Alabama High School Sports

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Region 1
B.C. Rain   Red Raiders     (4-6)
Outlook:   After a promising 2023 football season where the Red Raiders posted an 8-4 record they have gone backwards the past two seasons winning only seven games and not reaching the playoffs. With the realignment they may have an opportunity to grab one of those playoff spots if the stars are aligned on Dauphin Island Parkway in 2026.
    The Red Raiders started last year with a bang as they knocked off Hillcrest and Foley to open the season but faltered as the season progressed as they were not able to maintain that early momentum.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 57-55  51% 18-25  42% 39-30  56%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Citronelle   Wildcats     (5-6)
Outlook:   A promising 9-3 record in 2024 did not roll over to 2025 as the Wildcats fell to 5-6 last year. It still was the best three year run in almost twenty years for the Citronelle football team. A little more favorable non-region schedule in 2026 may produce another win or two this fall.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 63-51  55% 25-21  54% 38-30  56%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 OL Nelson Chestang Sr.
LeFlore   Rattlers     (3-7)
Outlook:   Its been thirteen years since the Rattlers won more games than the three they won last year so it may just take baby steps to get the Rattlers to the next level. The coaching change may just be the spark they need in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 53-55  49% 13-26  33% 40-29  58%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Orange Beach   Makos     (4-6)
Outlook:   A new multi million dollar sports facility in Orange Beach may be as good as any in the state but the fans want to add more victories to the win column to match the prestige of their new facilities. The Makos have missed the playoffs the last three seasons and would like nothing better than to put a halt to that streak in 2026.
    The 2026 schedule is much more favorable for the Makos as they will not see teams like Bayside, W.S. Neal, Jackson, Mobile Christian or St. Michael. That alone should go a long way to offset the addition of new teams to Region One.
    Wesley Creel completed 90 of 168 passes for 1,454 yards and 10 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 56-56  50% 17-26  40% 39-30  56%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Wade Waldrop was not retained as the head football coach at Hoover after just two seasons leading the Bucs program. His two seasons produced a record of 16-9 which was not acceptable under Hoover standards. His career has spanned eighteen seasons at Chelsea, James Clemens and Florence with a record of 116-84 and 7-13 in the playoffs.

New facilities being built is always a draw for any new coaching hire. Look for bigger and better things from Orange Beach in the future.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Satsuma   Gators     (3-7)
Outlook:   Over the past twenty seasons the Gators have reached the playoffs only three times. All those ended with losses. As a matter of fact Satsuma has never won a playoff game in the school's history which if difficult to fathom considering they were once a very good program in the 1970's and 80s.
    Bayside, W.S. Neal, Jackson, Mobile Christian, Cottage Hill and St. Michael are off the schedule but Vigor and Williamson are added to it in 2026. It is possible for the Gators to win more games than they lose this fall with a very favorable non-region schedule.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 60-53  53% 20-24  46% 40-29  58%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Vigor   Wolves     (12-3)
Outlook:   Vigor just keeps doing what Vigor does best. Compete for football state championships. They may have come up a little short last year but make no mistake they will put that loss behind them and be prepared for the 2026 football season.
    That October 16th matchup with Williamson will likely be the one to determine which team wins the region championship in 2026. The two foes played two epic games last year splitting the games and sending Vigor to Birmingham. It is very likely the two could meet twice again this fall. Back-to-back twelve win seasons are the best at Vigor since 1988.
    The Wolves lost a lot to graduation including QB Sammy Dunn and WR Dylan Jackson but will have a talent group returning.
    Demetris Johnson rushed for 1,141 yards and 13 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 63-49  56% 32-16  67% 31-33  48%
2024 Coaching Change 
    John McKenzie returns to Vigor where he spent two season in 2020 and 2021. His last team finished 14-1 and took home the Blue Map for 4A. After leaving Vigor he spent one season and Murphy and last year at Paul Bryant.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 QB Sammy Dunn Sr.
1 WR Dylan Jackson Sr.
Williamson   Lions     (12-1)
Outlook:   Twenty-four wins the past two seasons are the most by any Williamson team in school history. The most points ever scored by a Williamson team. What a job Coach Coleman has done in Mobile.
    With a returning cast of talented players anything short of a trip to the Class 4A state championship game will be a disappointment. Their biggest obstacle may just come from within their own region in Vigor. There doesn't seem to be another team in the south capable of hanging with the Lions this year.
    The Lions lost RB Todrick Withers and WR John Austin to graduation but will return a talented group of players from last year's squad.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 0-0  48% 0-0  17% 0-0  59%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 RB Todrick Withers Sr.
HM WR John Austin Sr.
2 DB Jermaine McCree Sr.
 
