The 2024 season opened this week with a partial schedule of games. Here are a few tidbits from the first week of football action.

   *  A great start to the 2024 football season! If you missed any of the action we will give you a weekly rundown of everything. Be sure to catch our podcast this Sunday as we will be posting a new episode giving the fans an overview of all the action with Kurt, TP and myself.

   *   Follow the Barber Shop Gurus on Wednesday morning for their latest game analysis and predictions.  Last week the guys were 9-3 in their predictions.  You can also try your luck at beating them in the forums on Monday.

   *  This is what I call "do not overreact week."  Twenty-six AHSAA top ten teams lost this past week according to the ASWA polls.  That is the second most all-time only trailing week one of the 1992 football season when 28 ranked teams lost.  Along those lines, eight 4A teams lost which is a record.  On five occasions seven teams in a single classification had lost in the same week but never eight.

   *  We will start of with the AHSAA Kickoff Classic.  On Thursday night the T.R. Miller Tigers defeated Reeltown 28-7.  The Rebels outgained the Tigers but turned the ball over four times in what would have been a close game.  Friday night the fun continued as Carver defeated Vestavia Hills by a score of 41-19.  The Bobby Carr era in Montgomery is underway.

   *  Isn't it great to see these big interstate matchups on the opening weekend?  On Thursday night we saw Moody hang with Gainesville for a half before falling 31-7.  Thompson lost to Grayson 15-14 in overtime.  Both Alabama schools made a great showing in defeat and we can be assured both will recover and are teams to be reckoned with all season.

   *   Overall Alabama had a record of 7-8 against other states this past weekend. They were 2-6 against Georgia, 4-2 versus Florida and won their only game against an opponent from Mississippi.  We are only counting the AHSAA schools.  There were some great showings by Oxford, Auburn, Dothan and Hoover to defend the sate's honor.

   *  In Saturday's action we saw Vigor defeat rival Blount in the Battle of Pritchard 38-6 and the Hoover Bucs took the 1,000 mile trip south and flew home with a hard fought 17-14 win over the Western High Wildcats of Davie, Florida.

   *  There were some great finishes but none bigger than Ohatchee scoring on a final play Hail Mary pass to defeat New Hope 76-71.  It was the highest scoring game ever in regulation and the second highest ever if we include overtime games.  The final stats are off the charts and it is believed the teams set a record for most total yards in a game with over 1,300 yards of total offense.  Combined the two QBs threw for over 860 yards.

   *  Austin got by Hartselle in overtime 35-34 when Hartselle failed on a two-point conversion.  Piedmont scored on a dramatic late game pass play to defeat Cherokee County 34-27. 

   *  The biggest upset was likely B.T. Washington knocking off Eufaula 18-10. Other upsets according to the AHSFHS Power Ratings were Hillcrest Evergreen beating B.C. Rain 16-14, Cold Springs outscoring Hanceville 48-30 and McKenzie running over Wilcox Central by a score of 47-12.

   *  Most teams went out and proved they were deserving of being ranked among the best in the state this preseason.  Parker handled Ramsay 41-12, Hewitt-Trussville dumped J.A.G. 50-6, Central Clay County ran over Handley 40-7, Guntersville handled Southside 35-13, Gordo knocked off Fayette County 62-12 and Elba behind Alvin Henderson defeated Luverne 50-22.

   *  A big "Welcome to the AHSAA" for the schools who came over from the AISA.  Three of the five won their opening game as Glenwood got by Valley 21-20, Lee-Scott surprised Excel 22-16 and Pike Liberal Arts beat New Brockton 35-6.  Autauga Academy had the week off and Pickens Academy fell to Hale County 33-20.

   *  Thirty-one different coaches won their first football game at their respective new schools.  Congratulations to all the new coaches in Alabama.

   *  Did you notice Leroy was shutout 35-0 by Thomasville. It was the first time they have not scored in a game since 2015 some 109 games ago.
  
   *  Fyffe has been ranked by the ASWA for an amazing 165 consecutive polls dating back to the 2009 season. The Red Devils open the 2024 season as the #1 team in 3A and face an excellent Pisgah team on August 29th.

   *   The Leroy Bears began the 2024 football season riding the state's longest winning streak at twenty games but lost to Thomasville. The current longest winning streak among the AHSAA schools now belongs to Catholic Montgomery with a string of 16 straight victories. Lowndes Academy in the AISA has a 19 game streak going.

   *   Columbia now holds onto the longest losing streak at 82 straight contests. They now hold the all-time record for consecutive losses.

   *   Catholic Montgomery has a streak of 34 consecutive region wins. The Knights open region play next week against Eufaula on a big game. Madison Academy (26) and Russellville (25) are the next two schools with long region winning streaks.

   *   Barbour County has lost 65 consecutive region games but do not begin region play for a couple of weeks.

   *  The #4 ranked Catholic Montgomery Knights have won 35 straight regular season games after knocking off St. James 42-14. The Elba Tigers are behind with a string of 28 consecutive regular season wins.

   *   The Saraland Spartans, ranked #1 in 6A, are rolling along with 25 consecutive home wins. The Spartans defeated Jackson 35-27 on their home turf to open the season Friday.

   *   Catholic Montgomery also holds onto the longest road winning streak having won 24 consecutive road games. Their first three games are all road contests this year are at St. James, Eufaula and Saraland.

   *   Fyffe hopes to avoid the dreaded shutout and extend their streak of consecutive games scoring. They are currently sitting on a string of 321 games without being shutout. T.R. Miller sits atop this list with a string of 354 games.

   *   Congratulations to Bibb County this week. The Choctaws won the 600th game in school history becoming the 40th team do accomplish the feat. They knocked off Chilton County 29-21.

   *   Mark Hastings, the head football coach at Lynn, picked up his 150th win in his career as the Bears defeated Meek 33-20 last week.  Congrats Coach on reaching that milestone.

Team approaching the 700 win club
  688  -  Thomasville  (688-350-49)

Team approaching the 650 win club
   648 -  Guntersville  (648-414-21)
   647 -  Jackson  (647-374-41)

Team approaching the 600 win club
  600  -  Bibb County  (600-430-38)
  596  -  Athens  (596-427-36)
  594  -  Fyffe  (594-309-13)
  594  -  Prattville  (594-416-27)
  593  -  Sweet Water  (593-366-25)
  593  -  Addison  (593-305-13)

Team approaching the 500 win club
  498  -  Minor  (498-486-22)
  496  -  Greensboro  (496-441-37)
  496  -  Hale County  (496-442-24)
  493  -  Cottonwood  (493-377-20)
  492  -  Pike County  (492-392-18)


Coaches approaching the 150 win club
  150  -  Mark Hastings (Lynn)  (150-123)
  147  -  Ben Blackmon (Enterprise)  (147-59)
  145  -  David McKinney (Winfield)  (146-56)
  145  -  Jerry Hood (Leeds)  (145-69)
  144  -  Roland Jones Jr. (Brantley)  (144-46)
  143  -  Smitty Grider (Benjamin Russell)  (143-72)

Coaches approaching the 100 win club
  99  - Jeremy Perkins (Austin)  (99-60)
  98  - David Smothers (Addison)  (98-42)