Alabama High School Sports

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Region 1

Baldwin County Tigers (2-8)

Outlook: With only six wins over the past four seasons, the Tigers from Bay Minette will be looking to improve on that dismal record in 2026. They have only made a single playoff appearance over the past twenty seasons and the prospects are dim as long as they play in one of the tougher regions in the state.

That's the bad news. The good news is that McGill-Toolen and St. Paul's are no longer around. They have been replaced by Elberta so the road to a playoff spot just got a little easier for the Tigers.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	50-60 46%	18-15 54%	32-45 42%

2024 Coaching Change

Andrew Davis gets his first head coaching job at Baldwin County. Davis played football at and graduated from Daphne High School. He attended Delta State and graduated from Auburn in 2010.

Coach Davis worked at McGill-Toolen and Gulf Shores before serving four seasons at Daphne. He spent 2017-2019 on the staff at Baldwin County, three seasons at Elberta and last year was the quarterbacks coach at Spanish Fort.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Blount Leopards (2-8)

Outlook: The Blount Leopards have fallen on hard times in Prichard. They have not won more than three games the past five seasons. But there is some good news. Coach Gus Smith is in town and the fans should be optimistic for better times ahead. It's been a long time since the glory days of the 1990s.

Jayden Mills completed 79 of 164 passes for 806 yards and 4 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	51-61 46%	19-16 54%	32-45 42%

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Other Returning Players:

Elberta Warriors (0-10)

Outlook: The Warriors have no way to go except up in 2026. One win over the past two seasons including 0-10 last year. It takes time to build a program and Coach Williams will need that time to build something in Elberta.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	47-62 43%	13-19 41%	34-43 44%

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Other Returning Players:

Gulf Shores Dolphins (5-6)

Outlook: The Dolphins won fifteen games and a state championship in 2023. Since then they have won nine games the past two seasons. The good news is that McGill-Toolen and St. Paul's are gone from the scene so a playoff spot should be virtually assured for these Dolphins in 2026. The question remains can they get back to that championship level of play any time soon.

Jud Harris completed 104 of 180 passes for 1,461 yards and 12 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	59-54 52%	30-7 81%	29-47 38%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	LB	Landon Everett	Sr.

Murphy Panthers (0-10)

Outlook: Back-to-back 0-10 seasons is not something acceptable at a place like Murphy. The once proud football powerhouse has never seen anything like the past five seasons. The worse news is that they have not been close to winning a football game the past two years.

It will be a huge undertaking for Coach Williams to turn this ship around and get it headed in the right direction. It should go without saying that it will take time. A lot of time.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	37-68 35%	3-25 11%	34-43 44%

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Other Returning Players:

Saraland Spartans (13-1)

Outlook: Three consecutive losses in the 6A state championship game to powerful Birmingham schools will do little to derail this train. Coach Kelly will have the Spartans back and ready for another championship run in 2026. Make no mistake about it.

The Spartans have averaged over twelve wins a season over the past eight years and this year will be no different. Anything short of a return trip to the title game will be a disappointment in Saraland even if the trip to Hancock Whitney Stadium is very short.

Saraland returns one of the top quarterbacks in the state this fall. Jamison Roberts completed 219 of 300 passes for 3,370 yards and 37 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	48-61 44%	27-9 75%	21-52 29%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	WR	Deshawn Spencer	Sr.
1	LB	Ayindae Pugh	Sr.

Spanish Fort Toros (4-6)

Outlook: Four wins last year were the fewest in Spanish Fort since 2007 which was the second season every for the Toros. It was also the first time since that year they did not make the playoffs. Three consecutive losses to end the season doomed any hopes of a playoff spot in 2025.

The Toros were competitive in almost every game they lost and just need to find ways to close out games in 2026.

The good news is that McGill-Toolen and St. Paul's are no longer around which will make things a little easier for the Toros to qualify for a playoff spot in November.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	49-60 45%	19-13 59%	30-47 39%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	ATH	Justin Bonner	Sr.

Theodore Bobcats (8-4)

Outlook: The Bobcats were a very good team last year. With two losses to 7A schools along with losses to Saraland and Benjamin Russell, the Bobcats should be happy about their 8-4 record. A coaching change should not deter any hopes of competing for a region championship this year.

Kendrick Able Jr. rushed for 1,566 yards and 15 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	50-59 46%	24-10 71%	26-49 35%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	OL	Caedon Lollar	Sr.
2	DL	Davon Young	Sr.
1	ATH	JJ Bush	Sr.

Region 2

Benjamin Russell Wildcats (12-2)

Outlook: Last season could have possibly been the beginning of something really big in Alexander City for high school football fans. While the Wildcats came up a little short of their lofty goals of bringing home a state championship for the first time in 25 years they did set the standard for future players.

It all starts at the quarterback position in high school football and Benjamin Russell has a good on in 2026. Kingston Preyear completed 181 of 293 passes for 3,026 yards and 34 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

Anything short of a trip to Mobile in early December will be a disappointment for the Wildcats this fall.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	64-49 57%	24-13 65%	40-36 53%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	WR	Cederian Morgan	Sr.
2	OL	Daniel Burns	Sr.
2	DB	Alijah Johnson	Sr.
2	ATH	BJ Bedgood	Sr.