Region 2
Andalusia   Bulldogs     (8-4)
Outlook:   The Bulldogs from Andalusia have a track record of winning seasons dating back to 2008 and have reached the playoffs the past eleven seasons. They also won a state championship the last time they were in Class 4A in 2022. Will they make a return to 4A this fall with hopes of once again making a return trip to a championship game.
    All four losses by the Bulldogs in 2025 were to excellent football teams. Only one of those teams, Enterprise, remain on the slate in 2026. So a favorable schedule could produce a great season in Andalusia.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 52-49  52% 16-15  52% 36-34  51%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
HM RB Zerrick Jones Sr.
Ashford   Yellow Jackets     (7-3)
Outlook:   Back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in nearly fifteen years has created a buzz around the Ashford football program. Can they make it three in a row in 2026? The region is a bit tougher in 4A this year with the addition of four 5A teams from last year.
    Coach Stapleton has done a wonderful job at Ashford and has not only the players believing in his process but the fans are beginning to buy into the progress the Yellow Jackets have made the past three seasons. It takes time to build a football program from basically scratch and that is what Coach Stapleton has done in a short time.
    Can the Jackets reach the playoffs for the third year in a row in 2026? If they do it will be the first time since 1993 they have accomplished that feat.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 48-55  47% 11-20  36% 37-35  51%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Carroll   Eagles     (1-9)
Outlook:   The win total has gone down in Ozark for the Carroll Eagles each of the past four seasons. They finished last year 1-9 so they can't possibly go much further south before making an about face.
    Coach McLendon returns to his hometown in hopes of reviving a once good football program. It may take some time to get this train turned around.
    Kayden Cole rushed for 741 yards and 5 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 55-47  54% 12-18  40% 43-29  60%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Matt Mellown was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at four different schools, the last four at Andalusia High School. Mellown was a standout football player at Andalusia High School in 2004-06 under Tom Causey and Brian Seymore, graduating in 2007. He attended Troy University before transferring to Alabama and completing his degree.

He was the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Mary Montgomery, Demopolis and Prattville before returning to Andalusia in 2020.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Dale County   Warriors     (7-3)
Outlook:   It's been a dozen years since Dale County finished a season 14-1 losing only in the 3A state championship game to Madison Academy. That was five head coaches ago. Since then they have not won a playoff game in Midland City. But back-to-back winning seasons may have gotten them back on the right track the past two seasons.
    A coaching change is not what the fans wanted just when it seemed everything was going smoothly for the Warriors.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 59-47  56% 22-12  65% 37-35  51%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 DL Junior Smith Sr.
Eufaula   Tigers     (6-5)
Outlook:   The Eufaula Tigers have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past twenty-eight seasons. Back-to-back six win seasons put that streak in jeopardy at times but they survived.
    Of the five teams Eufaula lost to last year only one, Andalusia, remains on the schedule in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 60-45  57% 22-12  65% 38-33  54%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 ATH Jaylin Wright Sr.
Headland   Rams     (4-5)
Outlook:   Three head coaches the past three seasons and seven over the past ten seasons is no way to build a successful football program. Yet somehow the Rams managed to pull off a couple of ten win seasons and win a few playoff games along the way.
    If the Rams can somehow get past the first half of the season with a win or two they may fare much better as the season progresses but they face a tough four game stretch in weeks two through five.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 57-48  54% 17-15  53% 40-33  55%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
New Brockton   Gamecocks     (6-4)
Outlook:   The Gamecocks won six games for the first time since 2018. That may not sound like much at most schools but at New Brockton it's a step in the right direction toward rebuilding a football program. Now they will concentrate on taking that next step which is making the playoffs. It is something that is in the realm of possibilities.
    A late season loss to Pike County extinguished any hopes of a playoff spot for the Gamecocks last year. We think they have a shot at it this season in Region Two.
    Wesley Creel completed 90 of 168 passes for 1,454 yards and 10 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 56-48  54% 18-14  56% 38-34  53%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Straughn   Tigers     (5-5)
Outlook:   Another coaching change at Straughn brings the total to nine since Trent Taylor left in 2014. Yet somehow the Tigers have managed to keep winning football games and making the playoffs. Through all those changes they qualified for the post season six times. Not bad with such a high turnover rate in leadership.
    Last year the Tigers roared out of the gate winning four of their first five games before dropping four in a row to thwart any hopes of making the playoffs. It broke a streak of four consecutive playoff appearances for the Tigers.
    Tate Watson rushed for 1486 yards and 15 TDs and will return for his Junior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 67-41  62% 28-8  78% 39-33  54%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Garrett Windham was first team all-state at Straughn High School prior to his graduation in 2004. He also played football at Chattanooga where he was named Second Team All-SoCon by the leagues coaches his senior season.

