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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Appalachian Eagles

Head Coach: Neal Whittington (fourth season)
Career Record: 3 seasons, (10-20)
At Appalachian: 3 seasons, (10-20)
Stadium: James E. Carr Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  139
Rank:  330th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 1A

 History 
Overall Record:   221-352-3   (39.0%)
Last 25 years:   109-149   (42.0%)  (Rank: 267th in the AHSAA, 35th in Class 1A)
Since 2010:   48-90  (34.8%)  (Rank: 300th in the AHSAA, 40th in Class 1A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2009
Last Winning Season:   2019
Last Losing Season:   2023

 2023 
Class:  1A              Region:   7
Record:  4-6
Region Record:   2-4, (fifth)
Playoff Record:   Did not qualify.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  201 (20.1)
Defense:  281 (28.1)


 2024 
Class: 1A              Region:   8
Strength of Schedule: 48-58 (45%) (303rd in the AHSAA, 32nd in Class 1A)
Region Strength:  31-32 (49%)
Non-Region Strength:  17-26 (40%)



 2023 Results 
 8/24  vs. Locust Fork  (2A)   20-61   L  
 9/1  @ Gaston  (2A)   35-0   W  
 9/8  @ Cleveland  (2A)   34-20   W  
 9/15  vs. Woodville  (1A)  *  35-22   W  
 9/22  @ Gaylesville  (1A)  *  39-12   W  
 9/29   OPEN 
 10/6  vs. Decatur Heritage Christian  (1A)  *  7-22   L  
 10/13  @ Valley Head  (1A)  *  8-37   L  
 10/20  vs. Coosa Christian  (1A)  *  0-51   L  
 10/27  @ Cedar Bluff  (1A)  *  16-21   L  
 11/3  vs. Southeastern  (2A)   7-35   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Holly Pond  (3A)       
 8/30  @ Cleveland  (2A)       
 9/6  vs. Locust Fork  (3A)       
 9/13  @ Gaylesville  (1A)  *      
 9/20  vs. Ider  (1A)  *      
 9/27  vs. Section  (2A)       
 10/4  @ Spring Garden  (1A)  *      
 10/11  vs. Ragland  (1A)  *      
 10/18  @ Woodville  (1A)  *      
 10/25  vs. Valley Head  (1A)  *      
 11/1   OPEN 
 11/8  vs. Donoho        
 11/15  @ Lynn        


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 


       Appalachian completed the 2023 season with a 4-6 record. Last year Appalachian just missed making the playoffs with a fifth place finish in Class 1A region seven with a 2-4 region record.

       Since 2010, Appalachian has gone a combined 48-90. Their 34.8% winning percentage ranks 40th in Class 1A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Appalachian has managed to compile a record of 109-149. Their 42.0% winning percentage ranks 35th in Class 1A and 267th in the AHSAA.

Head Coach:
       The Eagles are led by head coach Neal Whittington who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 10-20 over the past three seasons at Appalachian. Under his direction the Eagles have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Whittington.

Season Outlook:

       The Appalachian Eagles will play in Class 1A region eight during the 2024 season. Following realignment, the Eagles remain in 1A but move from region seven over to region eight.

      

       The Eagles of Appalachian will return the running back duo of Sean Curtis and Braden Gilliland to the backfield in 2024 after they ran for over 1,700 years last season. The offense will have nine starters from last season returning and the defense will welcome back nine players who saw significant time in 2023.

       This will be a veteran squad with a lot of experience this fall when the season opens against Holly Pond. The Eagles missed out on the playoffs last year but have high hopes of making a return trip in 2024. They could find themselves with a great shot at one of the four playoff spots available in Region 8.

    The Eagles will need to win a few more games this fall if they hope to grab one of the four playoff slots in region eight this season.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      RB Sean Curtis will return after rushing for 679 yards and 13 TDs last season as a junior.

      RB Braden Gilliland will also return after rushing for 1,054 yards and 11 TDs as a sophomore in 2023.

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: RB- Sean Curtis, RB- Braden Gilliland, OL- Andrew Cooper, Reid Murphree, Riley Murphree, Justin Padilla, WR- Caydon Whittington, Wyatt Cleckler, RB- Ian Putman, Juan Calderon
DEFENSE: Andrew Cooper, Nick Johnson, Jaysen Tolbert, Braden Gilliland, DB- Aden Brown, FS- Caydon Whittington, Sean Curtis, Sam Stidham, JT Hyde
NEWCOMERS: Eli Beard

Season Opener:
       The Eagles open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Holly Pond on Friday, August 23 at Thomas-Michelfelder Field. Last year the Holly Pond Broncos finished with an overall record of 2-8 and in sixth place in Class 2A region six. The Broncos closed out the regular season with a loss to Vinemont by a score of 40-24.

       Appalachian and Holly Pond have met a total of 3 times on the football field. The Eagles have a 2-1-0 record against the Broncos. They last met in 2013 with Appalachian winning by a score of 22-20.

  


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.