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Coach Rickey Johnson	The longest dynasty in our series belongs to the Hazlewood Golden Bears for their run from 1981 through the 2000 season. Over this span of twenty years they won a total of nine state championships with a playoff record of 65 wins and 11 losses. Each of these twenty teams qualified for the playoffs while nineteen of them won their region championship. Their region record was an amazing 69-2 during this timeframe.           The Golden Bears, from the small town of Town Creek, Alabama, also hold the distinction of having the most coaches on our list with three. David Hogan served as head coach from 1980-1984, followed by Jackie Ferguson 1985-1989 and Rickey Johnson 1990-2002.            Another interesting fact about Hazlewood is that during these 20 seasons they were ranked in the top ten in the final ASWA poll every season. As a matter of fact they were ranked in the top ten a total of 212 times out of a possible 222 polls that were released. Seventeen of the teams won at least ten games but only the 1982 team managed to finish the season undefeated with a 13-0 record.
From 1980 through 1989 Hazlewood recorded the most wins of any team in the state for the decade with 113. It was the most wins in any decade by any team to that point. During the 1990s the Golden Bears also recorded 113 wins which ranked second behind T.R. Miller (114) in the state.           Between 1988 and 1993, the Golden Bears won a record 29 consecutive playoff games and five consecutive Class 2A Titles. From 1987-96 the team won ten games during ten consecutive seasons.           The Golden Bears went 232-35 over this twenty year span. The most amazing thing may be that many of the losses came against higher classification teams. Over half the losses came against teams from higher classifications. They lost to several 4A, 5A and even a 6A team.           The list of players from Hazlewood reads like an All-American team. Such names as Pierre, Chris and Kerry Goode, Antonio Langham, Chris Hood, Courtney Rose, Tony Harris, Montoya Madden, Tarrant Lynch, Damien Warren, Renaldo McCoy, Lymos McDonald and Steven Harris.
Hazlewood High School
1981 - (13-1)  Hazlewood lost only to 3A Colbert County on their way to a Class 1A state championship. After a scoreless opening quarter the Golden Bears exploded for 20 second quarter points and coasted to a 28-0 victory over McKenzie to lay claim to the 1981 1A state title.            Team captain, Chris Goode rushed for 1,158 yards as a senior. He also played linebacker and averaged eight tackles per game. Other star players included linemen Chris Spangler, Jessie Gilchrist, Vic Bracken and Ricky Purser along with quarterback Joseph Langham. Greg Streater picked off seven passes at safety while Joseph Langham collected six interceptions. David Thaxton averaged nine unassisted tackles a game along the defensive line. 1982 - (13-0)  Jumping up to Class 2A did little to slow down Hazlewood in 1982. Brothers, and future Alabama stars Kerry and Pierre Goode, led the Golden Bears to the Class 2A state title. Hazlewood scored 413 points and gave up just 145 despite making the jump from Class 1A to Class 2A.           The Golden Bears’ closest games were a 21-6 victory over Courtland to open the season and a 16-12 win at Gordo in the state semifinals. David Hogan’s team also included first-team all-state linebacker Lee Ester Garner and first-team defensive back/quarterback Joseph Langham.           Kerry Goode rushed for 1,025 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He was hampered most of the season by an ankle injury but still managed to average 6.7 yards a carry. Joseph Langham was again an All-State performer at the quarterback position. Lee Ester Garner led the defense playing linebacker. 1983 - (12-1)  The Golden Bears snapped a 32-game winning streak with a loss to Oak Grove 22-21 in the semi-finals of the playoffs. Future coach of R.A. Hubbard, junior Lymos McDonald, led the offense playing quarterback and handed off to sophomore runner Pierre Goode. Marcus Austin and Rodney Terry anchored the line while DB Earl King and WR Toby Wilson were also named the the 2A All-State team. 1984 - (10-1)  The Bears Lost to Courtland in the second round of the playoffs. McDonald and Goode returned as starters but the Golden Bears were unable to make a deep playoff run. 1985 - (11-3)  Jackie Ferguson returned to Hazlewood as the head coach after coaching at Athens for the previous five seasons. The Bears lost to 4A Fayette County, 2A Courtland and Class 4A state champion Alexandria during the regular season but managed to defeat Autaugaville 23-16 in the title game to capture another championship            Pierre Goode led the offense. As a senior, he ran for 1,894 yards on 161 carries (11.8 avg.) and scored 32 touchdowns. Goode set a single season state record by scoring 233 points in 1985. During his career, Goode rushed for 4,747 yards (9.3 avg.) and set another state record by scoring 85 touchdowns. He was good on 35 of 42 extra point tries and rushed for three two-point conversion. For his efforts, Goode was named Mr. Football following the 1985 season.                   