Windham returns to Straughn as the head football coach after serving as an assistant coach at Andalusia High School.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
 
Region 3
Demopolis   Tigers     (6-5)
Outlook:   Not many teams can match the success of the Demopolis Tigers over the past 30 years. All they have done is reach the playoffs every year and won more games than they lost every single season. That's a pretty good track record. A much easier non-region schedule should go a long way to a few more wins in 2026.
    Region Three saw possibly the fewest changes of any in the state following reclassification. The teams remain the same with the addition of Holt to the mix. A much easier non-region schedule will go a long way toward the Tigers winning a few more than the six they won in 2025.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 48-58  45% 14-17  45% 34-41  45%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Holt   Ironmen     (4-6)
Outlook:   How about the Ironmen of Holt High School. Two years ago they tried to shut the football program down. What did they do? Well the football team and coaches banded together and won eight games over the past two seasons. It's the best back-to-back seasons in twenty years at the school. Since then the rumors of Holt's demise have vanished hopefully.
    A little easier non-region schedule and a somewhat easier region may just get the Ironmen to that next level in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 43-63  41% 7-23  23% 36-40  47%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Jemison   Panthers     (2-8)
Outlook:   It's been a while since the panthers had much to cheer about in Jemison. Their last winning season was 2013 and their last playoff appearance was in 2017. Only eight wins over the past five seasons.
    Adrian Davis rushed for 953 yards and 10 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 0-0  47% 0-0  70% 0-0  36%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Rishard Davis graduated from Maplesville High School and attended the University of Arizona before returning to Alabama at Huntingdon College where he excelled on the football field.

Following graduation he went back to Arizona and landed his first head coaching job in 2014 and won a state championship in 2020. In 2021 he was an assistant at Chilton County and at Maplesville in 2022.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Montevallo   Bulldogs     (1-9)
Outlook:   Two wins over the past couple of seasons at Montevallo have the Bulldogs hoping for better times in 2026. They have a long road ahead of them if they have any hopes of turning the football program into a winner anytime soon it seems.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 42-63  40% 3-26  10% 39-37  51%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Garrett Langer was appointed as the interim head coach in addition to his roles as head coach of the boys soccer and wrestling programs while the school conducts a coaching search. He was the defensive coordinator last year for the Bulldogs.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
HM OL Kyler Mitchell Sr.
Northside   Rams     (11-1)
Outlook:   Northside enjoyed possibly the best season in school history last year with a perfect regular season where they dominated every opponent they played. Vigor put a halt to the winning streak but the Rams should be very proud of everything the accomplished in 2025.
    Can the Rams continue the success they had last year? Coach Jones has built the football program the right way so most think the success will continue in the future.
    Gone from the Rams are QB Jackson Rhodes and WR Evan Taylor as they both graduated in May.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 52-57  48% 23-12  66% 29-45  39%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 WR Evan Taylor Sr.
Selma   Saints     (3-7)
Outlook:   The Saints of Selma missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season finishing sixth in Region Three. They only won one region game but were close in a couple of others so there is hope they can somehow win enough region contests to grab one of those elusive playoff spots in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 59-50  54% 22-11  67% 37-39  49%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Shelby County   Wildcats     (7-5)
Outlook:   Almost quietly Coach Ellison and the Wildcats from Shelby County have put together a couple of good seasons the past two years. They also won a playoff game for the first time in seventeen seasons so progress is being made in Columbiana. The fifteen victories the past two years are also the most in back-to-back seasons since 2009.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 46-59  44% 13-18  42% 33-41  45%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 OL Cooper Pennington Sr.
Sipsey Valley   Bears     (6-5)
Outlook:   Four consecutive playoff appearances for the Bears of Sipsey Valley and three straight winning seasons have the fans hopeful of bigger things in 2026.
    Kingston Trull completed 88 of 151 passes for 1,366 yards and 11 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 49-59  45% 15-18  46% 34-41  45%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
 
