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






2017 Team Previews 

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Bessemer Academy Rebels

Head Coach: Josh Wright (tenth season)
Stadium: Norton Field
Career Record: 9 seasons, (95-21)
At Bessemer Academy: 9 seasons, (95-21)

 History 
Overall Record:   300-194-6   (61.0%)
Last 25 years:   207-90   (70.0%)  (Rank: 1 in the AISA)
Since 2010:   76-14  (84.0%)  (Rank: 3 in the AISA)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2016
Last Region Championship:   2016
Last Winning Season:   2016
Last Losing Season:   2012

 2016 
Class:  AAA              Region:   1
Record:  13-1    (Team record for wins in a season)
Region Record:   5-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Captured the AISA-AAA State Championship by defeating Monroe Academy 28-7 in Troy.
Final ASWA Poll:   2nd
Scoring:  488 (34.9)
Defense:  115 (8.2)

College Signees lost to Graduation
      Gerald Luster,   OL  [Miles College]
      Aaron Scroggins,   DL  [Miles College]
      Thomas Sims,   LB  [Lane]
      Noah Wilder,   RB  [Gardner-Webb]

 2017 
Class: AAA              Region:   1
Strength of Schedule: 68-48 (59%) (3rd in the AISA, 2nd in Class AAA)
Region Strength:  23-31 (43%)
Non-Region Strength:  45-17 (73%)



 2016 Results 
 8/13   Lamar School MS    35-13   W  
 8/19   Monroe Academy  (AAA)   21-7   W  
 8/26  vs. Cornerstone Christian  (AA)   35-0   W  
 9/2   OPEN 
 9/8  vs. Tuscaloosa Academy  (AAA)  *  46-3   W  
 9/16  vs. Springwood  (AAA)  *  49-6   W  
 9/23  @ Deerfield-Windsor GA    34-0   W  
 9/30  @ Autauga Academy  (AA)   7-21   L  
 10/7  @ Lee-Scott Academy  (AAA)  *  18-17   W  
 10/14  vs. Glenwood School  (AAA)  *  42-18   W  
 10/21  @ Edgewood Academy  (AAA)  *  48-6   W  
 10/28  @ Escambia Academy  (AA)   21-14   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Northside Methodist Academy    69-3   W  
 11/11  vs. Lee-Scott Academy    35-0   W  
 11/18   Monroe Academy    28-7   W  

 2017 Schedule 
 8/11   Lamar Academy MS        
 8/18  vs. Evangelical TN        
 8/24  @ Cornerstone Christian  (AA)       
 9/1  vs. Autauga Academy  (AA)       
 9/8  @ Tuscaloosa Academy  (AAA)  *      
 9/15  @ Springwood  (AAA)  *      
 9/22  vs. Deerfield-Windsor GA        
 9/29   OPEN 
 10/6  vs. Lee-Scott Academy  (AAA)  *      
 10/13  @ Glenwood School  (AAA)  *      
 10/20  vs. Edgewood Academy  (AAA)  *      
 10/27  vs. Escambia Academy  (AA)       
 11/3  @ Fort Dale Academy        
 11/10  @ Tuscaloosa Academy        
 11/17   Monroe Academy        


Class  AAA Region  1
Team 2016 Record Scoring                            
Bessemer Academy (AISA-AAA) 13-1488-115
Edgewood Academy (AISA-AAA) 0-1181-431
Glenwood School (AISA-AAA) 8-4352-298
Lee-Scott Academy (AISA-AAA) 7-5371-208
Springwood (AISA-AAA) 5-5252-286
Tuscaloosa Academy (AISA-AAA) 3-6255-276

 2017 Preview 


       Bessemer Academy completed the 2016 season with a 13-1 record. Last year Bessemer Academy captured the region one title and a number one seed in the Class AAA playoffs. They finished region play with a 5-0 record. The Bessemer Academy Rebels claimed the AISA-AAA State Championship by defeating Monroe Academy 28-7 in Troy.

       No team at Bessemer Academy ever won more games in a season than the thirteen victories last year.

       Over the past two seasons the Rebels have gone 26-1 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. As one of the best football programs in the state since 2010, Bessemer Academy has gone a combined 76-14. Their 84.0% winning percentage ranks 3rd in Class AAA over the past seven seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Bessemer Academy has gone a combined 207-90. Their 70.0% winning percentage ranks 1st in Class AAA and 1st in the AISA.

       The Rebels are led by head coach Josh Wright who is entering his tenth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 95-21 over the past nine seasons at Bessemer Academy. Under his direction the Rebels have qualified for the playoffs a total of eight times. They have won six region crowns with Coach Wright. Coach Wright has won three state championships at Bessemer Academy, the last coming in 2016.

       Coach Wright's overall record as a head football coach in nine season stands at 95-21 (81.9%).

       If Bessemer Academy can win five games this season, Coach Wright will reach the 100 win milestone.

       The Bessemer Academy Rebels will play in Class AAA region one during the 2017 season.

       The Rebels enter the 2017 season riding a 7 game winning streak. Bessemer Academy has won 20 consecutive region games. They have won 27 straight games on their home turf at Norton Field.

       While most teams rebuild during the off season, Bessemer Academy has been a consistent winner the past few years and will simply reload this season. The Rebels enter the season with expectations of not only a region title but reaching the state championship game. They are considered one of the favorites not only in their region but to play in the AISA title game in November.

      Senior Jason Rucker returns after rushing for 375 yards on 42 carries and scoring 5 touchdowns. Junior Justin Jones also returns after rushing for 363 yards on 41 carries and scoring 3 touchdowns.

      Senior Xaviar Coleman returns after catching 43 passes for 995 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also intercepted 6 passes while playing defense.

      The defense returns Senior defensive end Jacob Diffley who registered 5 sacks for 49 yards in losses last season.

       The Rebels open the 2017 season on the road against non-region opponent Cornerstone Christian on Thursday, August 24 at Michael B. Willis Memorial Field. Last year the Cornerstone Christian Chargers finished with an overall record of 8-3 and in first place in Class AA region one. The Chargers lost in the first round of the Class AA playoffs to Clarke Prep by a score of 42-6.

       Bessemer Academy and Cornerstone Christian have met a total of 5 times on the football field. The Rebels have a 5-0-0 record against the Chargers. They last met in 2016 with Bessemer Academy winning by a score of 35-0.

       Bessemer Academy returns AISA All-State Senior running back Thomas Sims. He was named to the first team last season. The Rebels also return Senior receiver Xavier Coleman. He was named to the first team.

  


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