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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Excel Panthers

Head Coach: Jason Phillips (fourth season)
Career Record: 3 seasons, (19-12)
At Excel: 3 seasons, (19-12)
Stadium: Panther Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  259
Rank:  231st in the AHSAA, 19th in Class 3A

 History 
Overall Record:   458-397-22   (54.0%)
Last 25 years:   114-143   (44.0%)  (Rank: 248th in the AHSAA, 38th in Class 3A)
Since 2010:   52-88  (37.1%)  (Rank: 291st in the AHSAA, 47th in Class 3A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2022
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2023

 2023 
Class:  3A              Region:   1
Record:  4-6
Region Record:   2-5, (sixth)
Playoff Record:   Did not qualify.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  245 (24.5)
Defense:  256 (25.6)


 2024 
Class: 3A              Region:   1
Strength of Schedule: 53-56 (49%) (215th in the AHSAA, 38th in Class 3A)
Region Strength:  29-36 (45%)
Non-Region Strength:  24-20 (54%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  @ B.C. Rain  (5A)   14-34   L  
 9/1   OPEN 
 9/8  vs. Cottage Hill Christian  (3A)  *  28-26   W  
 9/15  @ Mobile Christian  (3A)  *  0-55   L  
 9/22  vs. Flomaton  (3A)  *  20-27   L  
 9/29  vs. J.U. Blacksher  (2A)   35-12   W  
 10/6  @ Monroe County  (3A)  *  46-0   W  
 10/13  @ Thomasville  (3A)  *  7-35   L  
 10/20  vs. Hillcrest Evergreen  (3A)  *  14-15   L  
 10/27  @ W.S. Neal  (3A)  *  39-46   L  
 11/2  @ Southern Choctaw  (1A)   42-6   W  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Lee-Scott Academy  (3A)       
 8/29  vs. W.S. Neal  (4A)       
 9/5  vs. Flomaton  (3A)  *      
 9/13  @ Hillcrest Evergreen  (3A)  *      
 9/20  vs. Cottage Hill Christian  (3A)  *      
 9/27  @ J.U. Blacksher  (2A)       
 10/4   OPEN 
 10/11  @ T.R. Miller  (3A)  *      
 10/18  vs. Bayside Academy  (3A)  *      
 10/25  @ Monroe County  (3A)  *      
 11/1  vs. Southern Choctaw  (1A)       
 11/8  @ Thomasville        


Class  3A Region  1
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
T.R. Miller (4A) 8-4 5-2360-227
Bayside Academy (4A) 8-3 5-2310-202
Flomaton (3A) 7-5 4-3304-276
Hillcrest Evergreen (3A) 3-7 3-4244-288
Excel (3A) 4-6 2-5245-256
Cottage Hill Christian (3A) 2-8 1-6157-303
Monroe County (3A) 1-9 0-7174-452

 2024 Preview 


       Excel completed the 2023 season with a 4-6 record. Last year Excel finished sixth in Class 3A region one with a 2-5 region record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

       The Panthers last playoff victory came during the 1998 season. They would love to break through this year with a post season win. The Panthers hope to rebound after a down year. Last season they struggled winning just four games which followed a 9-2 record in 2022.

       Since 2010, Excel has gone a combined 52-88. Their 37.1% winning percentage ranks 47th in Class 3A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Excel has managed to compile a record of 114-143. Their 44.0% winning percentage ranks 38th in Class 3A and 248th in the AHSAA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       Excel lost 3A All-State  defensive lineman Jordan Lazenby to graduation. He was named to the second team last season.

Head Coach:
       The Panthers are led by head coach Jason Phillips who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 19-12 over the past three seasons at Excel. Under his direction the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs once. They have won one region crown with Coach Phillips.

Season Outlook:

       The Excel Panthers will play in Class 3A region one during the 2024 season.

      

       The Panthers finished a disappointing 4-6 last year after a promising 9-2 the year before. It will not get any easier for them this year with the addition of T.R. Miller and Bayside Academy to Region One.

       Excel will be a much more experienced team when they take the field against Lee-Scott Academy on August 23rd.

       Coach Phillips had this to say about the Excel Panthers in 2024. ''We are excited about the team we have this year. There is a good mix of veteran players along with some promising up and coming underclassmen. Troy commit RJ Shamberger Jr. will be a big piece for us on both sides of the ball up front. Junior running back and outside linebacker Anthony Hayes Jr. is coming off a big sophomore campaign and will be a big time player for us this year.''

       ''Hayes has offers from Troy and Tuskegee. Gedric McCants is electric on offense and leads our secondary. Veteran offensive lineman Mike Smith, Ian Lott, and Caiden Lee will pave the way up front. We have been fortunate to pick up two quality coaches this offseason. Michael Miles will be our Defensive Coordinator. Sy Butler will be our Defensive Backs coach.''

    The Panthers could find themselves challenging for one of the playoff spots for region one this season with a few breaks and a little improvement. Excel came up short of the playoffs last year but are optimistic of a return to the post season this year.

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: RJ Shamberger Jr.; AJ Hayes Jr.; Ian Lott; Mike Smith; Caiden Lee; Gedric McCants; Darius Grace
DEFENSE: RJ Shamberger Jr.; Kolby Sirmon; AJ Hayes Jr.; Gedric McCants; Darius Grace; Mandrel Hill; Trent Dortch; Holden Stacey
NEWCOMERS: RB- Keon Johnson; LB Mason Goldman; RB/Safety- Asie Washington; RB/Safety- Jamarion Williams RB/Safety; QB- Koen Crawford

Season Opener:
       The Panthers open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Lee-Scott Academy on Friday, August 23 at Judd Scott Field. Last year the Lee-Scott Academy Warriors finished with an overall record of 11-1 and in second place in Class AAA region one. The Warriors won the Class AAA State Championship last season when they defeated Glenwood School by a score of 24-14 in the Super Seven finals in Birmingham.

       This will be the second meeting between Excel and Lee-Scott Academy on the football field. The Panthers have a 0-1-0 record against the Warriors. They last met in with

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Foley outscored their opponents 433-6 in 1961. The Lions were named state champions by the Alabama Sports Writers Association that season.