Three years ago the Moody Blue Devils were coming off an 0-9 season and
not much more was expected of them during the 2021 football season. Just
one year later Jake Ganus took over the football program and we now find
Moody sitting atop of the AHSFHS.org Top Ten preseason poll in 2024. Who
could have imagined it? The Blue Devils may not win a state championship
in 2024 but rest assured they will make some noise before exiting the
playoffs if they fall short.
The Ramsay Rams
will be led by Senior QB Kameron Keenan who threw for 3,196 yards last
year and 31 touchdowns. He will have a cast of skilled players around
him as good as any in 5A this season. The only question mark for Ramsay
will be the defense which will need some rebuilding and younger players
to step into positions for them to be successful.
Guntersville
will run the ball in 2024 with Enelson Delva carrying most of the workload.
The Wildcats return 13 starters from last year's squad and should be a
force in the north this fall.
Central Clay County
and Coach Danny Horn will also be relying on a star running back as LaDamion Boyd
returns to the lineup for the Vols.
Catholic
enters the season riding a 34 game regular season winning streak and
will welcome back most of their starters from last season led by RB Josh
Griffin on offense. Moving up to 5A should have little
effect on the winning at Catholic.
In a class loaded with running backs the best may reside in
Russellville. Cam Phinizee
ran for almost 2,400 yards in 2023 and will carry the load for the
Golden Tigers if they hope to win a championship this season.
The competitive balance rules set up by the
AHSAA may slow down the championship runs for UMS-Wright but make no
mistake the Bulldogs are still competitive.
Other teams who could upset all these well made plans come playoff time
include Briarwood, Boaz, Center Point, Leeds, Vigor and Corner.
Class 5A may be the most competitive classification across the
board.
Playoff Teams
Region 1
Region 2
Vigor
Catholic Montgomery
UMS-Wright
Andalusia
Citronelle
Eufaula
Faith Academy
Headland
Region 3
Region 4
Demopolis
Central Clay County
Montevallo
Beauregard
Northside
Elmore County
Selma
Valley
Region 5
Region 6
Ramsay
Moody
Briarwood
Leeds
John Carroll
Center Point
Corner
Springville
Region 7
Region 8
Russellville
Guntersville
Fairview
Boaz
Lawrence County
Scottsboro
Priceville
Arab
Most
Difficult Schedules 2024
The most difficult schedule in 5A and the
third most difficult in any
classification belongs to Moody. The Blue Devils play Georgia
Powerhouse Gainesville (12-1), 6A Oxford
(9-3), 6A Helena (9-3) and 7A Auburn (9-3) as non-region opponents. They play
eight teams that reached the playoffs in 2023.
Catholic will take on St. James, Catholic-Pensacola Florida (11-3) and 6A
Saraland (14-1) in non-region games. Ramsay opens the season with
games against 6A Parker and 6A Clay-Chalkville.
The easiest overall schedules in 5A
belong to Sipsey Valley, Selma and Montevallo in 2024.
Toughest Overall
Charles Henderson
85
38
Moody
77
39
Catholic Montgomery
81
43
Carroll
73
42
Ramsay
67
37
Scottsboro
71
42
Greenville
74
44
Andalusia
73
44
Corner
72
44
Douglas
68
45
Weighted Schedule* See note below
Moody
87.8
Catholic Montgomery
81.9
Charles Henderson
81.1
Andalusia
76.6
Ramsay
76.0
Carroll
74.2
Greenville
71.9
Eufaula
70.4
Briarwood
69.2
Leeds
67.1
* 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
UMS-Wright has won nineteen more
games over the past dozen seasons than any other school in 5A this season. Only
six other
teams in any classification have won more games than the Bulldogs during that time.
The Bulldogs have a three season head start on the
second place team by winning percentage in Central Clay County. The
Central Volunteers started playing football in 2012 when Clay County
and Lineville consolidated.
5A have the most teams
with at least 100 victories putting fourteen on the list.
Titles
UMS-Wright
151-36
80.7%
3
Central
Clay County
115-35
76.7%
2
Andalusia
132-43
75.4%
Guntersville
119-42
73.9%
Demopolis
121-47
72.0%
Leeds
124-53
70.1%
3
Ramsay
105-46
69.5%
1
Briarwood
123-54
69.5%
Russellville
111-52
68.1%
1
Beauregard
109-51
68.1%
1
Eufaula
109-53
67.3%
Catholic Montgomery
108-57
65.5%
Vigor
107-59
64.5%
Jacksonville
103-58
64.0%
Last
25 seasons (1999-2023)
The UMS-Wright Bulldogs have the third most wins in any classification with
278. Russellville with 240 victories over the past twenty-five seasons is
the most for any team not winning a state championship during that
time.
The Demopolis Tigers are one of only three teams that have not had a
losing season over the past twenty-five seasons.