Park Crossing Thunderbirds (0-9)

Outlook: Twenty-two consecutive losses for the east Montgomery school is not what the Thunderbirds envisioned when the school opened in 2014 with a great 7-3 record that initial season. Since 2017 the win totals have decreased almost every year until back-to-back 0-9 seasons the last two years.

Time will tell if Coach O'Neal can right this ship and get Park Crossing back to competing for playoff spots and region championships.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	59-52 53%	7-23 23%	52-29 64%

2024 Coaching Change

Charles Biggers begins a new era at Park Crossing as the head football coach. This will be his first head coaching job after serving as the head football and wrestling coach at McKee Middle School. He will bring a new excitement to the football program as he works to rebuild the still young program. After the program began strong just ten seasons ago they have struggled the past few seasons.

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Other Returning Players:

Percy Julian Phoenix (3-7)

Outlook: The Phoenix hope to turn things around at the Montgomery school with a coaching change. It's been a long time since Coach Spence McCracken left for Opelika following the 1994 football season. Since that time the once proud football program has struggled for consistency on the field.

Over the past twenty-five seasons they have qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons only two times. Ten head coaching changes has done little to create any stability in the program.

Earnest Shuford completed 75 of 158 passes for 922 yards and 10 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	58-52 53%	9-21 30%	49-31 61%

2024 Coaching Change

Kenneth White will lead the Pheonix in the fall at Percy Julian. This will be his first head coaching job. He has hopes of rebuilding the once storied football program. The team will be moving from 7A to 6A so the going may be a little easier for the Pheonix in 2024.

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Other Returning Players:

Pike Road Patriots (10-3)

Outlook: At times in 2025 Pike Road looked like one of the best teams in the state. Close regular season losses to 7A Prattville and Opelika brought hopes of a first time visit to the AHSAA Super 7 but the train was derailed with a season ending loss to Saraland in the quarterfinals. It was the third consecutive loss to the Spartans in the post season.

Can the Patriots get over the hump and make that trip south in December?

As always the road to a state championship begins at the quarterback position and Pike Road has a good signal caller in 2026. Gunner Gibbs completed 145 of 221 passes for 1,912 yards and 22 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	63-48 57%	21-13 62%	42-35 54%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	LB	Braylon Outlaw	Sr.
1	LB	Miles Khatri	Sr.
1	ATH	Jordan Holmes	Sr.

Rehobeth Rebels (4-6)

Outlook: Another coaching change seems to be the norm at Rehobeth as the revolving door continues. Nine changes over the past 25 years is not going to move program development forward much. Maybe Coach Holland can bring some stability to the position over the next few seasons.

Rehobeth last reached the playoffs in 2002 and last won a playoff game in 2005.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	0-0 47%	0-0 57%	0-0 42%

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Russell County Warriors (10-2)

Outlook: What a season for the Warriors in 2025! Ten wins in a single season for only the second time in school history. Nineteen victories over the past two seasons are also a school record. Back-to-back playoff appearances can also be added to the list.

After so much recent success, can the Warriors take the next step in their program building process and make a deep playoff run in 2026. They lost a great signal caller to graduation but return enough talent to make a run possible.

Chris Lucas rushed for 1,366 yards and 17 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	59-48 55%	17-12 59%	42-36 54%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	RB	Chris Lucas	Sr.
2	ATH	Bryson Riggins	Sr.

Stanhope Elmore Mustangs (7-4)

Outlook: The Mustangs showed signs of improvement in 2025 winning at least seven games for the first time since the 2019 football season. They have improved their win total in each of the seasons under Coach Adams. The question is can they take that next step toward winning a playoff game this fall?

It's a difficult non-region schedule for the Mustangs in 2026. They open the season against 6A Prattville then take on Russell County, Benjamin Russell and Pike Road in consecutive weeks. If somehow they can win one or two of those games we can call that a stepping stone. The back half of the schedule is more favorable.

Damarion Barnes rushed for 2,199 yards and 31 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	64-49 57%	19-15 56%	45-34 57%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	LB	Jesse Christensen	Sr.

Wetumpka Indians (6-5)

Outlook: Six straight playoff appearances for the Indians without a victory seems to be out of character for the fans in Wetumpka. Look for them to be back in the playoff hunt once again in 2026 with an outside shot at hosting a first round game. With the addition of Benjamin Russell to the mix that may prove a tall task.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	62-50 55%	16-17 48%	46-33 58%

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Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	LB	Walter Myrick	Sr.

Region 3

Bessemer City Purple Tigers (9-2)

Outlook: What a job Coach Nelson has done at Bessemer City. From an 0-10 start in 2021 to a 9-2 record last year improving in the win column each year. The road may be a little more difficult with the addition of Hillcrest to the mix in 2026. But, rest assured the Purple Tigers will be in the playoff discussion when late October rolls around.

Brandon Gooden Jr. completed 63 of 129 passes for 929 yards and 8 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season. Lamarrion Gooden rushed for 1138 yards and 14 TDs and also be back for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	56-50 53%	21-12 64%	35-38 48%

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Brookwood Panthers (3-7)

Outlook: Over the past ten seasons the Panthers have won a total of five region games and have not made a playoff appearance since the 2011 football season. There is still a lot of work to be done before Brookwood can compete for a playoff spot or region championship.

