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

2024 Team Previews




Mary Montgomery Vikings
Head Coach: Zach Golson (third season) Career Record: 5 seasons, (32-27) At Mary Montgomery: 2 seasons, (18-6) Stadium: Grider Field 2024 Enrollment: 1,453 Rank: 13th in the AHSAA, 13th in Class 7A

History

Overall Record: 302-454-11 (40.0%)
Last 25 years: 96-159 (38.0%) (Rank: 314th in the AHSAA, 28th in Class 7A)
Since 2010: 48-96 (33.3%) (Rank: 314th in the AHSAA, 28th in Class 7A)
Last Playoff Appearance: 2023
Last Region Championship: 2023
Last Winning Season: 2023
Last Losing Season: 2021

2023

Class: 7A              Region: 1
Record: 12-1    (Team record for wins in a season)
Region Record: 6-0, (first)
Playoff Record: Semi-finals loss to Central Phenix City by the score of 21-7.
Final ASWA Poll: 3rd
Scoring: 413 (31.8)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense: 125 (9.6)

2024

Class: 7A              Region: 1
Strength of Schedule: 54-54 (50%) (177th in the AHSAA, 23rd in Class 7A)
Region Strength:  29-44 (40%)
Non-Region Strength:  25-10 (71%)

2023 Results

8/25	@ Williamson (5A)	41-2	W
8/31	@ Charles Henderson (5A)	19-7	W
9/8	vs. Foley (7A) *	28-7	W
9/14	@ Fairhope (7A) *	24-10	W
9/21	vs. Alma Bryant (7A) *	42-7	W
9/29	@ Baldwin County (6A)	45-14	W
10/6	@ Davidson (7A) *	48-13	W
10/13	vs. Baker (7A) *	35-14	W
10/20	@ Daphne (7A) *	34-7	W
10/27	vs. Robertsdale (6A)	56-0	W
11/3	OPEN
Playoffs
11/10	vs. Dothan High	21-13	W
11/17	vs. Enterprise	13-10	W
11/24	@ Central Phenix City	7-21	L

2024 Schedule

8/23	@ Pace FL (8-2)
8/30	vs. Gulf Shores (6A)
9/6	vs. Daphne (7A) *
9/13	vs. Robertsdale (7A) *
9/20	@ Foley (7A) *
9/26	vs. Baldwin County (6A)
10/4	@ Alma Bryant (7A) *
10/11	vs. Fairhope (7A) *
10/18	@ Baker (7A) *
10/25	@ Davidson (7A) *
11/1	OPEN

Class 7A Region 1
Team	2023 Record	Region	Scoring
Mary Montgomery (7A)	12-1	6-0	413-125
Baker (7A)	8-3	5-1	357-276
Daphne (7A)	6-5	4-2	336-292
Davidson (7A)	5-6	3-3	333-455
Foley (7A)	5-5	2-4	323-366
Fairhope (7A)	3-7	1-5	164-223
Alma Bryant (7A)	2-8	0-6	186-275
Robertsdale (6A)	0-10	0-8	67-466

2024 Preview

       Mary Montgomery completed the 2023 season with a 12-1 record. The Vikings cruised through the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record going into the post season. Last year Mary Montgomery captured the region one title and a number one seed in the Class 7A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. It was the first region championship for the Vikings since the 1985 season. Mary Montgomery made a nice playoff run in 2023, reaching the semi-finals before falling to a very good Central Phenix City team by the score of 21-7.

       No team at Mary Montgomery ever won more games in a season than the twelve victories last year. The 413 points scored by the Vikings last year were a team record in a single season. The Vikings hope to continue the success they had last season. Coach Golson saw improvement as they won twelve games following a 6-5 record in 2022.

       The defense was very stingy last season as Mary Montgomery ranked 9th in the AHSAA. The defense allowed only 9.6 points a game.

       Since 2010, the Mary Montgomery football program has struggled with a record of 48-96.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Mary Montgomery has managed to compile a record of 96-159. Their 38.0% winning percentage ranks 28th in Class 7A and 314th in the AHSAA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       Mary Montgomery lost 7A All-State linebacker John Robinson to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating were teammates athlete Jared Hollins and receiver James Bolton.

Head Coach:
       The Vikings are led by head coach Zach Golson who is entering his third season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 18-6 over the past two seasons at Mary Montgomery. Under his direction the Vikings have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have won one region crown with Coach Golson. Over the course of his career, Coach Golson's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of four times and won one region championship.

Season Outlook:

       The Mary Montgomery Vikings will play in Class 7A region one during the 2024 season.



       The Vikings enter the 2024 season riding a 16 game regular season winning streak. They have won 9 straight games on their home turf at Grider Field.

       Coach Golson and his 2023 Vikings set records last year and produced one of the best teams in Semmes ever possibly. When you consider they were 0-10 just three years ago it is quite an accomplishment.

       The loss of Jared Hollis at QB will be difficult to replace for the Vikings. Hollins accounted for more than 5,500 total yards and 62 touchdowns the past two seasons. They will also be without their leading receiver James Bolton who graduated.

       Coach Golson will be counting on Shondell Harris to fill some very big shoes at quarterback after making the move from his safety position.

    The Vikings are considered one of the favorites for the region one championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Returning Starters:
WR Jaiden Smith Sr., OL Jon Stephens Sr., OL Kyle Thomas Sr., DT Kaleb Morris, OLB Devin Pettway, LB Jordan Simmons, MLB Drake Manning, CB Shondell Harris

Season Opener:
       The Vikings open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Pace FL on Friday, August 23.

       This will be the second meeting between Mary Montgomery and Pace FL on the football field. The Vikings have a 0-1-0 record against Pace FL. They last met in with

Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.