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






2024 Team Previews 

  


Wilcox Academy Wildcats

Head Coach: Lebo Jones (second season)
Career Record: 7 seasons, (27-43)
At Wilcox Academy: one season, (10-4)
Stadium: Wildcat Field

 History 
Overall Record:   324-273-7   (54.0%)
Last 25 years:   144-135   (52.0%)  (Rank: 15 in the AISA)
Since 2010:   73-80  (47.7%)  (Rank: 13 in the AISA)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2023
Last Region Championship:   2023
Last Winning Season:   2023
Last Losing Season:   2022

 2023 
Class:  A              Region:   2
Record:  10-4
Region Record:   4-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Lost in the AISA-A State Championship game to Lowndes Academy 20-7 in Troy.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  477 (34.1)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense:  232 (16.6)


 2024 
Class: AA              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 51-62 (45%) (25th in the AISA, 8th in Class AA)
Region Strength:  29-27 (52%)
Non-Region Strength:  22-35 (39%)



 2023 Results 
 8/18  @ Clarke Prep  (AA)   22-29   L (OT) 
 8/25  vs. Pickens Academy  (AA)   41-6   W  
 9/2  @ Macon-East Academy  (AA)   38-6   W  
 9/8  vs. Sparta Academy  (A)  *  50-0   W  
 9/15  vs. Crenshaw Christian  (A)   34-14   W  
 9/22  @ Morgan Academy  (AAA)   42-6   W  
 9/29  vs. Southern Academy  (A)   29-30   L  
 10/6  @ South Choctaw Academy  (A)  *  35-8   W  
 10/13  @ Snook Christian  (A)  *  48-7   W  
 10/20  vs. Jackson Academy  (A)  *  34-30   W  
 10/27  vs. Patrician Academy  (AA)   25-48   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/3  vs. Lakeside    23-16   W  
 11/9  vs. Southern Academy    49-12   W  
 11/16   Lowndes Academy    7-20   L  

 2024 Schedule 
 8/23  @ Clarke Prep  (AAA)       
 8/30   OPEN 
 9/6  vs. Snook Christian  (AA)  *      
 9/13  vs. Jackson Academy  (AA)  *      
 9/20  @ South Choctaw Academy  (AA)  *      
 9/27   OPEN 
 10/4  @ Escambia Academy  (AAA)       
 10/10  vs. Patrician Academy  (AA)  *      
 10/18  @ Southern Academy  (AA)  *      
 10/25  @ Fort Dale Academy  (AAA)       
 11/1  vs. Sparta Academy  (AA)       
 11/8  @ Sparta Academy        
 11/14  @ South Choctaw Academy        


Class  AA Region  2
Team 2023 Record Region Scoring                            
Wilcox Academy (AISA-A) 10-4 4-0477-232
Jackson Academy (AISA-A) 9-3 3-1392-260
Patrician Academy (AISA-AA) 8-4 3-1394-278
Southern Academy (AISA-A) 7-5 2-2311-278
South Choctaw Academy (AISA-A) 5-6 2-2276-251
Snook Christian (AISA-A) 0-9 0-4158-493

 2024 Preview 


       Wilcox Academy completed the 2023 season with a 10-4 record. Last year Wilcox Academy captured the region two title and a number one seed in the Class A playoffs. They finished region play with a 4-0 record. It was the first region championship for the Wildcats since the 2003 season. Last year the Wilcox Academy Wildcats reached the AISA-A State Championship game only to fall just short of claiming a title. They were defeated by Lowndes Academy in the State Championship game 20-7 in Troy.

       The Wildcats improved in 2023 with their first winning season since 2019. The 477 points scored by the Wildcats last year were a team record in a single season. The Wildcats hope to continue the success they had last season. Coach Jones saw improvement as they won ten games following a 4-7 record in 2022.

       Since 2010, Wilcox Academy has gone a combined 73-80. Their 47.7% winning percentage ranks 5th in Class AA over the past fourteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Wilcox Academy has managed to compile a record of 144-135. Their 52.0% winning percentage ranks 6th in Class AA and 15th in the AISA.

Graduated All-State Players:
       Wilcox Academy lost AISA All-State  offensive lineman Glen Hasselvander to graduation. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

Head Coach:
       The Wildcats are led by head coach Lebo Jones who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 10-4 record in his first season at Wilcox Academy. The Wildcats saw improvement from a 4-7 record the season before coach Jones arrived. Under his direction the Wildcats have qualified for the playoffs once. They have won one region crown with Coach Jones. Over the course of his career, Coach Jones' teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times and won one region championship.

Season Outlook:

       The Wilcox Academy Wildcats will play in Class AA region two during the 2024 season. The Wildcats move up in classification to Class AA. They may find the going slightly tougher with the move.

      

      

    The Wildcats are considered one of the favorites for the region two championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2017 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

Season Opener:
       The Wildcats open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Clarke Prep on Friday, August 23 at Billy Hamilton Field. Last year the Clarke Prep Gators finished with an overall record of 8-5 and in third place in Class AA region two. The Gators lost in the semi-finals round of the Class AA playoffs to Banks Academy by a score of 64-3.

       Wilcox Academy and Clarke Prep have met a total of 33 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 13-20-0 record against the Gators. They last met in 2023 with Clarke Prep winning by a score of 29-22.

  


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.