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






2024 Team Previews 

  


John Carroll Cavaliers

Head Coach: Will Mara (fifth season)
Career Record: 4 seasons, (22-20)
At John Carroll: 4 seasons, (22-20)
Stadium: John Carroll Field
2024 Enrollment:  493
Rank:  113rd in the AHSAA, 24th in Class 5A

 History 
Overall Record:   314-452-18   (41.0%)
Last 25 years:   95-166   (36.0%)  (Rank: 303rd in the AHSAA, 47th in Class 5A)
Since 2010:   42-100  (29.6%)  (Rank: 343rd in the AHSAA, 52nd in Class 5A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   1998
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2022

 2023 
Class:  5A              Region:   5
Record:  9-3
Region Record:   5-2, (third)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Guntersville by a score of 20-17.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  390 (32.5)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense:  244 (20.3)


 2024 
Class: 5A              Region:   5
Strength of Schedule: 65-47 (58%) (49th in the AHSAA, 16th in Class 5A)
Region Strength:  40-29 (58%)
Non-Region Strength:  25-18 (58%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  vs. Homewood  (6A)   36-31   W  
 9/1  vs. Marbury  (5A)   43-0   W  
 9/7  @ Fairfield  (5A)  *  45-28   W  
 9/15  @ Hayden  (5A)  *  44-6   W  
 9/22  vs. Carver Birmingham  (5A)  *  43-26   W  
 9/29   OPEN 
 10/6  @ Pleasant Grove  (5A)  *  12-37   L  
 10/13  vs. Ramsay  (5A)  *  0-28   L  
 10/20  @ Jasper  (5A)  *  35-12   W  
 10/27  vs. Wenonah  (5A)  *  49-35   W  
 11/3  vs. Maplesville  (1A)   44-7   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/10  @ Fairview    22-14   W  
 11/17  vs. Guntersville    17-20   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  vs. Homewood  (6A)       
 8/30  @ St. Michael  (4A)       
 9/5  @ Carver Birmingham  (5A)  *      
 9/13  vs. Hayden  (5A)  *      
 9/20  @ Ramsay  (5A)  *      
 9/27  @ Montevallo  (5A)       
 10/4  vs. Wenonah  (5A)  *      
 10/11  @ Briarwood  (5A)  *      
 10/18  vs. Corner  (5A)  *      
 10/25   OPEN 
 11/1  vs. West Blocton  (4A)       


Class  5A Region  5
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Ramsay (5A) 12-3 7-0544-180
Briarwood (6A) 6-6 4-2239-240
Corner (4A) 10-2 6-1467-222
John Carroll (5A) 9-3 5-2390-244
Wenonah (5A) 6-4 3-4329-208
Hayden (5A) 2-8 1-6106-348
Carver Birmingham (5A) 4-6 1-6262-323

 2024 Preview 


       John Carroll completed the 2023 season with a 9-3 record. With their 5-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 5A region five, the Cavaliers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. John Carroll reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Guntersville by a score of 20-17.

       The Cavaliers won as many games as in any season since 1994. The 390 points scored by the Cavaliers last year were a team record in a single season. It marked the first time since the 2009 season that the Cavaliers qualified for the playoffs. The Cavaliers hope to continue the success they had last season. Coach Mara saw improvement as they won nine games following a 3-7 record in 2022.

       Since 2010, the John Carroll football program has struggled with a record of 42-100.

       Over the past 25 seasons, John Carroll has managed to compile a record of 95-166. Their 36.0% winning percentage ranks 47th in Class 5A and 303rd in the AHSAA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       John Carroll lost 5A All-State  quarterback Carson McFadden to graduation. He was named to the second team last season. Also graduating was teammate receiver Zach Archer.

Head Coach:
       The Cavaliers are led by head coach Will Mara who is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 22-20 over the past four seasons at John Carroll. Under his direction the Cavaliers have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Mara.

Season Outlook:

       The John Carroll Cavaliers will play in Class 5A region five during the 2024 season.

      

       The nine wins last season were the most at John Carroll since the 1994 football season. They also qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 2009 season. Can Coach Mara and the crew continue that success in 2024?

       With Ramsay, Corner and Briarwood also in region 5 it might be possible for the Cavaliers to grab one of the four playoffs spots once again this season.

    The Cavaliers 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.

Returning Starters:
MLB Koron Wright, RB/WR Aubrey Walker

Season Opener:
       The Cavaliers open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent Homewood on Friday, August 23 at John Carroll Field. Last year the Homewood Patriots finished with an overall record of 6-5 and in fourth place in Class 6A region three. The Patriots lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Pike Road by a score of 10-9.

       John Carroll and Homewood have met a total of 36 times on the football field. The Cavaliers have a 6-28-2 record against the Patriots. They last met in 2023 with John Carroll winning by a score of 36-31.

  


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.