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  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2016 Team Previews 

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Bessemer City Purple Tigers

Head Coach: Martez Edwards (fourth season)
Stadium: Snitz Snider Memorial Stadium
Career Record: 3 seasons, (23-13)
At Bessemer City: 3 seasons, (23-13)
2016 Enrollment:  613
Rank:  89th in the AHSAA, 55th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   625-353-33   (64.0%)
Last 25 years:   169-106   (62.0%)  (Rank: 76th in the AHSAA, 17th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   32-33  (49.0%)  (Rank: 190th in the AHSAA, 36th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2015
Last Region Championship:   2009
Last Winning Season:   2015
Last Losing Season:   2014

 2015 
Class:  6A              Region:   4
Record:  8-5
Region Record:   3-3, (fourth)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Benjamin Russell by a score of 36-13.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  347 (26.7)
Defense:  221 (17.0)

College Signees lost to Graduation
      Jacquez Hall,   RB  [Lane College]
      Ozzie Williams,   LB  [Miles College]
      Vincent Burrell,   LB  [Lane College]
      KhaDarrius Davis,   QB  [Alabama St.]
      Tony Smith,   DL  [Lane College]
      Roderick Tillman,   OL  [Lane College]
      Jeremiah Jones,   DB  [Troy]

 2016 
Class: 6A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 72-41 (64%) (12th in the AHSAA, 5th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  39-27 (59%)
Non-Region Strength:  33-14 (70%)

D1 Prospects
      Jamal Brooks,  6-1,  220,  ILB
      MarQuel Shelton,  5-11,  219,  DE
      Jhalin Witherspoon,  6-0,  286,  DT
      Delevecchio Johnston,  5-5,  154,  WR


 2015 Results 
 8/21  vs. Hueytown  (6A)   34-6   W  
 8/28  @ Shades Valley  (6A)   24-17   W  
 9/4  vs. Brookwood  (6A)  *  47-0   W  
 9/11  @ Paul Bryant  (6A)  *  14-0   W  
 9/18  vs. Hillcrest Tuscaloosa  (6A)  *  20-23   L (OT) 
 9/25   OPEN 
 10/2  @ McAdory  (6A)  *  35-41   L  
 10/9  vs. Selma  (6A)  *  59-0   W  
 10/16  @ Northridge  (6A)  *  20-27   L  
 10/23  vs. Center Point  (6A)   37-16   W  
 10/30  @ Spain Park  (7A)   6-24   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/6  @ Park Crossing    28-24   W  
 11/13  vs. Blount    10-7   W  
 11/20  @ Benjamin Russell    13-36   L  

 2016 Schedule 
 8/19  @ Central Tuscaloosa  (5A)       
 8/26  vs. Clay-Chalkville  (6A)       
 9/2  vs. Selma  (6A)  *      
 9/9  @ Hillcrest Tuscaloosa  (6A)  *      
 9/16  @ Northridge  (6A)  *      
 9/23  vs. Wenonah  (5A)       
 9/30   OPEN 
 10/7  @ McAdory  (6A)  *      
 10/14  vs. Paul Bryant  (6A)  *      
 10/21  vs. Brookwood  (6A)  *      
 10/27  @ Huffman  (7A)       
 11/4  @ Chelsea        
 11/11  vs. Park Crossing        


Class  6A Region  4
Team 2015 Record Scoring                            
Bessemer City (6A) 8-5347-221
Brookwood (6A) 1-998-282
Hillcrest Tuscaloosa (6A) 8-4311-254
McAdory (6A) 10-2413-193
Northridge (6A) 9-3320-243
Paul Bryant (6A) 6-4220-201
Selma (6A) 5-5171-199

 2016 Preview 


       Bessemer City completed the 2015 season with a 8-5 record. With their 3-3 region record and a fourth place finish in Class 6A region four, the Purple Tigers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2015. Bessemer City lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Benjamin Russell team by a score of 36-13.

       The Purple Tigers had some tough luck last season as three of their five losses were by less than eight points.

       Since 2010, Bessemer City has gone a combined 32-33. Their 49.0% winning percentage ranks 36th in Class 6A over the past six seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Bessemer City has managed to compile a record of 169-106. Their 62.0% winning percentage ranks 17th in Class 6A and 76th in the AHSAA.

       The Purple Tigers are led by head coach Martez Edwards who is entering his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 23-13 over the past three seasons at Bessemer City. Under his direction the Purple Tigers have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Edwards.

       Coach Edwards' overall record as a head football coach in three season stands at 23-13 (63.9%).

       The Bessemer City Purple Tigers will play in Class 6A region four during the 2016 season. The Purple Tigers have one of the toughest schedules in Class 6A. Their opponents had a combined record of 72-41 last season. That ranks 5th in Class 6A and 12th in the AHSAA.

       The Purple Tigers will be in the mix for one of the last two playoff spots in region four this season.

       The Purple Tigers open the 2016 season on the road against non-region opponent Central Tuscaloosa on Friday, August 19 at Falcon Stadium. Last year the Central Tuscaloosa Falcons finished with an overall record of 5-5 and in fifth place in Class 5A region four. The Falcons ended last season on a positive note with a win over Parker by a score of 34-21 after failing to gain a playoff spot.

       Bessemer City and Central Tuscaloosa have met a total of 29 times on the football field. The Purple Tigers have a 15-14-0 record against the Falcons. They last met in 2005 with Bessemer City winning by a score of 65-8.

       Bessemer City returns 6A All-State Senior defensive lineman Marquel Shelton Jr.. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

       College prospects include: Delevecchio Johnston (5-5, 154) receiver, Jamal Brooks (6-1, 220) inside linebacker, Jhalin Witherspoon (6-0, 286) defensive tackle, MarQuel Shelton (5-11, 219) defensive end,

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The first night game played between high school teams in the state occurred on September 23, 1927 when Pike Road and Cloverdale met in the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.