  (1A)  *      
 10/11  @ Appalachian  (1A)  *      
 10/18  vs. Gaylesville  (1A)  *      
 10/25  @ Ider  (1A)  *      
 11/1  @ Decatur Heritage Christian  (2A)       
 11/8  @ Winterboro        


Class  1A Region  8
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Spring Garden (1A) 8-3 5-1303-203
Valley Head (1A) 8-4 5-1363-222
Ragland (1A) 6-5 4-2385-246
Appalachian (1A) 4-6 2-4201-281
Woodville (1A) 6-4 2-4289-199
Gaylesville (1A) 1-9 1-564-403
Ider (2A) 2-7 1-6130-360

 2024 Preview 


       Ragland completed the 2023 season with a 6-5 record. With their 4-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 1A region six, the Purple Devils earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Ragland's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Valley Head by a score of 30-14.

       Since 2010, Ragland has gone a combined 103-57. Their 64.4% winning percentage ranks 14th in Class 1A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Ragland has managed to compile a record of 185-100. Their 65.0% winning percentage ranks 11th in Class 1A and 65th in the AHSAA.

Head Coach:
       The Purple Devils are led by head coach Wes Tidwell who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 21-13 over the past three seasons at Ragland. Under his direction the Purple Devils have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Tidwell. Over the course of his career, Coach Tidwell's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times .

Season Outlook:

       The Ragland Purple Devils will play in Class 1A region eight during the 2024 season. Following realignment, the Purple Devils remain in 1A but move from region six over to region eight.

      

       Returning players at the skilled positions will help Coach Tidwell and the Purple Devils of Ragland extend their streak of four consecutive playoff seasons. Ragland will compete in Region 8 this year which will be a first for the program.

       The region will be competitive but look for the Devils to be in the mix for a region title with the likes of Valley Head and Spring Garden. Woodville could also be in that mix too.

    The Purple Devils have a good shot at one of the last two playoff slots in region eight this season.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      QB Antwan Byers will be returning for his senior season after completing 93-of-143 passes for 1,293 yards and 14 TDs last season.

      RB Aron Lee will also return after rushing for 1,141 yards and 10 TDs last season as a sophomore. Lee also collected 70 tackles on defense in 2023.

      MLB Luke Brewer also collected 146 tackles on defense in 2023.

Returning Starters:
WR/QB Drake Kay, WR/CB Brayden Byers, DB/WR Tre Bothwell, WR/DB Jagger Cox, T/DT Tacorion Soles, DT/T Brandon McCulley

Season Opener:
       The Purple Devils open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Donoho on Friday, August 30 at Lentz Field. Last year the Donoho Falcons finished with an overall record of 0-9 and in seventh place in Class 1A region six. The Falcons closed out the regular season with a loss to Cedar Bluff by a score of 45-6.

       Ragland and Donoho have met a total of 39 times on the football field. The Purple Devils have a 23-16-0 record against the Falcons. They last met in 2023 with Ragland winning by a score of 66-0.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Hazlewood won five consecutive state championships from 1988-1992. During this span the Golden Bears won 29 playoff games in a row.