Kennedy Byrd, Eric Cooper and Chris Mitchell (Ole Miss) led the defense while sophomore Tony Harris took over the quarterbacking duties. Eric Koger anchored the offensive line. 1986 - (9-2)  Hazlewood lost 14 seniors, including 13 starters, to graduation including four all-state players. The team lost to Courtland during the regular season and Fyffe in the second round of the playoffs. 1987 - (12-2)  The Golden Bears lost to 5A Colbert County and Winston County in the semi-finals. Tony Harris played quarterback and defensive back for the Golden Bears. His rushing and passing totals were over 1,800 yards. In his last game he ran a quarterback sneak for 99 yards and a touchdown. Senior tailback Derrick Steward was the leading rusher alongside sophomore sensation Tarrant Lynch. The two combined for over 1,500 yards rushing. 1988 - (14-1) The Bears lost only to 4A Colbert County during the regular season and captured another title by defeating New Brockton 28-0 in the title game. Juniors Antonio Langham, Will Hill and Tarrant Lynch led the team. Reaching the championship game proved to be nothing short of a miracle for the Golden Bears.            In the semi-finals, Cordova pushed Hazlewood to the limit. After an early touchdown by future Alabama star Antonio Langham, the Golden Bears were clinging to a 6-0 lead when Alan Pate of Cordova scored on a three yard run to take a 7-6 lead. Minutes later an interception led to another Cordova score for a 14-6 lead with just 3:15 remaining in the game. Another interception with 1:26 left by Cordova seemed to seal the win for the Red Devils.            After failing to move the ball, Cordova lined up to punt from deep in their own territory with just ten seconds remaining in the game. Hazlewood blocked the punt falling on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and the game went to overtime. Cordova got the ball first but missed a short field goal. Antonio Langham was good on a 28 yard field goal for the win and another championship game appearance for the Golden Bears. 1989 - (13-1)  Hazlewood lost seventeen seniors to graduation following their 1988 title season. It mattered little once the new season began as they only lost to 4A Colbert County during the regular season before thumping Georgiana 75-0 in the championship game for their second consecutive title. Antonio Langham intercepted four passes for Hazlewood against Georgiana.           Langham was a leader at defensive back and during his senior season intercepted 15 passes. Curtis Finch played quarterback while Tarrant Lynch once again led the running attack.           Following the season, head coach Jackie Ferguson stepped down after only five seasons as the head coach. He served two stints as the head coach (1976-79, 1985-89) and finished with a 96-18 record at Hazlewood with three state championships. 1990 - (12-3)  Rickey Johnson takes over the head coaching duties after eight seasons at Hatton and Mount Hope. The team lost to 4A Colbert County, 5A Fayette County and 1A state champion Courtland. They won their third straight title with a 14-0 win over Cottonwood in the title game at home. Renaldo McCoy led the offense while Brian Lovelady was a standout performer for the defense along the defensive line. 1991 - (13-1)  All-State performer Renardo McCoy played quarterback and defensive back for the Golden Bears and led them to a fourth straight 2A championship with a 32-22 win over Reeltown on the road in the title game. The only loss came to 5A Fayette County. Terrance Steele stood out along the defensive line for the Golden Bears. 1992 - (13-2)  Montoya Madden rushed for over 2,100 yards as a junior while leading the Golden Bears to a record fifth state title with a 37-6 win over Reeltown.            Hazlewood broke open a close 3-0 game with a pair of touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half and added three more scores in the second half to beat Reeltown for the second consecutive year in the finals. Madden rushed for 131 yards on 17 carries to pace the Bears. Steven Harris ran for 107 yards and scored two touchdowns.           The only losses came to 6A Central Tuscaloosa and 3A Litchfield during the regular season. Madden ran for more than 4,000 yards as a four year starter at Hazlewood. Junior Chris Hood was dominate from the linebacker position and played alongside senior All-State player Terrance Steele. 1993 - (12-3)  The losses came to powerhouse Brentwood Academy TN, 1A Courtland and a rare title game loss to St. Clair County by the score of 18-13. Chris Hood was considered as the top prospect in the state as a linebacker his senior season. He started for four year and helped lead the Golden Bears to three state titles and a runner-up spot in 1993.           