Region 4
Beauregard   Hornets     (3-8)
Outlook:   The three wins at Beauregard were the fewest over the past twenty seasons for the Hornets. Even with only three victories they managed to qualify for the playoffs to keep their four year streak alive.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 57-53  52% 24-12  67% 33-41  45%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Charles Henderson   Trojans     (5-6)
Outlook:   Coach Jones and the Trojans of Charles Henderson made some improvement with five wins and a playoff spot in 2025. Can they continue that success this year?
    Kellen Stewart completed 113 of 217 passes for 1,415 yards and 9 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 0-0  43% 0-0  16% 0-0  50%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Elmore County   Panthers     (8-4)
Outlook:   Coach Caldwell almost quietly has the Panthers of Elmore County winning football games and have turned them into a competitive football program. Thirty wins over the past four seasons is one of the better runs in the school's history. They won a playoff game over Demopolis for the first time since 2011 so there are signs of the Panthers taking the next step forward.
    A couple of close losses to Central Clay County and Valley kept the Panthers from a ten win season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 50-60  46% 22-15  60% 28-45  38%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
HM ATH Tate McNeeley Sr.
Greenville   Tigers     (3-7)
Outlook:   Greenville will once again have a change in leadership at the head coaching position. Stability brings opportunities for improvement when building a football program and the Tigers just can't seem to get the head coaching hire right lately.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 40-65  38% 7-23  23% 33-42  44%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Holtville   Bulldogs     (2-8)
Outlook:   The Bulldogs took another step backwards last year winning a total of only three games and missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. That streak was the longest in school history so they can't be too happy about seeing it disappear.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 49-58  46% 15-17  47% 34-41  45%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Cory Lee played football and graduated from Prattville High School. He also played college ball at Southern Illinois before returning to Prattville in 2015 as the linebacker coach. The next season he took a job as the defensive coordinator at Baldwin County for four seasons.

He spent one season in the same position at Pinson Valley before returning home. This will be his first head coaching job.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Marbury   Bulldogs     (3-7)
Outlook:   Coach Wallace returns in hopes or rebuilding the football program after a five year absence. The Bulldogs did end last season riding a two game winning streak.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 47-61  44% 14-19  42% 33-42  44%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Tallassee   Tigers     (6-5)
    Last season did not go as planned for the Tigers. They did finish 6-5 and actually all the losses were to better teams it seems. A couple of losses to B.T. Washington and Bullock County were close games that could have gone either way.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 54-54  50% 24-10  71% 30-44  40%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Lawrence ONeal arrives in Tallassee after turning around a struggling football program in just three short seasons in Tuskegee at B.T. Washington. In those three years his teams set numerous team records for wins in a season with nine in 2023 and winning the first playoff game in school history in 2022.

This could be one of the best hires this off season for the Tigers.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
HM K Yuren Rodriguez Sr.
Valley   Rams     (6-4)
Outlook:   At times in 2025 the Valley Rams looked like world beaters as they opened the season with big time victories over Glenwood and 7A Smiths Station. They closed the season with disappointing setbacks to Beauregard and Shelby County in the first round of the playoffs.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 62-52  54% 32-7  82% 30-45  40%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
HM OL Kingston Gooden Sr.
HM P Kade Riley Sr.
 