They have actually never won a playoff game and only made five appearances in school history.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	55-50 52%	14-17 45%	41-33 55%

2024 Coaching Change

Chris Foster leaves Priceville after five seasons with an impressive 40-18 record. He took the team to four playoff appearances winning a playoff game each time. Coach Foster turned around a struggling football program winning eight games his first season in Priceville.

His 40 victories are the most by a head coach at Priceville and his four playoff wins are the only ones in school history. Foster is a Brookwood native and will once again be tasked with turning around a struggling football program at Brookwood.

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Central Tuscaloosa Falcons (7-3)

Outlook: The Falcons seem to be headed in the right direction with three consecutive winning seasons. It's something they had not accomplished since 2008. Coach Pippen has the fans in Tuscaloosa believing they can reach new heights in 2026.

A couple of very good players return on offense so the prospects are good for another playoff run this fall.

Armani White completed 87 of 144 passes for 1,319 yards and 9 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Anthony Dixon rushed for 1,079 yards and 12 TDs and will also return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	40-53 43%	3-16 16%	37-37 50%

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Hillcrest Tuscaloosa Patriots (6-4)

Outlook: Hillcrest will enjoy the next couple of seasons as they drop out of the highest classification following a couple of 6-4 seasons in the toughest region in the state. The prospects for much better outcomes are on the horizon for the Patriots. Coach Mitchell has won championships previously and can do the same at Hillcrest if the stars become aligned.

Jordan Shambley completed 72 of 116 passes for 1,208 yards and 13 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	56-51 52%	18-15 54%	38-36 51%

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Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	LB	Zay Hall	Sr.

Hueytown Golden Gophers (7-6)

Outlook: The Golden Gophers had a great run under the direction of Coach Patterson the past seven seasons. They set a record for most points scored in a season and reached the state championship game in 2021 before falling to Clay-Chalkville.

2026 will be a new beginning for the Gophers under the direction of Jeremy Vines. If past history is any indication of future results look for Hueytown to be in the thick of a region title hunt when October rolls around. What Coach Vines accomplished at Bullock County was amazing to say the least. Can he continue to work that magic in Hueytown?

Damoni Green completed 86 of 137 passes for 1,129 yards and 8 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	63-45 58%	26-11 70%	37-34 52%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	RB	Anthony Robinson	Sr.
HM	WR	Quentrell Jackson	Sr.
2	DL	Keegan Horn	Sr.

McAdory Yellow Jackets (7-3)

Outlook: The McAdory Yellow Jackets have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past twenty-eight football seasons. They have also only endured one losing season during that timeframe. Quite an accomplishment. Will those streaks continue in 2026? We think they will as the Jackets would like nothing better than to get back to the post season and make a playoff run.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	48-57 46%	11-20 36%	37-37 50%

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Northridge Jaguars (5-5)

Outlook: The Northridge Jaguars missed the playoffs in 2025 with a break even 5-5 record finishing fifth in the region. With the addition of Hillcrest to Region three the task of reaching the post season may be even more difficult for the Jaguars this fall.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	56-52 52%	17-17 50%	39-35 53%

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Paul Bryant Stampede (0-10)

Outlook: The Stampede finished last season with an 0-10 record preceded by a 1-9 record the previous season. So where do they go from here? The fans are hopeful for a better outcome in 2026 even if it is only a few victories. Paul Bryant is another of those schools in 5A who have the distinction of having never won a playoff game in six attempts.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	52-52 50%	8-22 27%	44-30 60%

2024 Coaching Change

Christion Jones

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Region 4

Calera Eagles (2-8)

Outlook: Nine different head coaches over the past twenty-five seasons have left the Calera Eagles in search of stability in the football program. Four consecutive losing seasons and only one winning season over the past eight years is not what the coaches, players or fans want for their school.

Coach Rials has been successful in the past at turning programs around and if given the time and resources needed he will get the job done in Calera.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	48-60 44%	7-23 23%	41-37 53%

2024 Coaching Change

Scott Rials arrives in Calera in hopes of rebuilding the football program there. Although his teams at Baldwin County found the going tough he does have a track record of winning and sustaining a successful football program in the past at Elba and Luverne. His overall record is 185-111 in 27 seasons as a head football coach at South Montgomery Academy, Elba, Luverne, Satsuma and Baldwin County.

The community is in hopes Coach Rials can bring stability to an up and down program in Calera.

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Other Returning Players:

Chelsea Hornets (5-5)

Outlook: What started out as a great season in Chelsea turned sour after a 5-1 beginning. The Hornets finished with four straight losses to finish the 2025 football season with a record of 5-5 and a fifth place finish in Region Four. This year the region gains the likes of Homewood, Ramsay and Mountain Brook making any playoff opportunities a bit more difficult.