Steven Harris played quarterback, linebacker and defensive back for Hazlewood during his high school career. Despite missing five games with a knee injury, Harris made 110 tackles with three interceptions and piled up more than 800 yards in total offense. He was a four year starter at Hazlewood. Following the 1993 season, three Hazlewood players signed letters-of-intent with the Alabama Crimson Tide. How many schools of any size can make such a claim? 1994 - (10-3)  The losses came against Tanner, Hatton and Tanner again in the 3rd round of the playoffs. 1995 - (14-1)  Courtney Rose, from his defensive back position, led the defense to ten shutouts during the season. He was also a standout in the backfield alongside his cousin Damien Warren. The only loss came to Clay County 7-6 in the title game.            The team set a school record by scoring 549 points during the season. The defense allowed only 47 points in fifteen games and shutout nine opponents. It took one of the best defensive teams of all-time to shut down the Hazlewood offense. The only points allowed in the playoffs were the seven scored by Clay County. 1996 - (10-1)  The Golden Bears beat Class 3A champs Colbert County during the regular season but lost to Pickens County in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The team could play defense. They allowed only 29 points in eleven games and shutout eight opponents. 1997 - (8-2)  The team suffered a rare first round defeat in the playoffs to Woodland. They had fallen to 3A Colbert County during the regular season.  1998 - (9-2)  The losses came against 3A Colbert County and to eventual state champions Lineville in the 2nd round of the playoffs. 1999 - (12-2)  The Golden Bears lost to Trousdale TN during the regular season and again to Lineville in the semi-finals.  2000 - (12-3) Hazlewood dropped down to Class 1A for the 2000 season. The last year of this run ended with Hazlewood winning the last of their state record eleven state titles. The Bears defeated Reeltown once again 23-16 to claim the last of their championships before the school closed following the 2008 football season.           The team started the year 1-3 with losses to 1A Courtland, Class 2A champs Clay County and Brentwood TN. They bounced back to win the last eleven games and another title. Patrick Billings, Chris Goode. Cleoney Fuqua and Ron King were defensive leaders for the Golden Bears.           To say that Hazlewood was a dynasty is an understatement. The Golden Bears dominated the small schools for more than twenty years. With a total of eleven state championships in fourteen appearances, Hazlewood can truly claim to be one of the best programs of all-time in Alabama.           The school closed following the 2008 season but the Bears hold many records that will someday be surpassed by some other team. With the school closing, Alabama lost a piece of high school football history. The Hazlewood Golden Bears will long be remembered as one of the greatest programs in the history of high school football in Alabama. Hazlewood Golden Bears 1981-2000 Year Record Championship Game 1981 13-1 Hazlewood 28-0 McKenzie 1982 13-0 Hazlewood 24-16 Dadeville 1983 12-1   1984 10-1   1985 11-3 Hazlewood 23-16 Autaugaville 1986 9-2   1987 12-2   1988 14-1 Hazlewood 28-0 New Brockton 1989 13-1 Hazlewood 75-0 Georgiana 1990 12-3 Hazlewood 14-0 Cottonwood 1991 13-1 Hazlewood 32-22 Reeltown 1992 13-2 Hazlewood 37-6 Reeltown 1993 12-3 St. Clair County 18-13 Hazlewood 1994 10-3   1995 14-1 Clay County 7-6 Hazlewood 1996 10-1   1997 8-2   1998 9-2   1999 12-2   2000 12-3 Hazlewood 23-16 Reeltown Hazlewood 1981 20 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 8 20 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 0 22 Colbert Heights . . . . 6 49 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 14 49 Waterloo . . . . . . . . . . 8 51 Mount Hope . . . . . . . . 6 3 Colbert County . . . . . 7 43 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 49 Speake . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 12 Lexington . . . . . . . . . 7 34 Parrish * . . . . . . . . . 12 42 Hackleburg * . . . . . . 6 28 Goodwater * . . . . . . . 6 28 McKenzie # . . . . . . . . 0 450 13-1 86 1982 21 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 6 32 New Hope . . . . . . . . . . 7 28 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 8 28 Parrish . . . . . . . . . . . 14 47 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 7 27 Stevenson . . . . . . . . . 19 33 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 35 Lexington . . . . . . . . . 23 41 Sparkman . . . . . . . . . . 13 44 Ardmore * . . . . . . . . . 6 32 Stevenson * . . . . . . . 8 16 Gordo * . . . . . . . . . . . 12 29 Dadeville # . . . . . . . 16 413 13-0 145 1983 33 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 26 28 New Hope . . . . . . . . . . 0 35 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 0 30 Parrish . . . . . . . . . . . 