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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Central Red Devils

Head Coach: Patrick Nix (fifth season)
Career Record: 11 seasons, (110-31)
At Central Phenix City: 4 seasons, (44-9)
Stadium: Garrett-Harrison Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  1,683
Rank:  5th in the AHSAA, 5th in Class 7A

 History 
Overall Record:   612-368-33   (62.0%)
Last 25 years:   228-71   (76.0%)  (Rank: 11th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 7A)
Since 2010:   143-33  (81.3%)  (Rank: 10th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 7A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2023
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2008

 2023 
Class:  7A              Region:   2
Record:  13-0
Region Record:   8-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Won the Class 7A State Championship by defeating Thompson at the Alabama Super Seven 21-19 in Birmingham.
Final ASWA Poll:   1st
Scoring:  556 (42.8)
Defense:  164 (12.6)


 2024 
Class: 7A              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 63-46 (58%) (56th in the AHSAA, 14th in Class 7A)
Region Strength:  38-38 (50%)
Non-Region Strength:  25-8 (76%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  @ Hewitt-Trussville  (7A)   48-24   W  
 9/1  vs. Smiths Station  (7A)  *  51-0   W  
 9/8  @ Enterprise  (7A)  *  48-7   W  
 9/15  vs. Opelika  (7A)  *  28-18   W  
 9/21  vs. J.A.G.  (7A)  *  55-0   W  
 9/29   OPEN 
 10/6  vs. Dothan High  (7A)  *  48-14   W  
 10/14  @ Percy Julian  (7A)  *  35-6   W  
 10/20  @ Auburn  (7A)  *  41-20   W  
 10/27   OPEN 
 11/3  @ Prattville  (7A)  *  48-7   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/10  vs. Davidson    63-21   W  
 11/17  vs. Auburn    49-21   W  
 11/24  vs. Mary Montgomery    21-7   W  
 12/6   Thompson    21-19   W  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  vs. Pinson Valley  (6A)       
 8/30  vs. Lutheran North MO   (11-2)       
 9/5  @ Smiths Station  (7A)  *      
 9/13  @ Dothan High  (7A)  *      
 9/20  vs. Enterprise  (7A)  *      
 9/27   OPEN 
 10/4  vs. Auburn  (7A)  *      
 10/11  vs. Carver Montgomery  (7A)  *      
 10/18  @ Opelika  (7A)  *      
 10/24  vs. J.A.G.  (7A)  *      
 11/1   OPEN 
 11/8  @ James Clemens        
 11/15  vs. Vestavia Hills        
 11/22  vs. Hoover        


Class  7A Region  2
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Central Phenix City (7A) 13-0 8-0556-164
Carver Montgomery (6A) 7-4 5-1239-187
Enterprise (7A) 9-3 6-2453-205
Auburn (7A) 9-3 6-2386-223
Dothan High (7A) 8-3 6-2431-215
Opelika (7A) 4-6 4-4279-236
Smiths Station (7A) 1-9 1-7101-436
J.A.G. (7A) 0-10 0-888-402

 2024 Preview 


       Central completed the 2023 season with a 13-0 record. Last year Central captured the region two title and a number one seed in the Class 7A playoffs. They finished region play with a 8-0 record. The Red Devils reeled off four straight playoff wins to claim the Class 7A State Championship by defeating Thompson at the Alabama Super Seven 21-19 in Birmingham.

       The high-scoring Central Phenix City offense ranked 11th in the AHSAA. They averaged 42.8 points a game.

       The Red Devils defense dominated most opponents as they ranked 22nd in the AHSAA. The defense gave up just 12.6 points a game.

       Over the past two seasons the Red Devils have Finished 23-3 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. As one of the best football programs in the state since 2010, Central has gone a combined 143-33. Their 81.3% winning percentage ranks 2nd in Class 7A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Central has finished a combined 228-71. Their 76.0% winning percentage ranks 2nd in Class 7A and 11th in the AHSAA. The Red Devils have been successful on the football field with twenty-four winning seasons during this time. Their last losing season was 2008.

Graduated All-State Players:
       The Red Devils lost a ton of talent to graduation off the 2023 squad. Replacing these players will be a key to another successful season. Central lost 7A All-State  receiver Cam Coleman to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating were teammates defensive lineman Isaia Faga, defensive back Rydarrius Morgan, offensive lineman Ben Appiah, linebacker Trent Hood and defensive back Jiquan Sanks.

Head Coach:
       The Red Devils are led by head coach Patrick Nix who is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 44-9 over the past four seasons at Central. Under his direction the Red Devils have qualified for the playoffs a total of four times. They have won three region crowns with Coach Nix. Coach Nix led Pinson Valley to a state championship in 2023. His 110 wins rank 55th among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Nix's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of eleven times and won six region championships. Coach Nix won two state championships prior to arriving at Central, the last coming in 2018 at Pinson Valley.

Season Outlook:

       The Central Red Devils will play in Class 7A region two during the 2024 season.

      

       The Red Devils enter the 2024 season riding a 13 game winning streak. They have also won 13 consecutive regular season games. Central has won 13 consecutive region games. They have won 7 straight games on their home turf at Garrett-Harrison Stadium.

       Central lost a ton of talent especially on defense where at least four players signed with D1 football programs. Having Andrew Alford under center again will be an advantage for the Red Devils as they set out to repeat as 7A state champions.

       The Red Devils will be without their leading receiver in Cam Coleman who graduated in the spring after signing with Auburn. They do return five starters on offense and another five on defense from the players who started in the Championship game last December.

    While most teams rebuild during the off season, Central has been a consistent winner the past few years and will simply reload this season.

    The Red Devils enter the season with expectations of not only a region crown but will be contending for a trip to the state championship game. They are considered one the favorites in region two and could very well be representing the South in the Class 7A Super Seven come December. The Red Devils have succeeded in reaching the playoffs every year since 2013 and this year should be no exception.

Players to Watch in 2024:
      QB Andrew Alford returns to a potent Central offense. Last year he completed 179-of-270 passes for 3,587 yards and 45 TDs.

      Tristan Williams returns at RB after rushing for 858 yards and 11 TDs as a junior last season. At WR Daylyn Upshaw will be back after catching 59 passes for 1,185 yards and 15 TDs.

      Tristan Lyles will lead a stout defense after collecting 84 tackles (61 solo) and 16 sacks last year as a sophomore.

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: QB- Andrew Alford, WR- Daylyn Upshaw, OL- Josh Sumbry, OL- Eric Scribner, OL- Mal Waldrep
DEFENSE: DB- Monterrius Echols, Safety- Terence Jackson, Safety- Briggs Cameron, LB- Brennan Core, DE- Tristan Lyles

Season Opener:
       The Red Devils open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent Pinson Valley on Friday, August 23 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium. Last year the Pinson Valley Indians finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in fourth place in Class 6A region six. The Indians lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Muscle Shoals by a score of 42-7.

       This will be the second meeting between Central Phenix City and Pinson Valley on the football field. The Red Devils have a 1-0-0 record against the Indians. They last met in with

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Hamilton shutout an amazing 14 consecutive opponents from 1928-1930. A streak that will never be matched in modern football.