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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Southern Academy Cougars

Head Coach: Brian Osborne (second season)
Career Record: 1 season, (7-5)
At Southern Academy: one season, (7-5)
Stadium: Lawson Field

 History 
Overall Record:   335-270-8   (55.0%)
Last 25 years:   167-111   (60.0%)  (Rank: 8 in the AISA)
Since 2010:   57-89  (39.0%)  (Rank: 21 in the AISA)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2007
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2022

 2023 
Class:  A              Region:   1
Record:  7-5
Region Record:   2-2, (second)
Playoff Record:   Semi-finals loss to Wilcox Academy by the score of 49-12.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  311 (25.9)
Defense:  278 (23.2)


 2024 
Class: AA              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 54-58 (48%) (18th in the AISA, 4th in Class AA)
Region Strength:  32-26 (55%)
Non-Region Strength:  22-32 (41%)



 2023 Results 
 8/18  vs. Pinecrest Academy GA    42-23   W  
 8/25  vs. Meadowview Christian  (AISA-8 Man)   51-0   W  
 9/1  @ Pickens Academy  (AA)   38-0   W  
 9/8  vs. Lowndes Academy  (A)  *  0-29   L  
 9/15   OPEN 
 9/22  vs. Jackson Academy  (A)   8-20   L  
 9/29  @ Wilcox Academy  (A)   30-29   W  
 10/6  @ Lakeside  (A)  *  6-17   L  
 10/13  @ Crenshaw Christian  (A)  *  46-20   W  
 10/20  vs. Coosa Valley Academy  (A)  *  42-27   W  
 10/27  vs. South Choctaw Academy  (A)   0-42   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/3  vs. South Choctaw Academy    36-22   W  
 11/9  @ Wilcox Academy    12-49   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Morgan Academy  (AAA)       
 8/30  @ Lowndes Academy  (AA)       
 9/6  @ South Choctaw Academy  (AA)  *      
 9/13  vs. Patrician Academy  (AA)  *      
 9/20  @ Jackson Academy  (AA)  *      
 9/27  vs. Valiant Cross Academy  (AAA)       
 10/4  vs. Bessemer Academy  (AAA)       
 10/11  @ Snook Christian  (AA)  *      
 10/18  vs. Wilcox Academy  (AA)  *      
 10/25   OPEN 
 11/1  vs. Hooper Academy  (AA)       


Class  AA Region  2
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Wilcox Academy (AISA-A) 10-4 4-0477-232
Jackson Academy (AISA-A) 9-3 3-1392-260
Patrician Academy (AISA-AA) 8-4 3-1394-278
Southern Academy (AISA-A) 7-5 2-2311-278
South Choctaw Academy (AISA-A) 5-6 2-2276-251
Snook Christian (AISA-A) 0-9 0-4158-493

 2024 Preview 


       Southern Academy completed the 2023 season with a 7-5 record. With their 2-2 region record and a second place finish in Class A region one, the Cougars earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Last year Southern Academy reached the semi-finals before falling to a very good Wilcox Academy team by the score of 49-12.

       The Cougars improved in 2023 with their first winning season since 2019.

       Since 2010, Southern Academy has gone a combined 57-89. Their 39.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class AA over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Southern Academy has managed to compile a record of 167-111. Their 60.0% winning percentage ranks 3rd in Class AA and 8th in the AISA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       Southern Academy lost AISA All-State  running back McGuire Davis to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating was teammate athlete Campbell Webb.

Head Coach:
       The Cougars are led by head coach Brian Osborne who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 7-5 record in his first season at Southern Academy. The Cougars saw improvement from a 5-6 record the season before coach Osborne arrived. Under his direction the Cougars have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Osborne.

Season Outlook:

       The Southern Academy Cougars will play in Class AA region two during the 2024 season. The Cougars move up in classification to Class AA. They may find the going slightly tougher with the move.

      

      

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

Season Opener:
       The Cougars open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Morgan Academy on Friday, August 23 at Morgan Field. Last year the Morgan Academy Senators finished with an overall record of 1-9 and in seventh place in Class AAA region one. The Senators closed out the regular season with a loss to Pickens Academy by a score of 36-32.

       Southern Academy and Morgan Academy have met a total of 14 times on the football field. The Cougars have a 8-6-0 record against the Senators. They last met in 2021 with Morgan Academy winning by a score of 36-12.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Morris Higginbotham coached three different teams to divisional state championships in the 1950s. He won titles at Walnut Grove in 1952, West Blocton in 1955 and Enterprise in 1960.