Region 5
Carver Birmingham   Rams     (6-3)
Outlook:   The Rams surprised some folks last year with a 6-3 record on a shortened schedule. They pulled off upsets over John Carrol, Wenonah and Corner before falling short against a very good St. Clair County team in the first round of the playoffs. The three losses were the fewest for Carver since the 1982 football season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 29-60  33% 4-15  21% 25-45  36%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Center Point   Eagles     (2-7)
Outlook:   The Eagles could benefit from the AHSAA realignment by being placed in a region that on the outside does not appear as difficult as the past few years for them. They missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons and would like nothing better than to win a few more games in 2026 and return to the post season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 44-57  44% 15-16  48% 29-41  41%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Dora   Bulldogs     (2-8)
Outlook:   After a promising few seasons the Bulldogs fell upon hard times in 2025 winning just two games and finishing fifth in their region. Now they will be joined by five teams who were moved down from higher classifications last year. That may make the going a little tougher for Dora this fall.
    Coach Patterson comes back to the area from Hueytown where he had great success the past few seasons. It may be the spark they need to get this thing going back in the right direction.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 44-56  44% 15-16  48% 29-40  42%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Fairfield   Tigers     (3-7)
Outlook:   Following a great season in 2024 where the Fairfield Tigers went 9-4 they took a huge step backwards last year and finished 3-7. Three first half season losses to good teams did not help the cause and they closed the year with four straight setbacks.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 37-62  37% 9-21  30% 28-41  41%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Oak Grove   Tigers     (8-3)
Outlook:   The twenty-two wins over the past three seasons are the most in any three year stretch for the Tigers in the last twenty years. There is not doubt Coach Musso has the Tigers playing well and very competitively every week.
    A late season loss to American Christian was the only thing that kept Oak Grove from winning a region championship last year. A shift in regions appears on the outside to be a little softer so look for the Tigers to be in the thick of the Region Five race all year long.
    Wiley Hicks rushed for 878 yards and 12 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 43-59  42% 20-14  59% 23-45  34%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Shades Valley   Mounties     (2-8)
Outlook:   The Mounties missed the post season for the fifth consecutive season. A change of scenery may be just what the Mounties need in 2026.
    The inaugural season at Shades Valley did not go as planned for Coach Bates and the gang. It did not help being in possibly the most difficult region in all of 6A last year. Now they find themselves in a much more comfortable situation dropping all the way to Class 4A and in a region which appears to be much more manageable.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 38-63  38% 9-23  28% 29-40  42%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Wenonah   Dragons     (5-5)
Outlook:   After a promising 8-4 season in 2024 the Dragons fell to 5-5 last year.
    Late season losses to Carver and Ramsay evaporated any hopes of making the playoffs for the Dragons in 2025.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 35-64  35% 9-21  30% 26-43  38%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 DL Jakyrie Chaney Sr.
Woodlawn   Colonels     (3-7)
Outlook:   Coach Williams is working as hard as he possibly can to bring a winner to Woodlawn. Last year they may have only won three games but a couple of losses could have just as easily been victories for the Colonels turning those three wins into a break even season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 31-67  32% 3-26  10% 28-41  41%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
 
