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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Shelby County Wildcats

Head Coach: Zeb Ellison (fourth season)
Career Record: 5 seasons, (26-28)
At Shelby County: 3 seasons, (10-21)
Stadium: Wildcats Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  472
Rank:  119th in the AHSAA, 29th in Class 5A

 History 
Overall Record:   452-519-32   (46.0%)
Last 25 years:   121-143   (46.0%)  (Rank: 234th in the AHSAA, 31st in Class 5A)
Since 2010:   44-97  (31.2%)  (Rank: 332nd in the AHSAA, 48th in Class 5A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2008
Last Winning Season:   2021
Last Losing Season:   2023

 2023 
Class:  5A              Region:   3
Record:  2-9
Region Record:   2-3, (fourth)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Eufaula by a score of 65-19.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  172 (15.6)
Defense:  339 (30.8)


 2024 
Class: 5A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 47-58 (45%) (300th in the AHSAA, 46th in Class 5A)
Region Strength:  30-34 (47%)
Non-Region Strength:  17-24 (42%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  @ West Blocton  (4A)   13-25   L  
 9/1  vs. Montevallo  (4A)   10-13   L  
 9/8  @ Holtville  (5A)  *  18-41   L  
 9/15  @ Jemison  (5A)  *  21-7   W  
 9/22   OPEN 
 9/29  @ Moody  (5A)   6-49   L  
 10/6  vs. Demopolis  (5A)  *  0-21   L  
 10/13  vs. Selma  (5A)  *  24-20   W  
 10/20  vs. Marbury  (5A)  *  28-32   L  
 10/27  vs. Rehobeth  (5A)   14-40   L  
 11/2  @ Woodlawn  (6A)   19-26   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/9  @ Eufaula    19-65   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Lincoln  (5A)       
 8/30  vs. Holtville  (5A)       
 9/6  @ Sipsey Valley  (5A)  *      
 9/13  @ Jemison  (5A)  *      
 9/20  vs. Northside  (5A)  *      
 9/27  vs. St. Clair County  (5A)       
 10/4  vs. Demopolis  (5A)  *      
 10/11  vs. Montevallo  (5A)  *      
 10/18  @ Selma  (5A)  *      
 10/25   OPEN 
 11/1  @ East Limestone  (5A)       
 11/8  vs. Citronelle        


Class  5A Region  3
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Demopolis (5A) 10-3 5-0349-203
Sipsey Valley (4A) 6-5 4-3355-290
Shelby County (5A) 2-9 2-3172-339
Montevallo (4A) 7-3 4-3226-174
Northside (4A) 4-6 3-4271-250
Selma (5A) 2-8 2-398-251
Jemison (5A) 1-9 0-5133-340

 2024 Preview 


       Shelby County finished the 2023 season with a disappointing 2-9 record. With their 2-3 region record and a fourth place finish in Class 5A region three, the Wildcats earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Shelby County's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Eufaula by a score of 65-19.

       The Wildcats lost as many games as in any season since 2013.

       Shelby County was inconsistent offensively last year and they need some improvement if the Wildcats want to be competitive. They only averaged 15.6 points a game.

       Since 2010, the Shelby County football program has struggled with a record of 44-97.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Shelby County has managed to compile a record of 121-143. Their 46.0% winning percentage ranks 31st in Class 5A and 234th in the AHSAA.

Head Coach:
       The Wildcats are led by head coach Zeb Ellison who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 10-21 over the past three seasons at Shelby County. Under his direction the Wildcats have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Ellison. Over the course of his career, Coach Ellison's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of four times .

Season Outlook:

       The Shelby County Wildcats will play in Class 5A region three during the 2024 season.

      

       The Wildcats finished last year with a 2-9 record but found themselves in the playoffs when they won a tie breaker with Selma. Shelby County would like nothing better than to win a few more games in 2024 and get back to the post season.

       Only three opponents on the Wildcat's 2024 schedule qualified for the playoffs last season. They should be competitive with all their non-region opponents this year and could find themselves in the hunt for one of the four playoff spots.

    The Wildcats will need to win a few more games this fall if they hope to grab one of the four playoff slots in region three this season. After just 2 wins last year, Shelby County will be hoping to become more competitive in the region.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      DB Eli Holliman with 80 tackles and 56 solo last season will also be back in 2024.

      LB Cooper Pennington 98 tackles including 61 solo tackles last season will also be returning this fall.

Returning Starters:
DB Eli Holliman, LB Cooper Pennington

Season Opener:
       The Wildcats open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Lincoln on Friday, August 23 at Keith Howard Memorial Stadium. Last year the Lincoln Golden Bears finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in sixth place in Class 5A region six. The Golden Bears closed out the regular season with a loss to Beauregard by a score of 37-7.

       Shelby County and Lincoln have met a total of 6 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 3-3-0 record against the Golden Bears. They last met in 1951 with Lincoln winning by a score of 33-27.

  


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.