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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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Sidney Lanier Poets

Head Coach: Marvin Cunningham (first season)
Stadium: Cramton Bowl
Career Record: 0 seasons, (0-0)
At Sidney Lanier: First season
2016 Enrollment:  687
Rank:  74th in the AHSAA, 42nd in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   572-397-39   (59.0%)
Last 25 years:   88-168   (34.0%)  (Rank: 326th in the AHSAA, 50th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   11-50  (18.0%)  (Rank: 358th in the AHSAA, 57th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2015
Last Region Championship:   1999
Last Winning Season:   2006
Last Losing Season:   2015

 2015 
Class:  5A              Region:   2
Record:  4-7
Region Record:   4-2, (third)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Helena by a score of 24-7.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  225 (20.5)
Defense:  280 (25.5)


 2016 
Class: 6A              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 45-59 (43%) (307th in the AHSAA, 54th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  23-39 (37%)
Non-Region Strength:  22-20 (52%)

D1 Prospects
      Stacey Marshall Jr.,  6-5,  212,  TE


 2015 Results 
 8/20  vs. Lee Montgomery    0-34   L  
 8/28  vs. Park Crossing  (6A)   6-24   L  
 9/4  @ Eufaula  (5A)  *  26-30   L  
 9/12  vs. Rehobeth  (5A)  *  23-21   W  
 9/18  vs. B.T. Washington  (5A)  *  33-24   W  
 9/24  @ Jeff Davis    22-35   L  
 10/1  vs. Charles Henderson  (5A)  *  20-14   W  
 10/9  @ Greenville  (5A)  *  21-33   L  
 10/16  vs. Alabama Christian  (5A)  *  41-6   W  
 10/23   OPEN 
 10/31  vs. Fairfield  (5A)   26-35   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/6  @ Helena    7-24   L  

 2016 Schedule 
 8/19   Lee Montgomery        
 8/26  @ Sumter Central  (5A)       
 9/3  vs. Northview  (6A)  *      
 9/10  @ Russell County  (6A)  *      
 9/16  vs. Carver Montgomery  (6A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Jeff Davis        
 9/30  @ Dothan  (6A)  *      
 10/7   OPEN 
 10/14  @ Park Crossing  (6A)  *      
 10/21  @ Stanhope Elmore  (6A)  *      
 10/28  vs. Prattville  (7A)       
 11/3  vs. Daphne        


Class  6A Region  2
Team 2015 Record Scoring                            
Carver Montgomery (6A) 3-7234-297
Dothan (6A) 6-5316-304
Northview (6A) 4-7309-360
Park Crossing (6A) 8-3376-218
Russell County (6A) 0-10101-551
Sidney Lanier (5A) 4-7225-280
Stanhope Elmore (6A) 2-7214-225

 2016 Preview 


       Sidney Lanier completed the 2015 season with a 4-7 record. With their 4-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 5A region two, the Poets earned a spot in the playoffs in 2015. Sidney Lanier's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Helena by a score of 24-7.

       The Poets won as many games as in any season since 2008. It marked the first time since the 2008 season that the Poets qualified for the playoffs.

       Since 2010, the Sidney Lanier football program has struggled with a record of 11-50.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Sidney Lanier has not won much with a record of 88-168. Their 34.0% winning percentage ranks 50th in Class 6A and 326th in the AHSAA. Their last winning season was 2006.

Clayton Harris was relieved of his coaching duties at Sidney Lanier following the 2015 season.

His final team went 4-7 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Overall his teams went 0-10, 2-8 and 4-7 in three years.

He follows a pattern where the last five coaches have served three seasons or less with the program. The Poets have only managed a single winning season since 2000 after being one of the premier programs in the state prior to the 1980s.


Marvin Cunningham takes over the football program at Lanier after Reggie Barlow changed his mind about the job and took off for Virginia State University.

Cunningham served the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator under Clayton Harris and was the interim coach at Lanier. this will be his first stint as a head football coach.



       The Sidney Lanier Poets will play in Class 6A region two during the 2016 season. The Poets move up in classification to Class 6A. They may find the going slightly tougher with the move.

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

       The Poets open the 2016 season on a neutral field against non-region opponent Lee Montgomery on Friday, August 19 at Alabama State. Last year the Lee Montgomery Generals finished with an overall record of 8-4 and in third place in Class 7A region two. The Generals lost in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs to Central Phenix City by a score of 20-13.

       Sidney Lanier and Lee Montgomery have met a total of 69 times on the football field. The Poets have a 21-46-2 record against the Generals. They last met in 2015 with Lee Montgomery winning by a score of 34-0.

       Sidney Lanier returns 5A All-State Senior defensive lineman Alfred Thomas. He was named to the first team last season. The Poets also return Junior receiver DaCoreyon Johnson. He was named to the second team. The Poets also return Senior quarterback James Foster. He was named to the honorable mention team.

       College prospects include: Stacey Marshall Jr. (6-5, 212) tight end,

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Brantley won an amazing 62 consecutive region games between 2002-2010.