Region 6
Alexandria   Valley Cubs     (10-2)
Outlook:   And to think just a couple of seasons ago the Valley Cubs finished 1-9 and were written off as being a good football program. Now look at these Cubs as they have quickly righted the ship and finished 10-2 last year. What a great turnaround for Coach Ginn and his staff at Alexandria.
    The only two losses last year were to Anniston and Plainview a couple of teams who were among the best in 4A. The region is crowded with playoff quality teams so there is little margin for error in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 92-35  72% 36-5  88% 56-30  65%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Anniston   Bulldogs     (14-1)
Outlook:   The best season in more than 35 years had the Bulldogs in the Class 4A state championship game. The problem was across the field was possibly the best 4A team of all time or at least since the AHSAA went to six classifications in 1984.
    Region Six is crowded with playoff quality teams so there is little margin for error in 2026 for the Bulldogs. Can they make another bigtime playoff run this fall? Coach Jackson moved on after just three seasons but there will still be a lot of talented football players on the field when fall practice opens in August.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 70-46  60% 18-15  54% 52-31  63%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 RB Jabari Williams Sr.
1 DL Charles Thomas Sr.
2 DB Kyree Lewis Sr.
2 ATH Damon Pope Sr.
Central Clay County   Volunteers     (11-2)
Outlook:   All the Volunteers at Central do is win football games. Year in and year out they compete for region championships and are always in the discussion when it comes time to talk about possible state championship contenders. This year should be no different.
    The Vols were rolling last year until running into a great Vigor squad in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Region Six is filled with very good teams but the Vols may be the best of all of them in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 80-42  66% 25-12  68% 55-30  65%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 OL Trendon Glenn Sr.
2 ATH Taylor Boyd Sr.
Jacksonville   Golden Eagles     (6-6)
Outlook:   The Golden Eagles make a region change in 2026 and are joined by a group of very good teams in Anniston, Central Clay County Moody and Leeds just to name a few. Jacksonville has made the playoffs the last thirteen seasons running but the big question is can they continue that streak this fall.
    The Eagles will need to be at the top of their game to grab one of the four playoff spots in Region Six. Actually they will likely need to pull off an upset of the top four contenders to have a shot at post season play.
    Jaden Jones rushed for 1,030 yards and 7 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 85-37  70% 25-11  69% 60-26  70%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 LB Bryce Allen Sr.
Leeds   Greenwave     (6-5)
Outlook:   After five consecutive seasons winning at least nine football games the Greenwave took a step backwards in 2025 and walked away with a record of 6-5.
    They began last year with a 5-1 record before dropping four of their last five games. This region is filled with playoff quality teams so there can be no off weeks once region play begins if they have any hope of getting into the playoffs in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 73-36  67% 13-9  59% 60-27  69%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Lincoln   Golden Bears     (2-8)
Outlook:   Two wins over the past two seasons have the Golden Bears scratching their heads. After the AHSAA realignment the fans are shaking their heads in disbelief. Why you ask? Well, it seems they got placed in possibly the most difficult region in all of Class 4A.
    Nic Catlett completed 119 of 189 passes for 1605 yards and 18 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 79-42  65% 15-18  46% 64-24  73%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Moody   Blue Devils     (13-2)
Outlook:   So what do the Blue Devils do for an encore following last year's state championship run? We will not know the answer to that question for a while. A lot has changed for Moody during the off season. Their championship winning coach exits stage right along with some of his supporting cast.
    What appeared to be something akin to a dynasty a few months ago now seems to be up in the air about where the Blue Devils will go from here. The talent is still there to some extent but we will need to wait and see if they can continue their recent success.
    Jake Lowery completed 189 of 272 passes for 3,097 yards and 35 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Jalijah Rutledge caught 60 passes for 1,132 yards and 10 TDs and will also return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 75-44  63% 22-14  61% 53-30  64%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
HM RB LeKamren Meadows Sr.
1 DL Cam Mallory Sr.
2 DL Henry Smith Sr.
1 LB Jagger Ludolf Sr.
Sylacauga   Aggies     (4-6)
Outlook:   It takes time to build a football program and no one knows that better than Coach Smelley at Sylacauga. Back-to-back 4-6 seasons are not a bad start but now the Aggies find themselves in what appears on paper to be the toughest region in all of Class 4A.
    Can they win enough games to compete for a playoff sport in Region Six this fall? It will be a tall task to say the least.
    Charlie Skipper completed 193 of 298 passes for 2,544 yards and 27 TDs and will return for his Junior season. Zakorien Chambliss rushed for 933 yards and 12 TDs and will also return for his Senior season. Juice Riley caught 68 passes for 1,130 yards and 12 TDs and will be back for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 68-50  58% 6-24  20% 62-26  70%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
 