0 13 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 30 Stevenson . . . . . . . . . 0 40 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 47 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 14 23 Lexington . . . . . . . . . 0 46 Sparkman . . . . . . . . . . 14 21 Danville * . . . . . . . . 6 35 Pisgah * . . . . . . . . . . 20 21 Oak Grove * . . . . . . . 22 402 12-1 109 1984 41 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 0 22 Fayette County . . . . . 8 54 Buckhorn . . . . . . . . . . 0 28 Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . 14 21 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 34 Hackleburg . . . . . . . . 14 44 Alexandria . . . . . . . . 14 28 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 80 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 0 55 Falkville * . . . . . . . 0 6 Courtland * . . . . . . . 7 413 10-1 71 1985 6 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 14 15 Fayette County . . . . . 22 34 Buckhorn . . . . . . . . . . 0 21 Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . 15 17 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 48 Hackleburg . . . . . . . . 16 13 Alexandria . . . . . . . . 23 41 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 41 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 6 37 Falkville * . . . . . . . 15 45 Courtland * . . . . . . . 6 40 Warrior * . . . . . . . . . 7 46 Woodland * . . . . . . . . 14 23 Autaugaville # . . . . . 16 427 11-3 182 1986 8 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 12 28 Colbert County . . . . . 22 34 Addison . . . . . . . . . . . 15 21 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 25 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 0 16 East Lawrence . . . . . 0 50 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 38 West Morgan . . . . . . . 0 32 Lawrence County . . . . 2 32 Section * . . . . . . . . . 0 12 Fyffe * . . . . . . . . . . . 15 296 9-2 75 1987 20 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 6 28 Cordova . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 Colbert County . . . . . 7 3 Addison . . . . . . . . . . . 0 48 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 47 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 15 41 East Lawrence . . . . . 0 43 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 33 West Morgan . . . . . . . 7 28 Lawrence County . . . . 7 67 Geraldine * . . . . . . . 8 47 Springville * . . . . . 0 28 Addison * . . . . . . . . . 0 0 Winston County * . . . 7 433 12-2 92 1988 25 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 12 19 Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . 13 35 West Limestone . . . . . 21 7 Colbert County . . . . . 22 40 Dickens County TN . . . 12 49 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 6 24 Lamar County . . . . . . 21 34 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 40 West Morgan . . . . . . . 6 36 Lawrence County . . . . 17 49 North Sand Mountain * . 0 31 Gaston * . . . . . . . . . . 7 27 West Morgan * . . . . . 0 17 Cordova * . . . . . . . . . 14 28 New Brockton # . . . . . 0 461 14-1 151 1989 24 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 7 27 West Limestone . . . . . 6 0 Colbert County . . . . . 21 47 Pickens County . . . . . 0 28 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 0 15 Lamar County . . . . . . 12 47 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 33 West Morgan . . . . . . . 14 46 Lawrence County . . . . 0 46 Fyffe * . . . . . . . . . . . 20 41 Gaston * . . . . . . . . . . 14 49 Section * . . . . . . . . . 0 36 Springville * . . . . . 0 75 Georgiana # . . . . . . . 0 514 13-1 100 1990 6 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 28 35 Marshall County TN . . 15 20 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 12 Fayette County . . . . . 20 54 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 7 8 Colbert County . . . . . 12 46 Phillips Bear Creek . . 6 35 Lamar County . . . . . . 0 32 West Morgan . . . . . . . 0 20 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 42 Valley Head * . . . . . 8 27 Sand Rock * . . . . . . . 14 50 Gaston * . . . . . . . . . . 6 14 Cordova * . . . . . . . . . 2 14 Cottonwood # . . . . . . 0 415 12-3 124 1991 14 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 6 42 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 Fayette County . . . . . 12 33 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 7 28 Colbert County . . . . . 14 54 Phillips Bear Creek . . 6 33 Lamar County . . . . . . 0 42 West Morgan . . . . . . . 0 13 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 48 Section * . . . . . . . . . 12 42 Cleveland * . . . . . . . 0 47 Hatton * . . . . . . . . . . 0 21 Cordova * . . . . . . . . . 13 32 Reeltown # . . . . . . . . 22 449 13-1 102 1992 25 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 17 24 Pisgah . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 8 Central Tuscaloosa . . 