Logan Strunk completed 109 of 178 passes for 1,065 yards and 5 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	51-58 47%	13-18 42%	38-40 49%

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Chilton County Tigers (1-9)

Outlook: Last season was a huge disappointment in Clanton for the Tigers of Chilton County. A 1-9 record preceded by five consecutive losing seasons have left the fans hoping for more out of the football program in 2026. The problem is the region got even more difficult with the addition of Homewood, Ramsay and Mountain Brook making a playoff possibility near impossible.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	0-0 36%	0-0 32%	0-0 38%

2024 Coaching Change

Eddie Wall has been named as the next head football coach at Chilton County as we enter the 2024 football season. Wall spent the last six seasons as the defensive coordinator at Leeds High School and this will be his first head coaching job. Wall also spent time at Clay-Chalkville High School as the defensive line coach prior to Leeds. He is a native of Oak Mountain where he played football.

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Helena Huskies (5-6)

Outlook: Homewood, Ramsay and Mountain Brook join Region Four which means things will be a little more difficult for the remaining teams including Helena.

The Huskies started the 2025 football season slow getting off to a 1-5 start before winning four in a row to finish 5-6. A similar result could be in store for the football team this season as the first half of the schedule looks even more difficult with Moody, Pelham, Mountain Brook and Homewood at the top of the slate.

If the Huskies can win a couple of those games they will be in great shape to tackle the last half of the schedule and possibly make the playoffs.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	64-49 57%	26-10 72%	38-39 49%

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Homewood Patriots (11-2)

Outlook: Fourteen consecutive playoff appearances is a great run for the Homewood Patriots but high goals are on the board for these coaches and players.

The Patriots were rolling along last year finishing the regular season with one loss which was a dramatic overtime game against rival Mountain Brook. Everything was working in their favor until they matched up against Clay-Chalkville in the quarterfinals a game they lost 35-17. Losing to the Cougars should not diminish the accomplishments of 2025 as no other team was capable of defeating Clay-Chalkville it seems last year.

The eleven wins are the most since 2005's state championship squad.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	46-62 43%	14-19 42%	32-43 43%

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Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	QB	Kaleb Carson	Sr.
2	WR	Tomon Felton	Sr.

Mountain Brook Spartans (9-4)

Outlook: The Spartans have reached the playoffs the past ten seasons in a row and even reached the championship game in 2022 before falling to Saraland 38-17. Each of those teams won at least eight games making it a very respectable run for any school. But the bar is set a little higher at Mountain Brook with championships at the top of the bar.

Seven teams on this season's schedule made the playoff in 2025. Non-region foes include Hueytown, UMS-Wright and Oxford. The Spartans will need to be on top of their game to improve on last seasons 9-4 record but rest assured when November rolls around they will still be playing football at Mountain Brook in 2026.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	52-58 47%	18-17 51%	34-41 45%

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Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	OL	Rocco Gray	Sr.

Pelham Panthers (4-7)

Outlook: The won/loss record last year may not reflect exactly how good the Panthers were in 2025. They may have only won four games but four of those losses could have just as easily been victories with a little luck. Coach Newton's squad showed improvement and it is very likely they will show more in 2026 as the season progresses.

Two key skilled players return for Pelham in 2026. Dylan Smith completed 100 of 172 passes for 1,710 yards and 18 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Marcus Arnold caught 57 passes for 1,135 yards and 11 TDs and will also be returning for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	52-55 49%	13-17 43%	39-38 51%

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Ramsay Rams (6-4)

Outlook: Never count out the Ramsay Rams when it comes to teams capable of bringing home a state championship. They will always be competitive and always a team to watch out for when the playoffs begin. The region will be more difficult for them this year but they should be around come November.

The Rams started the last two seasons slowly beginning 0-3 last year. That does not tell the whole story. Those losses were to defending state champs Parker, 2025 state champs Clay-Chalkville and Briarwood. This season the Rams could just as easily begin the season 6-0 before getting to the meat of a difficult last four games.

Champion Rodgers completed 79 of 143 passes for 1,026 yards and 13 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	52-57 48%	15-16 48%	37-41 47%

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Region 5

Cullman Bearcats (4-6)

Outlook: Three consecutive losing seasons is not something they are accustomed to in Cullman. The last time that happened was 1982-84. So it's been a while. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

A different region this year as the Bearcats are moved in with mostly Birmingham area schools in 2026. That alone should add a few games to that win total and get the Bearcats back on the winning track.

Colt Colvard completed 96 of 148 passes for 1,076 yards and 8 TDs and will return for his Junior season. Weston Keel rushed for 1235 yards and 8 TDs and will also return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	60-50 54%	29-6 83%	31-44 41%

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Gardendale Rockets (1-9)

Outlook: The Rockets missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season something that had not been done since 2009. The lone victory was a forfeit win over James Clemens to open the season. A few close losses along the way could have improved on that win total but things did not go the way of the Rockets in 2025.

A 1-9 record at Gardendale last season was the worst they have seen since the 1996 football season. Coach Firestone is looking not to repeat that effort in 2026.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	51-56 48%	17-15 53%	34-41 45%

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Huffman Vikings (2-8)

Outlook: Baby steps at Huffman. They won two games last year but when you compare it to where the team was just two years ago it was a major step in the right direction. In 2023 the Vikings finished 0-10 and did not score a single point all season.