Region 7
Ardmore   Tigers     (6-4)
Outlook:   Fourteen wins over the past two seasons are the most in back-to-back years in Ardmore since.... Well since 1969. Great job by Coach Snider and his staff at Ardmore.
    A late season loss to West Point in a close game cost the Tigers a chance at a playoff spot in 2025. The Tigers would like nothing better than to reach the playoffs and possibly win a playoff game for the first time in school history. That may be a tall task with the likes of Deshler, Brooks, Priceville and West Morgan in the same region.
    Alex King completed 63 of 103 passes for 983 yards and 14 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Javean Riddle rushed for 1,353 yards and 15 TDs and will also return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 69-44  61% 12-20  38% 57-24  70%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Brooks   Lions     (7-4)
Outlook:   Twenty-seven consecutive winning seasons for Brooks may come as somewhat of a surprise to some fans across the state.
    It's a very crowded region that Brooks finds themself in this year. Several teams are primed to grab one of the elusive playoff spots so it will be up to Coach Bowens and the Lions to be on top of their game if they want to be around for the post season. A difficult non-region schedule with Hatton and Lauderdale County coming up the first two games may prove to be a great early season test for these Lions.
    Sy'marien Coffey rushed for 1,040 yards and 15 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Tanner Bowens rushed for 1,011 yards and 7 TDs and will also be back for his Junior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 75-37  67% 19-13  59% 56-24  70%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 K Charlie Bottoms Sr.
1 LB Charlie Buttram Sr.
Deshler   Tigers     (11-2)
Outlook:   The Deshler Tigers have a long history of winning football games having post at least 718 victories since 1917. That number ranks fourth all-time in the state. They have also won 87 playoff games. Impressive to say the least.
    Six teams in Region Seven won more games than they lost and qualified for the playoffs in 2025. Something has to give as there are only four playoff slots available this year. The middle of the season schedule will go a long way to see if Deshler is one of those four teams still playing in early November.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 82-35  70% 30-9  77% 52-26  67%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 WR Garrett Reid Sr.
Hamilton   Aggies     (11-1)
Outlook:   The best season in at least a dozen years may have the Aggie fans ready for the 2026 football season. Rightfully so but there is a little bad news. They have been placed in a rather difficult region with the likes of Deshler, Brooks, Priceville and West Morgan. That alone will cause the fans to wonder what is in store for the Aggies in 2026.
    Last year six teams in this new region following realignment won more games than they lost and reached the playoffs. It's going to crowded at the top for a while.
    Mason Holloway completed 116 of 181 passes for 2386 yards and 30 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Houston Tibbs caught 41 passes for 924 yards and 13 TDs and will return for his Senior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 67-45  60% 15-18  46% 52-27  66%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Lawrence County   Red Devils     (4-6)
Outlook:   Lawrence County drops down to Class 4A this fall. That's the good news for Red Devil fans. The bad news is that there are a bunch of really good teams residing in the region.
    Tavian Jones rushed for 1,080 yards and 9 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 70-42  62% 11-20  36% 59-22  73%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Priceville   Bulldogs     (8-4)
Outlook:   The Priceville Bulldogs have been an up and down football program since the school opened in 2002. Success has been more common recently with the team making the post season four of the past five seasons.
    Last year was somewhat a surprise for many Bulldog fans as their team put together a respectable 8-4 season. They will need to match that success this year or maybe a little more as the region schedule is brutal with five other playoff caliber teams on the slate.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 64-45  59% 9-21  30% 55-24  70%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Seth Parker was the offensive coordinator at Bob Jones the past three seasons. Parker replaces Chris Foster, who went 40-18 in five years at the school. Prior to that, he was the wide receivers coach for the Patriots and also spent one year at Athens.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 OL Cole Oliver Sr.
1 ATH Sheldon Graham Sr.
West Morgan   Rebels     (11-1)
Outlook:   West Morgan football has been at or near the top in Class 4A the past four seasons under the direction of Coach Drew Phillips. They have put together four seasons with 46 wins and only five losses. The problem is four of those losses were in the playoffs so they have come up short each year of the ultimate goal of a state championship.
    Cherokee County ended the Rebel's season three straight years and Good Hope ended their title hopes last year in the second round. Can the Rebels get over the hump in 2026? If they are able to navigate a difficult schedule they will be battle tested by the time playoff season arrives in November.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 71-41  63% 19-14  58% 52-27  66%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 LB Keithan Deloney Sr.
West Point   Warriors     (5-6)
Outlook:   The Warriors face a difficult task in 2026 having been placed in one of the most difficult regions in any classification. They will need to be on top of their game each week to have any hopes of getting through this schedule.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 0-0  63% 0-0  58% 0-0  66%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Kevin McCravy was the QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the 2023 season at Russellville. Previously he was at Decatur High School where he spent twelve years, the last five as the Offensive Coordinator for the Red Raiders.

This will be his first job as a head football coach.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
 
