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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Lanett Panthers

Head Coach: R.J. McDonald (first season)
Career Record: 0 seasons, (0-0)
At Lanett: First season
Stadium: Morgan-Washburn Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  207
Rank:  272nd in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 2A

 History 
Overall Record:   605-378-25   (62.0%)
Last 25 years:   176-110   (62.0%)  (Rank: 84th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 2A)
Since 2010:   112-51  (68.7%)  (Rank: 49th in the AHSAA, 4th in Class 2A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2021
Last Losing Season:   2023

 2023 
Class:  2A              Region:   3
Record:  4-6
Region Record:   3-4, (fifth)
Playoff Record:   Did not qualify.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  254 (25.4)
Defense:  297 (29.7)


 2024 
Class: 2A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 55-51 (52%) (134th in the AHSAA, 17th in Class 2A)
Region Strength:  35-29 (55%)
Non-Region Strength:  20-22 (48%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  @ Notasulga  (1A)   28-6   W  
 9/1  @ Valley  (5A)   14-41   L  
 9/8  vs. Horseshoe Bend  (2A)  *  41-13   W  
 9/15  @ Highland Home  (2A)  *  14-40   L  
 9/22  vs. Luverne  (2A)  *  6-18   L  
 9/29  @ Handley  (4A)   27-42   L  
 10/6  vs. Reeltown  (2A)  *  7-50   L  
 10/13  @ LaFayette  (2A)  *  41-12   W  
 10/20  vs. Goshen  (2A)  *  14-61   L  
 10/27  @ Barbour County  (2A)  *  62-14   W  
 11/3   OPEN 

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  vs. Bullock County  (4A)       
 8/30  @ Beulah  (3A)       
 9/5  vs. Loachapoka  (2A)  *      
 9/13  vs. Greenville GA   (2-7)       
 9/20  vs. LaFayette  (2A)  *      
 9/27  vs. Handley  (4A)       
 10/4  @ Reeltown  (2A)  *      
 10/11  @ Central Coosa  (2A)  *      
 10/18  @ Horseshoe Bend  (2A)  *      
 10/25  vs. Ranburne  (2A)  *      
 11/1   OPEN 
 11/8  @ Cottonwood        


Class  2A Region  4
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Loachapoka (1A) 10-1 7-0316-108
Reeltown (2A) 13-1 7-0578-210
Lanett (2A) 4-6 3-4254-297
Ranburne (2A) 4-6 3-4267-317
Horseshoe Bend (2A) 4-6 2-5226-328
LaFayette (2A) 1-8 1-688-287
Central Coosa (2A) 3-7 0-7227-417

 2024 Preview 


       Lanett completed the 2023 season with a 4-6 record. Last year Lanett just missed making the playoffs with a fifth place finish in Class 2A region three with a 3-4 region record.

       Since 2010, Lanett has gone a combined 112-51. Their 68.7% winning percentage ranks 4th in Class 2A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Lanett has managed to compile a record of 176-110. Their 62.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 2A and 84th in the AHSAA.

Coaching Change:
     Chip Seagle  called it a career after a 40-year career. He started at Lanett in 2009 and served as an assistant coach to Coach Story before taking over the reins of the program last season for one year.

2024 Head Coach:
    R.J. McDonald  will be on the sidelines as a head football coach for the first time in 2024. He is from Lanett and graduated from nearby Springwood in 2015. McDonald served as an assistant coach at Smiths Station before returning to Lanett as the offensive coordinator the past three seasons.

Season Outlook:

       The Lanett Panthers will play in Class 2A region four during the 2024 season. Following realignment, the Panthers remain in 2A but move from region three over to region four.

      

       The Panthers missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2015 but have a better shot this season with the realignment of region 4. Only two teams currently in the region qualified for the playoffs in 2023. That alone will give them a better chance.

       The Lanett Panthers are loaded this season with ten starters returning on offense and nine on defense. It's been five years since their 2019 state championship team and they would like nothing better than to give their fans another title in 2024.

       With all the returning starters they will still be looking for a few newcomers to fill the remaining voids as the season opens on August 23rd.

       Coach McDonald told us ''The 2024 Lanett Panthers look to build on the group of core players returning. With 19 starting players returning the outlook looks promising for Lanett to return to the upper echelon of the 2A classification. The Panthers return All State players highlighted by Nadarious Morgan at LB and Kingston Gooden on the OL. With 10 starters on Offense and 9 on Defense returning, the future is bright for the 2024 Panthers.''

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

Returning Starters:
OFFENSE: Riontae Ziegler (QB), Keondae Huguley (RB), Braylon Chambers (H-Back/TE), Shemar Patterson (WR), Alajawon Whitfield (WR), Ronnie Tucker Jr (LT), Kingston Gooden (LG-All State Honorable Mention 2023), Chris King (C), Deontra Jackson (RG), Jaylen Hill (RT)
DEFENSE: Jeremiah McGilberry (DE), Braylon Chambers (DT), Christian Upshaw (DE), Nadarious Morgan (LB-2nd team All State 2023), Keondae Huguley (LB), TJ Brooks (LB), Rakenzia Tucker (DB), Alajawon Whitfield (DB), Shemar Patterson (DB)
NEWCOMERS: Terrell Staples (WR-11th), Eddie Mitchell (TE-11th grade), Adarious Walker (LB-10th), TJ Tucker (LB-9th)

Season Opener:
       The Panthers open the 2024 season at home against non-region opponent Bullock County on Friday, August 23 at Morgan-Washburn Stadium. Last year the Bullock County Hornets finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in seventh place in Class 4A region two.

       Lanett and Bullock County have met a total of 3 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 3-0-0 record against the Hornets. They last met in 1995 with Lanett winning by a score of 31-6.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Spence McCracken won a record 21 Area/Region Championships at Montgomery Academy, Lee Montgomery and Opelika during his coaching career.