It was a difficult job
narrowing the long list of excellent teams to just ten in 4A. There are a lot of teams deserving to
be in the top ten that were left off the list. St. James, West
Morgan and St. Michael are all deserving consideration this
season. There is just no way to get more than ten teams in the top
ten.
The Jackson
Aggies will be on a mission this fall. That mission is to bring home a
Blue Map to the town. They will be loaded at the skill positions
led by QB Landon Duckworth and RB EJ Crowell. Those two juniors
are electric and will showcase their talents in the south half of the
state in 2024.
Cherokee County
also feels they have unfinished business after losing in the past two
state championship games to Andalusia and Catholic. The Warriors
may have lost their star running back in Jacob Cornejo but they will
still have an offense that will pound the ball and play tough defense.
Bibb County
will be out to do something no other team in school history has ever
accomplished in Centreville. That would be to win a semi-final
football game having only gotten that far once back in 2010 under Coach
Mike Battles, Jr. The Choctaws return several players at the skill
positions and will be very strong on defense this season.
If you appreciate offense look no further in 4A than the Brooks
Lions in Killen, Alabama. QB Garrett Burrough will be back to
lead one of the best offenses last year in 4A. They also return a
couple of excellent linebackers on defense.
Mobile Christian
returns a host of star players including QB Damien Gatson and RB PJ Brown.
Can they compete in 4A this season? That will be the one question
that will have to be answered as the season progresses. A couple
of transfers out of the program could hurt them on defense.
The Handley
Tigers are always one of those schools you pencil in each summer who
will be around in the playoffs and this year should be no different.
They return several key skilled players that will give them plenty of
experience on offense when the season opens. That first game
against Central Clay County should give us a good idea about just how
good this version of Handley will be in 2024.
Pleasant Grove
will enjoy the move to 4A this fall. With a cast of talented
players and a will to get back to the Super Seven look for this team to
be loaded and ready for another deep playoff run in 2024.
Madison Academy
will be younger this season and according to Coach Godsey if the
newcomers can fill in some voids left by graduation the Mustangs have a
chance to be very good.
Teams who could upset the order of
things in 4A include St. James, St. Michael, B.T. Washington, American
Christian, Anniston, Deshler, Dora and Pike County.
These schools will have a say in the playoffs just as they did last year.
Playoff Teams
Region 1
Region 2
Jackson
Straughn
St. Michael
Pike County
Mobile Christian
Opp
W.S. Neal
Daleville
Region 3
Region 4
Handley
Pleasant Grove
St. James
Bibb County
B.T. Washington
American Christian
Tallassee
Oak Grove
Region 5
Region 6
Dora
Cherokee County
Haleyville
Anniston
Fayette County
Oneonta
Fultondale
Etowah
Region 7
Region 8
Brooks
Madison Academy
West Morgan
Randolph
Deshler
Westminster Christian
Central Florence
North Jackson
Most
Difficult Schedules 2024
The most difficult schedule in 4A belongs
to Jackson. As a matter of fact they have the second most difficult weighted
schedule behind Dadeville. The Aggies open the season at 6A
Saraland before taking on 5A Demopolis the next week. They also travel
to 7A Baker in week 4.
St. Michael will open at
Bayside Academy then host 5A John Carroll and close the season against 5A
UMS-Wright.
Hatton will jump to 4A this fall
after playing in 2A most recently. The school grew when R.A. Hubbard
closed a couple for years ago. The Hornets are not afraid of a
difficult schedule as they will take on Westminster Christian and
Russellville in non-region games. In case we forget their region
schedule is no cakewalk either.
The most difficult non-region schedule goes to Randolph. The Raiders
will host West Morgan (12-1) to open the season and later host Pisgah
(12-2).
The easiest overall schedules in 4A belong to New Brockton, Curry and Geneva
this season.
Toughest Overall
W.S. Neal
64
37
Jackson
72
43
St. Michael
68
44
Orange Beach
65
45
Plainview
67
51
Central Florence
64
49
Brooks
63
49
Hatton
65
50
Randolph
66
51
Tarrant
61
49
Weighted Schedule* See note below
Jackson
90.9
St. Michael
70.4
Hatton
67.7
Etowah
65.0
Orange Beach
65.0
Tallassee
63.3
Tarrant
63.1
Anniston
61.8
North Jackson
61.4
St. James
61.0
* Weighted schedule - AHSFHS.org uses a formula to
better show teams with difficult schedule. Example: If a team plays an
opponent from a higher classification they are awarded extra points above
their opponents win total. If they play an opponent from a lower
classification points are deducted from their opponents win total. If a team
plays an opponent from two classifications lower than their own more points
are deducted.
Most
Victories 2010-2023
The Madison Academy Mustangs have won the
most games since 2010 among the 4A schools. They supplant Jackson as the top
team when the Mustangs moved up from 3A over the winter. Only five
teams have won games during this timeframe.
The
Jackson Aggies drop to second place with 134 wins
and a state championship in 2011. Bibb County with a winning percentage of
74.4% land in the third spot. They just keep quietly winning football games
in Centreville.
Titles
Madison Academy
153-34
81.8%
3
Jackson
134-40
77.0%
1
Bibb County
125-43
74.4%
American Christian
126-45
73.7%
Pleasant Grove
123-51
70.7%
Oneonta
114-52
70.5%
1
St. James
115-49
70.1%
1
Handley
117-52
69.2%
1
Brooks
110-51
68.3%
Mobile Christian
119-56
68.0%
1
Etowah
111-53
67.7%
Fayette County
117-57
67.2%
Deshler
114-60
65.5%
Alexandria
96-58
62.3%
Westminster Christian
92-60
60.5%
Last
25 seasons (1999-2023)
While Deshler has won the most games over the past 25 seasons American
Christian edged them out for winning percentage. The Brooks Lions have
quietly won 211 football games since 1999 and hold onto second place
with a winning percentage of 72%.
The 231 wins by American
Christian is the second most wins among teams that have not
won a state championship the past twenty five seasons.