Can Huffman take the next step forward in 2026? Coach LeBeaux has never been anything but a winner so the possibilities are endless for the Vikings in the near future. They may be a few seasons away from competing for a playoff spot but don't be surprised if they continue to improve on that win total each season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	40-55 42%	7-13 35%	33-42 44%

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Jackson-Olin Mustangs (4-7)

Outlook: The Mustangs have improved on their win total in each of the past two seasons finishing 4-7 in 2025. They even qualified for a playoff spot last year. The next step is to complete a season with a winning record and win a playoff game. They have not won a post season contest since 1997 so that would be quite an accomplishment for the Mustangs.

Adonis Miller completed 67 of 132 passes for 934 yards and 8 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Derrion Lewis rushed for 1,668 yards and 15 TDs and will also be returning for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	42-62 40%	11-19 37%	31-43 42%

2024 Coaching Change

Joe Webb the former UAB quarterback has been hired as the head football coach at Jackson-Olin High School. Webb attended the Ensley High School from 2001-2004. He transferred to Wenonah for his senior season and enrolled at UAB in 2005. He went on to enjoy a ten-year NFL career that saw him play for the Panthers, Bills, and Texans, among others.

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Jasper Vikings (8-3)

Outlook: After going 1-9 in Coach Reeves first season the Vikings have won fifteen games the past two years. That is not the entire story as Jasper was very competitive even in those losses last year.

The Vikings began the 2025 football season 6-0 before getting to the meat of their schedule and dropping region games to Muscle Shoals and Hartselle. The good news is those two schools are no longer in the same region with the Vikings in 2026.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	50-57 47%	23-10 70%	27-47 36%

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Graduated Players
2	RB	Micah Pledger	Sr.
1	OL	Grant Bailey	Sr.

Minor Tigers (4-6)

Outlook: A new beginning at Minor as Coach Rico Jackson brings his talents to Adamsville. All his team did last year at Anniston was to finished with an 14-1 record and an appearance in the Class 4A state championship game.

Last year the Tigers got off to a great start with four consecutive wins but faltered as the season progressed dropping their last six contests.

Tommie Burts completed 129 of 246 passes for 1,960 yards and 22 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	47-62 43%	16-18 47%	31-44 41%

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Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils (4-7)

The Blue Devils won four games last year but struggled in the losses by not being very competitive in all but a close loss to Woodlawn midseason. They did make the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Blaze Neely completed 90 of 147 passes for 1,142 yards and 10 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	42-63 40%	11-20 36%	31-43 42%

2024 Coaching Change

Heath Lauderdale was promoted to the the head coaching job in May for the Blue Devils. Lauderdale has been the assistant head coach the past two seasons at the school. He has 16 years of coaching experience, including a five-year stint as the head coach at Susan Moore where his teams finished 31-22 between 2017-2021. His 2019 team completed a perfect 10-0 regular season before finishing with a record of 11-1.

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Parker Thundering Herd (8-4)

Outlook: The job Coach Warren has done at turning around the football fortunes at Parker is nothing short of amazing. A record of 58-19 in seven seasons goes way beyond what even the most optimistic fans could have hoped for when he arrived on the scene. Now anything short of winning a championship will be met with disappointment.

Coach Warren and the Parker Thundering Herd had to be disappointed with the way the 2025 football season ended. After winning a state championship in 2024 they were expected to roll toward a second consecutive championship last season. It just did not materialize and the season came to an unexpected end against Muscle Shoals in the second round of the playoffs.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	45-60 43%	18-14 56%	27-46 37%

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Graduated Players
HM	QB	Dylan Reese	Sr.

Region 6

Clay-Chalkville Cougars (15-0)

Outlook: It's been thirty years since the school opened in 1996. Since then all the Cougars have done if win five state championships and 275 football games. Not many schools can top that resume.

Quick question. Who was the best team in the state in 2025? If you answered anything except the Clay-Chalkville Cougars you would be wrong according to anyone who watched these Cougars play last year. All they did was defeat Thompson, shutout Mountain Brook 49-0 and knock off Saraland again in the title game.

The Cougars scored at least 28 points in every game but make no mistake that the strength of last year's team was a defense as good as we have seen at the high school level in Alabama.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	67-39 63%	37-5 88%	30-34 47%

2024 Coaching Change

Stuart Floyd quarterbacked the Clay-Chalkville to a 12-3 record and state championship in 1999, earning All-State honorable mention as a senior. He was the offensive coordinator for the Cougars from 2011 through 2016. After the 2016 football season he spent two seasons at Hewitt-Trussville before moving on to Mortimer Jordan.

Floyd served as an assistant for the Blue Devils and head coach for one season in 2021 and one year as the offensive coordinator at Springville before returning to Clay-Chalkville in 2023.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	RB	Joshua Woods	Sr.
1	WR	Corey Barber Jr.	Sr.
1	OL	JT Jones	Sr.
1	K	Joseph Del Toro	Sr.
2	DB	Xavier Starks	Sr.
1	ATH	Aaron Frye	Sr.

Oxford Yellow Jackets (5-6)

Outlook: Oxford is accustomed to winning championships having brought home four in the past. Even with Clay-Chalkville in their region they will always have a region championship as a goal when the season begins.

A very difficult schedule in 2025 led to a 5-6 record in Oxford last year make no mistake about it. All six losses came to very good playoff teams. Only two of those same six teams are on the schedule in 2026 so look for a few more wins out of the Jackets in 2026 and a deeper playoff run on top of it.

