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   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2016 Team Previews 


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Cleveland Panthers

Head Coach: Gardner Gilliland (fourth season)
Stadium: Michal Dixon Memorial Stadium
Career Record: 8 seasons, (66-27)
At Cleveland: 3 seasons, (26-9)
2014 Enrollment:  197
Rank:  292nd in the AHSAA, 23rd in Class 2A

 History 
Overall Record:   362-341-25   (52.0%)
Last 25 years:   129-139   (48.0%)  (Rank: 206th in the AHSAA, 29th in Class 2A)
Since 2010:   41-26  (61.0%)  (Rank: 109th in the AHSAA, 11th in Class 2A)
Last Region Championship:   2015

 2015 
Class:  2A              Region:   7
Record:  12-1    (Team record for wins in a season)
Region Record:   6-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Randolph County by a score of 49-28.
Final ASWA Poll:   2nd
Scoring:  562 (43.2)    (Team record for points scored in a season)
Defense:  241 (18.5)

D1 Players lost to Graduation
      Peyton Gilliland,  ,  ,  DB  [Jacksonville St.]

 2016 
Class: 2A              Region:   7
Strength of Schedule: 52-55 (49%) (220th in the AHSAA, 28th in Class 2A)
Region Strength:  40-26 (61%)
Non-Region Strength:  12-29 (29%)



 2015 Results 
 8/21   OPEN 
 8/28  @ Pisgah  (3A)   42-21   W  
 9/4  @ Fyffe  (2A)  *  21-14   W  
 9/11  vs. West End Walnut Grove  (2A)  *  51-22   W  
 9/18  @ Collinsville  (2A)  *  58-28   W  
 9/25  vs. J.B. Pennington  (4A)   35-7   W  
 10/2  vs. Susan Moore  (3A)   47-12   W  
 10/9  vs. Section  (2A)  *  64-22   W  
 10/16  @ Ider  (2A)  *  49-12   W  
 10/23  vs. Gaston  (2A)  *  45-13   W  
 10/29  @ Southeastern  (2A)   61-8   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/5  vs. Reeltown    23-20   W  
 11/13  vs. Sulligent    38-13   W  
 11/20  @ Randolph County    28-49   L  

 2016 Schedule 
 8/19   OPEN 
 8/25  vs. Southeastern  (1A)       
 9/2  vs. Falkville  (2A)  *      
 9/9  @ West End Walnut Grove  (2A)  *      
 9/16  vs. Winston County  (2A)  *      
 9/23  @ J.B. Pennington  (3A)       
 9/30  @ Tanner  (2A)  *      
 10/7  vs. Locust Fork  (3A)       
 10/14  @ Tarrant  (2A)  *      
 10/21  vs. Cold Springs  (2A)  *      
 10/27  @ Susan Moore  (3A)       
 11/4  vs. Red Bay        
 11/11  @ Fyffe        


Class  2A Region  7
Team 2015 Record Scoring                            
Cleveland 12-1562-241
Cold Springs 6-5426-293
Falkville 9-3427-371
Tanner 11-1689-185
Tarrant 1-9139-335
West End Walnut Grove 6-4380-278
Winston County 7-4409-269

 2016 Preview 


       Last year Cleveland captured the region 7 title and a number one seed in the Class 2A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. Cleveland lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a strong Randolph County team by a score of 49-28.  The 562 points scored by the Panthers last year were a team record in a single season.

       Over the past two seasons the Panthers have gone 21-4 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. Averaging over ten wins a season since 2010, Cleveland has gone a combined 41-26. Their 61.0% winning percentage ranks 11th in Class 2A over the past six seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Cleveland has managed to compile a record of 129-139. Their 48.0% winning percentage ranks 29th in Class 2A and 206th in the AHSAA.

       The Panthers are led by head coach Gardner Gilliland who is entering his third season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 26-9 over the past three seasons at Cleveland. Under his direction the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have won one region crown with Coach Gilliland.

       Coach Gilliland's overall record as a head football coach in eight seasons stands at 66-27 (71.0%). Over the course of his career, Coach Gilliland's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of six times and won two region championships.

       The Panthers enter the 2016 season riding a 11 game regular season winning streak. Cleveland has won 6 consecutive region games. They have won 10 straight games on their home field at Michal Dixon Memorial Stadium.

      The Cleveland Panthers will play in Class 2A region 7 during the 2016 season.

       The Panthers should contend for a playoff spot in Region 7 this season.

       The Panthers open the 2016 season at home against non-region opponent Southeastern on Thursday, August 25 at Michal Dixon Memorial Stadium. Last year the Southeastern Mustangs finished with an overall record of 1-9 and in seventh place in Class 2A region 6. The closed out the regular season with a loss to Cleveland by a score of 61-8.

       Cleveland and Southeastern have met a total of 9 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 7-2-0 record against the Mustangs. They last met in 2023 with Southeastern winning by a score of 41-6.

       Cleveland returns 2A All-State   Gardner Gilliland. He was named to the first team last season. The Panthers also return Senior linebacker Hunter Green. He was named to the first team. The Panthers also return Junior kicker Juan Castro. He was named to the second team.

  








Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Hamilton shutout an amazing 14 consecutive opponents from 1928-1930. A streak that will never be matched in modern football.