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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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Fort Payne Wildcats

Head Coach: Paul Ellis (thirteenth season)
Stadium: Wildcat Stadium
Career Record: 16 seasons, (117-59)
At Fort Payne: 12 seasons, (101-35)
2016 Enrollment:  675
Rank:  77th in the AHSAA, 45th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   537-371-29   (59.0%)
Last 25 years:   167-104   (62.0%)  (Rank: 75th in the AHSAA, 18th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   53-16  (77.0%)  (Rank: 26th in the AHSAA, 4th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2015
Last Region Championship:   2015
Last Winning Season:   2015
Last Losing Season:   2005

 2015 
Class:  6A              Region:   7
Record:  8-3
Region Record:   6-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Briarwood by a score of 30-26.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  330 (30.0)
Defense:  199 (18.1)

College Signees lost to Graduation
      Tyler Berry,   RB  [Lake Erie (Ohio)]
      Reid Hulgan,   OL  [Samford]
      Desmon Turner,   LB  [Lake Erie (Ohio)]

 2016 
Class: 6A              Region:   7
Strength of Schedule: 41-54 (43%) (312nd in the AHSAA, 54th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  25-38 (40%)
Non-Region Strength:  16-16 (50%)



 2015 Results 
 8/21   OPEN 
 8/28  vs. New Hope  (3A)   42-7   W  
 9/4  vs. Arab  (6A)  *  21-14   W  
 9/11  @ Brewer  (6A)  *  48-0   W  
 9/18  @ Albertville  (6A)  *  17-14   W  
 9/25  @ Hazel Green  (7A)   17-21   L  
 10/2  vs. Lee Huntsville  (6A)  *  28-14   W  
 10/9  @ Scottsboro  (6A)  *  38-21   W  
 10/16  vs. Gardendale  (6A)   28-38   L  
 10/23  vs. Southside Gadsden  (6A)  *  38-14   W  
 10/30  @ Anniston  (5A)   27-26   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/6  vs. Briarwood    26-30   L  

 2016 Schedule 
 8/19  vs. Chattooga GA        
 8/26  @ Scottsboro  (5A)       
 9/2  @ Southside Gadsden  (6A)  *      
 9/9   OPEN 
 9/16  vs. Cullman  (6A)  *      
 9/23  vs. Etowah  (5A)       
 9/30  vs. Brewer  (6A)  *      
 10/7  @ Oxford  (6A)  *      
 10/14  @ Albertville  (6A)  *      
 10/21  vs. Pell City  (6A)  *      
 10/28  vs. Anniston  (4A)       


Class  6A Region  7
Team 2015 Record Scoring                            
Albertville (6A) 7-4272-186
Brewer (6A) 0-1094-385
Cullman (6A) 6-5220-210
Fort Payne (6A) 8-3330-199
Oxford (6A) 3-7174-270
Pell City (6A) 4-7215-231
Southside Gadsden (6A) 5-5292-232

 2016 Preview 


       Fort Payne completed the 2015 season with a 8-3 record. Last year Fort Payne captured the region seven title and a number one seed in the Class 6A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. Fort Payne's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Briarwood by a score of 30-26.

       As one of the best football programs in the state since 2010, Fort Payne has gone a combined 53-16. Their 77.0% winning percentage ranks 4th in Class 6A over the past six seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Fort Payne has managed to compile a record of 167-104. Their 62.0% winning percentage ranks 18th in Class 6A and 75th in the AHSAA. Their last losing season was 2005.

       The Wildcats are led by head coach Paul Ellis who is entering his thirteenth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 101-35 over the past twelve seasons at Fort Payne. Under his direction the Wildcats have qualified for the playoffs a total of eleven times. They have won six region crowns with Coach Ellis.

       Coach Ellis' overall record as a head football coach in sixteen season stands at 117-59 (66.5%). His 117 wins rank 41st among active coaches in the AHSAA. Over the course of his career, Coach Ellis' teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of twelve times and won six region championships.

       The Fort Payne Wildcats will play in Class 6A region seven during the 2016 season.

       The Wildcats enter the 2016 season having won 6 straight region games.

       The Wildcats should be considered one of the favorites for the region seven championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2005 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

       The Wildcats open the 2016 season at home against non-region opponent Chattooga GA on Friday, August 19 at Wildcat Stadium.

       Fort Payne and Chattooga GA have met a total of 4 times on the football field. The Wildcats have a 3-1-0 record against Chattooga GA. They last met in 1987 with Fort Payne winning by a score of 40-0.

       Fort Payne returns 6A All-State Senior offensive lineman Reid Hulgan. He was named to the second team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The first football game played by a high school team in Alabama was in 1892 when Central Birmingham (Phillips) lost to Alabama 56-0 on November 11.