It all begins at the quarterback position at the high school football level and the Yellow Jackets have a good one in 2026. Maddox Mims completed 149 of 227 passes for 2,054 yards and 21 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	63-42 60%	23-14 62%	40-28 59%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	WR	Jaylin Taylor	Sr.

Pell City Panthers (7-4)

Outlook: Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere in the Sonora desert you know something special is going on in Pell City. And it's not just with the football program. State championship winning coach Jake Ganus has arrived on the scene and things are never going to be the same for the Panthers. The sky is the limit when it comes to winning football games now. Everyone in the community is on board the Pell City train make no mistake about it.

It's been twenty years since the Panthers won ten games in a season. It's been thirteen years since they won a playoff game. So what are the goals for this Panther squad in 2026? That is for you to decide but nothing will surprise the fans as the expectations are through the roof.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	71-35 67%	33-5 87%	38-30 56%

2024 Coaching Change

Nick Gentry was named the next head football coach at Pell City following Rush Propst's resignation. Pell City looked inside the current coaching staff and named defensive coordinator Nick Gentry as the team's new head coach. Gentry is a former Alabama Crimson Tide player and was a defensive lineman on the 2009 and 2011 BCS National championship teams. He also has coaching experience on the staffs at UAB, Jacksonville State, Tennessee and the USFL before joining the staff at Pell City last season for one year.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Pinson Valley Indians (4-6)

Outlook: Just six short years ago the Pinson Valley Indians were sitting on top of the world having just won three championships in four years. Since that time they have not been able to match that success and have gone through three consecutive losing seasons including missing the playoffs the past two years.

Coach Cola has arrived on the scene and is bringing with him a renewed sense of optimism when it comes to Indians football. The problem is that they have a difficult non-region schedule with the likes of Florence, Ramsay and Pelham on the slate. The win total may not be increased greatly but make no mistake the Indians will be more competitive in 2026.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	63-49 56%	22-21 51%	41-28 59%

2024 Coaching Change

James Thompson accepted the head coaching job at Pinson Valley in February. He was previously the head football coach at Carver Montgomery for three seasons between 2018-2020 and Pickens County 2015-2017. His Tornadoes fell in the state championship games in 2016 and 2017. His overall record as a head coach is 50-23 in six seasons.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Southside Gadsden Panthers (3-7)

Outlook: Southside missed the playoffs for the first time in four years in 2025. While the Panthers have never been considered a powerhouse when it comes to football the expectations have been set a little higher the past few years.

The return of Coach Holcomb enters year two after a disappointing first year back at Southside. The Panthers only won three games in 2025 and that is not acceptable for anyone especially Coach Holcomb. There are four very good teams residing in Region Six so a playoff spot will not be a given for the Panthers the next two seasons.

Christian Morris completed 77 of 135 passes for 1,000 yards and 6 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	66-48 58%	24-21 53%	42-27 61%

2024 Coaching Change

Ben Stewart was hired as the next head football coach at Southside in March. He will be tasked to continue the success of Coach Holcomb last season. Stewart was the offensive coordinator at Oxford the past three seasons. He spent time as an assistant at Springville, his alma mater, and Hillcrest Tuscaloosa before Oxford.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Springville Tigers (1-9)

Outlook: The Tigers of Springville will be in a rebuilding mood after going 1-9 in 2025. They have not won more than five games in any season since 2009 and have not reached the playoffs since that same year. So where do they go from here? The only way is up with a new coaching staff.

The Tigers were not really very competitive on the field in 2025 winning just one game and losing eight by lopsided scores.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	62-50 55%	18-25 42%	44-25 64%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

St. Clair County Fighting Saints (10-2)

Outlook: Coach Robinson took the head coaching job in Odenville just three short years ago with not much fanfare or many expectations. After all the Saints were not known as a football powerhouse by any means. Fast forward a couple of years and the Fighting Saints are coming off a 10-2 season where the only losses were to Moody and Scottsboro.

The non-region schedule includes teams like Leeds, Moody and Central Clay County. That's what happens when you go 10-2. Not many takers right now to play the Saints who were not that long ago everyone's homecoming opponent. That was then and this is now.

Landyn Smith completed 187 of 283 passes for 2,511 yards and 33 TDs and will return for his Senior season. Joshua Douthard caught 73 passes for 1,101 yards and 20 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	66-50 57%	31-18 63%	35-32 52%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	ATH	Travell Jones	Sr.

Region 7

Athens Golden Eagles (6-5)

Outlook: The Golden Eagles have won 38 playoff games since 1966 when the AHSAA playoffs began. But they have only won a single playoff game over the course of the past dozen seasons. While winning six to eight games in a season is great for most schools the Eagle fans will be hoping for a little more in the future.

Region Seven is joined this year by the likes of Austin, Florence and Russellville so it's a little crowded for a team like Athens with Hartselle and Muscle Shoals around too. This should be a great region to keep an eye on all throughout the fall.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	67-45 60%	23-10 70%	44-35 56%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Austin Black Bears (6-5)

Outlook: Austin has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past eleven football seasons and also won more games than they lost in all but one of those seasons. The question may be can they continue that success in 5A and a different set of opponents in region play?

