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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Pickens County Tornados

Head Coach: Michael Williams (seventh season)
Career Record: 6 seasons, (63-23)
At Pickens County: 6 seasons, (63-23)
Stadium: G.S. Spruill Stadium
2024 Enrollment:  115
Rank:  359th in the AHSAA, 30th in Class 1A

 History 
Overall Record:   657-399-15   (62.0%)
Last 25 years:   230-93   (71.0%)  (Rank: 33rd in the AHSAA, 8th in Class 1A)
Since 2010:   145-48  (75.1%)  (Rank: 23rd in the AHSAA, 6th in Class 1A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2004

 2023 
Class:  1A              Region:   5
Record:  10-4
Region Record:   5-2, (third)
Playoff Record:   Semi-finals loss to Coosa Christian by the score of 21-12.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  394 (28.1)
Defense:  234 (16.7)


 2024 
Class: 1A              Region:   5
Strength of Schedule: 59-52 (53%) (121st in the AHSAA, 5th in Class 1A)
Region Strength:  34-41 (45%)
Non-Region Strength:  25-11 (69%)



 2023 Results 
 8/25  vs. Aliceville  (2A)   8-6   W  
 9/1  @ Brilliant  (1A)  *  34-6   W  
 9/8  vs. Sumiton Christian  (1A)   56-0   W  
 9/15  @ Berry Fayette  (1A)  *  44-7   W  
 9/22  vs. South Lamar  (1A)  *  20-21   L  
 9/29  @ Gordo  (3A)   8-52   L  
 10/6  vs. Lynn  (1A)  *  6-28   L  
 10/13  vs. Holy Spirit  (1A)  *  51-0   W  
 10/20  @ Hubbertville  (1A)  *  39-15   W  
 10/27   OPEN 
 11/2  @ Marion County  (1A)  *  34-15   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/10  @ Addison    32-20   W  
 11/17  vs. Winterboro    32-29   W  
 11/24  vs. Wadley    18-14   W  
 12/1  @ Coosa Christian    12-21   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Aliceville  (2A)       
 8/29  vs. Tuscaloosa Academy  (2A)       
 9/6  vs. Sumiton Christian  (1A)  *      
 9/13  @ Lynn  (1A)  *      
 9/20  @ Brilliant  (1A)  *      
 9/27  vs. Gordo  (3A)       
 10/4  @ Hubbertville  (1A)  *      
 10/11  vs. South Lamar  (1A)  *      
 10/18  @ Berry Fayette  (1A)  *      
 10/25  vs. Marion County  (1A)  *      
 11/1   OPEN 


Class  1A Region  5
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Lynn (1A) 10-2 7-0509-162
South Lamar (1A) 8-4 6-1354-257
Pickens County (1A) 10-4 5-2394-234
Marion County (1A) 5-6 4-3275-381
Hubbertville (1A) 4-6 3-4263-264
Berry Fayette (1A) 4-6 2-5225-294
Brilliant (1A) 3-7 0-7220-343
Sumiton Christian (1A) 0-10 0-067-338

 2024 Preview 


       Pickens County completed the 2023 season with a 10-4 record. With their 5-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 1A region five, the Tornados earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Pickens County made a nice playoff run in 2023, reaching the semi-finals before falling to a very good Coosa Christian team by the score of 21-12.

       Over the past two seasons the Tornados have Finished 21-8 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. As one of the best football programs in the state since 2010, Pickens County has gone a combined 145-48. Their 75.1% winning percentage ranks 6th in Class 1A over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Pickens County has finished a combined 230-93. Their 71.0% winning percentage ranks 8th in Class 1A and 33rd in the AHSAA. The Tornados have been successful on the football field with twenty-three winning seasons during this time. Their last losing season was 2004.

Graduated All-State Players:
       Pickens County lost 1A All-State  receiver Santonio Jones Jr to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating were teammates linebacker Korbit Sommerville, defensive lineman Rozowicz Cunningham Jr. and defensive lineman Devin Cohen.

Head Coach:
       The Tornados are led by head coach Michael Williams who is entering his seventh season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 63-23 over the past six seasons at Pickens County. Under his direction the Tornados have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times. They have won two region crowns with Coach Williams.

Season Outlook:

       The Pickens County Tornados will play in Class 1A region five during the 2024 season.

       The Tornados have one of the toughest overall schedules in Class 1A. Their opponents had a combined record of 59-52 last season. That ranks 5th in Class 1A and 121st in the AHSAA.

       Five straight seasons with at least ten victories is something the fans can be proud of at Pickens County. They have been competitive for a long time in 1A and 2024 will be no different. They always play a tough regular season schedule which prepares them for those long playoff runs they seem to put together every year. The last time they lost in the first round was 2014.

       Look for another great season for the Tornados.

    The Tornados are considered one of the favorites for the region five championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Don't be surprised if the Tornados are making another deep run into the playoffs. The Tornados have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2004 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

Returning Starters:
Tackle Nate Finch

Season Opener:
       The Tornados open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Aliceville on Friday, August 23 at Memorial Stadium. Last year the Aliceville Yellow Jackets finished with an overall record of 5-6 and in third place in Class 2A region five. The Yellow Jackets lost in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs to Lexington by a score of 54-28.

       Pickens County and Aliceville have met a total of 86 times on the football field. The Tornados have a 42-43-1 record against the Yellow Jackets. They last met in 2023 with Pickens County winning by a score of 8-6.

  


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.