22 40 Parrish . . . . . . . . . . . 20 34 West Limestone . . . . . 26 11 Colbert County . . . . . 9 6 Litchfield . . . . . . . . 15 20 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 7 27 West Morgan . . . . . . . 0 26 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 39 Lauderdale County * . . 0 27 Crossville * . . . . . . 6 13 Lexington * . . . . . . . 6 18 Clay County * . . . . . 0 37 Reeltown # . . . . . . . . 6 355 13-2 148 1993 0 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 13 46 Pisgah . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 Brentwood Academy TN . 19 39 Parrish . . . . . . . . . . . 0 53 West Limestone . . . . . 14 9 Colbert County . . . . . 7 13 Litchfield . . . . . . . . 0 18 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 6 51 West Morgan . . . . . . . 0 21 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 30 Elkmont * . . . . . . . . . 6 33 Ohatchee * . . . . . . . . 0 41 Hale County * . . . . . 0 20 Hatton * . . . . . . . . . . 0 13 St. Clair County # . . 18 387 12-3 90 1994 15 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 6 20 Danville . . . . . . . . . . 15 33 East Lawrence . . . . . 8 19 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 0 26 West Limestone . . . . . 0 34 Colbert County . . . . . 21 7 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 50 Phil Campbell . . . . . 0 28 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 48 Ohatchee * . . . . . . . . 0 28 Springville * . . . . . 8 6 Tanner * . . . . . . . . . . 14 320 10-3 116 1995 28 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 8 42 Danville . . . . . . . . . . 13 40 East Lawrence . . . . . 0 35 Red Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 0 49 West Limestone . . . . . 0 21 Colbert County . . . . . 7 21 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 48 Phil Campbell . . . . . 6 47 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 0 83 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 40 St. Clair County * . . 0 20 Gordo * . . . . . . . . . . . 0 31 Tanner * . . . . . . . . . . 0 38 Pickens County * . . . 0 6 Clay County # . . . . . 7 549 14-1 47 1996 21 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 0 37 Guntersville . . . . . . 0 13 Lamar County . . . . . . 0 9 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 34 Colbert County . . . . . 0 36 Clements . . . . . . . . . . 0 47 Colbert Heights . . . . 0 34 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 12 41 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 45 Calera * . . . . . . . . . . 0 7 Pickens County * . . . 10 324 10-1 29 1997 14 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 6 21 East Limestone . . . . . 7 27 Lamar County . . . . . . 26 13 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 18 Colbert County . . . . . 43 7 Clements . . . . . . . . . . 6 32 Colbert Heights . . . . 21 13 Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . 0 20 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 7 Woodland * . . . . . . . . 21 172 8-2 150 1998 22 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 7 13 Elkmont . . . . . . . . . . . 0 12 East Lawrence . . . . . 0 49 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 24 Hanceville . . . . . . . . 21 43 Clements . . . . . . . . . . 0 21 Russellville . . . . . . 6 7 Colbert County . . . . . 25 33 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 54 West End Walnut Grove * . 13 14 Lineville * . . . . . . . 21 292 9-2 116 1999 21 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 9 52 Elkmont . . . . . . . . . . . 7 53 East Lawrence . . . . . 0 35 Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 32 Trousdale TN . . . . . . 38 46 Hanceville . . . . . . . . 6 62 Clements . . . . . . . . . . 6 27 Russellville . . . . . . 21 14 Colbert County . . . . . 7 36 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 32 Section * . . . . . . . . . 13 55 South Lamar * . . . . . 0 44 Cherokee * . . . . . . . . 14 7 Lineville * . . . . . . . 14 516 12-2 155 2000 6 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 19 14 Clay County . . . . . . . 26 42 Speake . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 Brentwood Academy TN . 45 35 West Morgan . . . . . . . 27 55 Meek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 33 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 0 65 Phillips Bear Creek . . 0 61 Hackleburg . . . . . . . . 0 24 Colbert County . . . . . 14 16 Loachapoka * . . . . . . 13 19 Sumiton Christian * . . 15 35 Lynn * . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 27 Wadley * . . . . . . . . . . 8 23 Reeltown # . . . . . . . . 16 462 12-3 195 * Playoff game # State championship game

          NEXT: T.R. Miller Tigers 1984-2002
          The Dynasties, a series of articles on Alabama high school football's best teams.

David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org

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