For the first time since 2017 the Austin Black Bears will not be in the highest classification. While that may seem great to some fans it may prove to be even more difficult when it comes to winning enough region games to make the playoffs. Hartselle, Muscle Shoals and Russellville will also reside in Region Seven making it a little crowded.

Aidan Davis rushed for 1,162 yards and 9 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	59-52 53%	15-17 47%	44-35 56%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	DB	Caleb Caudle	Sr.

Decatur Red Raiders (2-8)

Outlook: It's actually difficult to comprehend how far the Decatur football program has fallen over the past seven seasons. If we take away the 9-3 season of 2022 the Red Raiders are averaging less than three wins a season. You have to go back to 1966-68 to find a three year stretch where the Raiders won less than the seven games they won the past three seasons.

The only victories in 2025 for Decatur came against Lee and Columbia which were a couple of teams that finished the season with 0-10 records. It was an exact repeat of the 2024 football season. So now the only way to rebuild this once proud football program is up. Can Coach Ritter get the ship righted in 2026?

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	60-52 54%	12-20 38%	48-32 60%

2024 Coaching Change

John Ritter moves on to Decatur after spending the last six seasons as the head football coach at Russellville. Each of his teams reached the playoffs and had a combined record of 52-19. In eleven seasons as a head coach his teams have an overall record of 85-42 and all but one qualified for the playoffs. His previous head coaching jobs were at Red Bay for two seasons and West Morgan for another three before landing at Russellville.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

East Limestone Indians (1-9)

Outlook: As if things could get any worse at East Limestone they find themselves in a region with the likes of teams who are considered some of the best in North Alabama.

Back-to-back 1-9 seasons and a very difficult region schedule will extinguish any hopes of a rejuvenated football program at East Limestone anytime soon. At least it seems that way right now.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	56-54 51%	7-23 23%	49-31 61%

2024 Coaching Change

Will Johnson

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Florence Falcons (6-5)

Outlook: Florence has been around since 2004 and the Falcons have qualified for a playoff spot in all but seven of those seasons. Over the course of the last eight seasons they have hovered around the break even point when it comes to wins and losses with a low of five wins and a high of eight wins in those seasons.

Six teams in Region Seven qualified for the playoffs last year. That makes it a little crowded for teams like Florence when it comes time to pass out the playoff berths in late October.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	66-46 59%	22-11 67%	44-35 56%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	WR	Jimmy McDonald	Sr.
1	LB	Zo Martin	Sr.

Hartselle Tigers (10-2)

Outlook: While the Hartselle Tigers have averaged ten wins over the past five seasons they have only managed to get past the second round of the playoffs once during that time. The Tigers did win a championship in 2011 going a perfect 15-0 and have reached the playoffs every year this century except three. That's a great resume for any football program.

The 2026 scheduled is littered with really good teams but should be manageable for the Tigers so look for them to be in the thick of things in Region Seven. It is crowded with good teams but the Tigers will be just fine.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	57-52 52%	17-14 55%	40-38 51%

2024 Coaching Change

Bert Newton takes over the head coaching duties from Bryan Moore after serving as defensive coordinator and associate head coach last year at Hartselle. He previously was at Vestavia Hills for one season as an assistant coach. Newton spent four years as the defensive coordinator for the Tigers. He built the Tigers defensive unit into a dominating force during his time at Hartselle.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	OL	Nolan Carroll	Sr.
1	LB	Hayden Gray	Sr.
HM	DB	Chris Hutson	Sr.
1	DB	Cole Miles	Sr.
2	ATH	Cain Falciani	Sr.

Muscle Shoals Trojans (12-1)

Outlook: There is good news and bad news in Muscle Shoals as fall practice begins. The good news is that the Trojans have an excellent football program. The bad news is that they will be without their leader for the past 18 seasons as Coach Basden retired during the off season. We should expect this football machine to continue to roll as it has the last seventeen seasons.

Muscle Shoals may have been one of the best teams in any classification last year. The problem was that the very best team was the one they met in the semi-finals. That loss to Clay-Chalkville can not be erased but should not diminish the accomplishments of that 2025 football squad. Wins over Parker and Mountain Brook proved they can compete and defeat the Birmingham schools.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	51-47 52%	13-8 62%	38-39 49%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
1	DL	KaMhariyan Johnson	Sr.
1	DB	Keivay Foster	Sr.

Russellville Golden Tigers (7-5)

Outlook: Between 2000-2010 the Golden Tigers won at least ten games every season under the direction of Coach Doug Goodwin. Since that time they have managed the feat just twice. While that does not mean Russellville is not a very good football program it does mean they need a little boost to get back to those great seasons. They may have just found the spark needed to reach the next level.

Darrell Higgins brings his talents from Mars Hill to Russellville in 2026 and that could represent deeper playoff runs for the Golden Tigers in the future. They do find themselves in a difficult region but will still be around playing in November.