Region 8
Brewer   Patriots     (4-6)
Outlook:   Brewer has been playing football since 1972 and have yet to win a single playoff game in six attempts. Can the Patriots get that monkey off their back in 2026? It may be difficult since there are five teams in Region Eight who qualified for the playoffs in 2025.
    The 2025 football team was a little difficult to figure out at times. They began the season with a win over Hayden then dropped four straight to some good teams in games that were not close. In week seven they knocked off a very good Scottsboro team in a shocker.
    Cole Drinkard completed 108 of 207 passes for 1758 yards and 14 TDs and will return for his Junior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 58-46  56% 10-12  46% 48-34  58%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 P Hunter Knighten Sr.
Cherokee County   Warriors     (7-4)
Outlook:   Following three straight trips to the Super 7 the Warriors took a step backwards in 2025 and finished the season with a 7-4 record and a third place finish in the region.
    This year the gang from Centre find themselves in a region with five teams who were classified as 5A last year. They also saw their head coach leave but the team should be in good hands with Bayley Blanchard at the helm. The schedule will be challenging to say the least with teams like Piedmont, Guntersville, Scottsboro, Good Hope and Fairview on the slate in 2026.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 64-43  60% 19-7  73% 45-36  56%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 RB Keyshawn Woods Sr.
1 OL Asa Holbert Sr.
2 OL Ben Moseley Sr.
Crossville   Lions     (0-0)
Outlook:   The Crossville Lions have played a JV schedule the past three seasons due to low numbers going out for football each year. In 2026 they make a return to varsity football with hopes of a new beginning. The Lions lost the last twenty games they played before taking a break for the field.
    It's not like the Lions have always been a troubled football program. They actually won a state championship back in 1986 and put together back-to-back ten win seasons in 1995-96.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule -  % -  % -  %
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Fairview   Aggies     (12-1)
Outlook:   Exactly sixty wins over the past six seasons has been the best run in school history. That run was topped off by a twelve win season just last year. The question is can the Aggies continue that success story with the departure of their leader in Coach Redding who retired during the off season?
    The Aggies rolled through the 2025 regular season without a blemish for the first time in school history. Most games were not even contested. In the quarterfinals they faced off against Scottsboro and lost a heartbreaker to the Wildcats 16-14 to end any hopes of a state championship in Coach Redding's final season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 0-0  60% 0-0  65% 0-0  58%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 RB Jake Harper Sr.
2 OL Andrew Latham Sr.
1 ATH Kolt Redding Sr.
Good Hope   Raiders     (10-3)
Outlook:   Back-to-back ten win seasons for the first time in school history have the Raider fans abuzz. Seven playoff appearances in the past eight seasons can also be bragged about around town.
    The Raiders lost three games in 2025. All of them to teams who finished the regular season undefeated. That is a great resume to say the least. They also knocked off a favored West Morgan team in the second round before falling to Plainview in the quarterfinals.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 60-44  58% 27-12  69% 33-32  51%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
2 WR Carter Rutherford Sr.
2 OL Tristan Grund Sr.
2 LB Cody Stevens Sr.
2 ATH Mason Drake Sr.
Guntersville   Wildcats     (9-2)
Outlook:   Thirteen consecutive winning seasons and the same number of consecutive playoff appearances have made the Wildcats from Guntersville one of the best teams in Class 5A. This year they drop back to 4A following realignment and will have a new head coach with Lance Reese announcing his retirement during the off season.
    Region Eight could be a little more difficult to navigate in 2026 with five teams making the playoffs last year in the region this year. The Wildcats should still be very much in the hunt for one of those spots and possibly a region championship by the time the smoke clears.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 48-54  47% 5-16  24% 43-38  53%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 OL Ricky Wisdom Sr.
HM K Brandon Manganaris Sr.
1 DL Kalun Cobb Sr.
Hayden   Wildcats     (0-10)
Outlook:   The Wildcats of Hayden are coming off a very disappointing 0-10 season and have only won nine games the past five seasons. That does not bode well in a region filled with good teams all vying for one of the four playoff spots.
    Everett Hicks completed 109 of 227 passes for 1,183 yards and 8 TDs and will return for his Junior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 60-43  58% 8-13  38% 52-30  63%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Sardis   Lions     (1-9)
Outlook:   It's been six long seasons since the Lions made the playoffs. They have also only put together one winning season over the past eight years.
    The Lions finished last year with a 1-9 record and with a new head coach at the helm. A difficult schedule especially in region play will not be favorable for a resurgence in Sardis this season it seems.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 55-47  54% 4-16  20% 51-31  62%
Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 LB Levi Martin Sr.
Scottsboro   Wildcats     (9-5)
Outlook:   It's been more than twenty years since the Wildcats put together back-to-back seasons better than the last two. All they did was win eighteen games and reach the semifinals before losing to Moody.
    Coach Vann will have his Wildcats ready for the upcoming 2026 football season and some even think they could be the team to beat in the North. There are a few teams on their schedule who will have something to say about that before the regular season is over.
    Colton Harding completed 125 of 195 passes for 1,510 yards and 14 TDs and will return for his Junior season.
All GamesNon-RegionRegion
Schedule 60-41  59% 27-9  75% 33-32  51%
2024 Coaching Change 
    Tyler Vann moves to Scottsboro for the 2024 football season. Vann was an assistant coach at Scottsboro during the 2018 season and returns as the head coach this year. He is a 2013 graduate of North Sand Mountain High School.

He was most recently the head football coach at Sylvania where he led his teams to a 28-10 record in just three seasons with the program. He was also the head coach at Woodville in 2020.

Key Starters:
Other Returning Players:
Graduated Players
1 RB Jacobi Edmondson Sr.
1 OL Taygan Harris Sr.
HM P Cole Raeuchle Sr.