News

We now have 836 teams &  
191,663 games on AHSFHS.org.


Search Site





AHSFHS Article Series


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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Sulligent Blue Devils

Head Coach: Brian Gunnels (second season)
Career Record: 6 seasons, (25-40)
At Sulligent: one season, (9-3)
Stadium: Brown Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  159
Rank:  315th in the AHSAA, 43rd in Class 2A

 History 
Overall Record:   491-464-38   (51.0%)
Last 25 years:   149-134   (53.0%)  (Rank: 177th in the AHSAA, 23rd in Class 2A)
Since 2010:   87-71  (55.1%)  (Rank: 147th in the AHSAA, 18th in Class 2A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2017
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2020

 2023 
Class:  2A              Region:   5
Record:  9-3
Region Record:   5-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Locust Fork by a score of 54-21.
Final ASWA Poll:   10th
Scoring:  418 (34.8)
Defense:  253 (21.1)


 2024 
Class: 2A              Region:   5
Strength of Schedule: 63-49 (56%) (82nd in the AHSAA, 10th in Class 2A)
Region Strength:  39-28 (58%)
Non-Region Strength:  24-21 (53%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  @ Oakman  (3A)   27-16   W  
 9/1  vs. Fayette County  (3A)   22-14   W  
 9/8  vs. Cold Springs  (2A)  *  49-8   W  
 9/15  @ Winston County  (2A)  *  34-28   W  
 9/22  vs. Aliceville  (2A)  *  49-30   W  
 9/29  @ South Lamar  (1A)   41-12   W  
 10/5  @ Greene County  (2A)  *  36-14   W  
 10/13  vs. Lamar County  (2A)  *  48-6   W  
 10/20  @ Tuscaloosa Academy  (2A)  *  14-21   L  
 10/27   OPEN 
 11/3  vs. Colbert County  (3A)   34-38   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/9  vs. Hatton    43-12   W  
 11/17  @ Locust Fork    21-54   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Marion County  (1A)       
 8/30  vs. Winfield  (3A)       
 9/6  vs. Isabella  (2A)  *      
 9/13  @ Greene County  (2A)  *      
 9/20  vs. Vincent  (2A)  *      
 9/27  @ Hamilton  (4A)       
 10/4  @ Lamar County  (2A)  *      
 10/11   OPEN 
 10/18  vs. Tuscaloosa Academy  (2A)  *      
 10/25  @ Aliceville  (2A)  *      
 11/1  vs. South Lamar  (1A)       
 11/8  @ Pleasant Valley        
 11/15  vs. Southeastern        
 11/22  vs. Winston County        


Class  2A Region  5
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Tuscaloosa Academy (2A) 10-3 5-1482-256
Sulligent (2A) 9-3 5-1418-253
Aliceville (2A) 5-6 4-2337-340
Isabella (2A) 9-3 5-2481-282
Lamar County (2A) 7-4 4-2392-326
Vincent (2A) 6-5 4-3308-203
Greene County (2A) 2-7 0-6144-315

 2024 Preview 


       Sulligent completed the 2023 season with a 9-3 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 2A region five, the Blue Devils earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Sulligent reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Locust Fork by a score of 54-21.

       Since 2010, Sulligent has gone a combined 87-71. Their 55.1% winning percentage ranks 18th in Class 2A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Sulligent has managed to compile a record of 149-134. Their 53.0% winning percentage ranks 23rd in Class 2A and 177th in the AHSAA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       Sulligent lost 2A All-State  punter Wesley Ownby to graduation. He was named to the first team last season.

Head Coach:
       The Blue Devils are led by head coach Brian Gunnels who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 9-3 record in his first season at Sulligent. The Blue Devils saw improvement from a 5-5 record the season before coach Gunnels arrived. Under his direction the Blue Devils have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Gunnels. Over the course of his career, Coach Gunnels' teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times .

Season Outlook:

       The Sulligent Blue Devils will play in Class 2A region five during the 2024 season.

       Sulligent will face six opponents that reached the playoffs last season.

       Top priority this fall will be to find a replacement for graduated starting quarterback Brody Clark and the 1,582 yards and 13 touchdowns he threw for last season. Having a running back like AJ Lowe returning will be valuable for the Blue Devils in 2024.

       The Blue Devils will face eight teams that qualified for the playoffs in 2023. With the AHSAA realignment region 5 has six teams that qualified for the playoffs last year. Someone will be left out of the post season come November.

       Coach Gunnels said about this year's team, ''I'm excited about year two and seeing what this group can do.''

    The Blue Devils should be in contention for a playoff spot in region five this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      RB AJ Lowe will be back for his senior season after rushing for 1,910 yards and 31 TDs last season.

      WR Haigen Gann will be returning for his senior season after catching 50 passes for 633 yards and 6 touchdowns.

      LB Brooks Bozeman collected 142 tackles (56 solo) including 3 sacks and will be back for his senior season.

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: RB-AJ Lowe, WR-Haigen Gann, OL-Wyatt Sandlin, OL-Will Chism
DEFENSE: LB-Brooks Bozeman, LB-Braden Long CB-JohnWil Spruiel
NEWCOMERS: QB- JohnWil Spruiel

Season Opener:
       The Blue Devils open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Marion County on Friday, August 23 at Don Jones Field at Bill Rayburn Staduim. Last year the Marion County Red Raiders finished with an overall record of 5-6 and in fourth place in Class 1A region five. The Red Raiders lost in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs to Hackleburg by a score of 47-8.

       Sulligent and Marion County have met a total of 69 times on the football field. The Blue Devils have a 42-22-5 record against the Red Raiders. They last met in 2019 with Sulligent winning by a score of 42-29.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.