Whit Goodwin completed 182 of 286 passes for 2,120 yards and 21 TDs and will return for his Junior season. Eli Harris rushed for 1,340 yards and 21 TDs last season at Hamilton before transferring to Russellville for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	82-39 68%	39-4 91%	43-35 55%

2024 Coaching Change

Dustin Goodwin spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Thompson. Coach Goodwin was the head football coach at Chelsea for four seasons between 2018-2021 with a record of 15-27. He was also at Plainview for three seasons with a record of 21-12. Goodwin also served as an assistant under his father at Russellville.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Region 8

Albertville Aggies (1-9)

Outlook: Things could not be much worse for the Aggies when it comes to winning football games. After all they have only managed three wins over the past five seasons. But the good news is they are no longer in the highest classification. The not so great news is that they still have a long way to go to be competitive even in Class 5A.

It's been a long time since Coach Grass led the Aggies to the playoffs and a 9-3 record. Twenty-four years to be exact. That was ten head coaches ago.

CJ Zuniga completed 70 of 140 passes for 834 yards and 8 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	44-62 42%	13-18 42%	31-44 41%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	OL	Christian Ramirez	Sr.

Arab Knights (4-7)

Outlook: The Arab Knights have reached the playoffs in each of the last six seasons and things point toward an extension of that streak in 2026. They are joined by several new teams following realignment but most are not ready for the playoffs it seems.

Look for the Knights to post a winning season and a first round playoff game this fall. Anything less than that will be a disappointment in Arab.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	45-60 43%	17-14 55%	28-46 38%

2024 Coaching Change

Kyle Routon was promoted to the heads coaching position at Arab following the dismissal of Coach Ozmint. He has been very successful as the wrestling coach winning many awards ands a state championship. Routon, a Southside native and Jacksonville State University graduate, began his coaching career at Southside Gadsden. He served as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach at Southside. He also was head softball coach for one season. Routon next went to Oxford where he spent two seasons as the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Boaz Pirates (8-3)

Outlook: Eight straight playoff appearances for the Pirates from Boaz and it appears more will be on the horizon for Luke Pruitt's crew.

Last year the three losses were to very good football teams in Scottsboro, Guntersville and Russellville in the playoffs. The non-region schedule may be a little more difficult in 2026 with Plainview and Madison Academy on it but the region slate is more important and the Pirates can manage that one well.

Beau Bennett completed 121 of 193 passes for 1502 yards and 15 TDs and will return for his Sophomore season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	50-60 46%	26-10 72%	24-50 32%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
2	RB	Presley Fant	Sr.
2	LB	Bradyn Bennett	Sr.

Columbia Eagles (0-10)

Outlook: As they say, "All good things must come to an end." But in the case of the Columbia Eagles it will be the opposite in 2026 as they will almost certainly get that monkey off their back and finally win a football game. With the nation's longest losing streak topping out at over 100 consecutive losses a win may be on the horizon for the Eagles.

Coach Coates has the patience and is working daily to not just win a single football game but to instill a winning attitude in his players as well. They will have several opportunities for victories this season especially early on. We think they will win one of those games this year and break that streak.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	38-67 36%	6-24 20%	32-43 43%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Douglas Eagles (5-5)

Outlook: The Douglas Eagles are 0-3 all-time in the playoffs and have not qualified for the post season since 2021. The good news is that the 25 wins over the past five seasons is the best run in school history since 1970. They just seem to come up a game or two short each year of making the playoffs.

That fourth playoff spot in Region Eight just may come down to the Douglas vs. Mae Jemison game in early September. Look for the winner of that game to make the playoffs and Douglas may just have what it takes to win it.

Baker Lyles completed 56 of 101 passes for 981 yards and 10 TDs and will return for his Junior season. Keilan Green rushed for 964 yards and 10 TDs and will also return for his Junior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	40-66 38%	13-18 42%	27-48 36%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Fort Payne Wildcats (10-2)

Outlook: Back-to-back ten win seasons have the Wildcats excited for the upcoming 2026 football season. Over the past twenty years they have reached the playoffs and this season will be not different for Coach Elmore's crew.

If the Wildcats can get past those first two opponents in Scottsboro and Gadsden City, two teams they defeated last year, then look for a perfect or near perfect regular season from Fort Payne.

Kaiden Adams rushed for 977 yards and 12 TDs and will return for his Senior season.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	45-65 41%	23-14 62%	22-51 30%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Graduated Players
HM	DL	Mason Chandler	Sr.
1	P	Hayden Chambers	Sr.

Lee Huntsville Generals (0-10)

Outlook: Back-to-back 0-10 seasons for the Lee Generals are not what they want in Huntsville. A different coaching staff and a renewed hope of righting this ship and getting back to winning football games and more importantly becoming competitive on the field.

One positive for the upcoming season is that the region is not packed with great football teams so the opportunity for improvement will be there when the season opens n August.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	54-54 50%	22-11 67%	32-43 43%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players:

Mae Jemison Jaguars (4-7)

Outlook: Four wins may not seem like much at most schools but at Mae Jemison it is a step in the right direction for the Jaguars. It is the most wins for the football program since 2020.

The Jaguars lost three games they could have easily won in 2025 which would have turned a mediocre season into a very good season. A favorable region schedule could prove beneficial for Jemison this fall.

	All Games	Non-Region	Region
Schedule	52-57 48%	24-11 69%	28-46 38%

Key Starters:

Other Returning Players: