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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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American Christian Patriots

Head Coach: Chris Smelley (fifth season)
Stadium: Freedom Field
Career Record: 4 seasons, (29-17)
At American Christian: 4 seasons, (29-17)
2018 Enrollment:  336
Rank:  181st in the AHSAA, 36th in Class 4A

 History 
Overall Record:   282-138-1   (67.0%)
Last 25 years:   234-75   (76.0%)  (Rank: 35th in the AHSAA, 6th in Class 4A)
Since 2010:   85-36  (70.0%)  (Rank: 80th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 4A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2021
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2021
Last Losing Season:   2016

 2017 
Class:  3A              Region:   4
Record:  9-4
Region Record:   5-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Hillcrest Evergreen by a score of 29-21.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  361 (27.8)
Defense:  204 (15.7)


 2018 
Class: 4A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 41-64 (39%) (352nd in the AHSAA, 50th in Class 4A)
Region Strength:  22-40 (36%)
Non-Region Strength:  19-24 (44%)



 2017 Results 
 8/25  vs. Northside  (4A)   13-17   L  
 9/1  @ Sipsey Valley  (4A)   19-7   W  
 9/8  vs. Montevallo  (3A)  *  51-6   W  
 9/15  @ Carbon Hill  (3A)  *  37-16   W  
 9/22  @ Greene County  (3A)  *  17-0   W  
 9/29  @ Holt  (4A)   47-6   W  
 10/6   OPEN 
 10/13  @ Gordo  (3A)  *  27-34   L  
 10/20  vs. Midfield  (3A)  *  21-20   W  
 10/27  vs. Oakman  (3A)  *  35-20   W  
 11/3  vs. Maplesville  (1A)   0-28   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/10  vs. Slocomb    38-0   W  
 11/17  @ Montgomery Academy    35-21   W  
 11/24  @ Hillcrest Evergreen    21-29   L  

 2018 Schedule 
 8/24  vs. Trinity  (4A)       
 8/31  @ Woodlawn  (5A)       
 9/7   OPEN 
 9/14  vs. West Blocton  (4A)  *      
 9/21  @ Montevallo  (4A)  *      
 9/28  @ Anniston  (4A)       
 10/5  vs. Sumter Central  (4A)  *      
 10/12  @ Sipsey Valley  (4A)  *      
 10/19  @ Greensboro  (4A)  *      
 10/26  vs. Dallas County  (4A)  *      
 11/2  vs. Bibb County  (5A)       
 11/9  vs. Williamson        
 11/16  vs. Catholic Montgomery        
 11/23  @ UMS-Wright        


Class  4A Region  3
Team 2017 Record Scoring                            
American Christian (3A) 9-4361-204
Dallas County (5A) 3-7145-367
Greensboro (4A) 4-6181-246
Montevallo (3A) 3-7241-363
Sipsey Valley (4A) 4-7159-226
Sumter Central (5A) 2-8116-422
West Blocton (4A) 6-5261-316

 2018 Preview 


       American Christian completed the 2017 season with a 9-4 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 3A region four, the Patriots earned a spot in the playoffs in 2017. American Christian lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Hillcrest Evergreen team by a score of 29-21.

       Since 2010, American Christian has gone a combined 85-36. Their 70.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 4A over the past eight seasons.

       Over the past 29 seasons, American Christian has gone a combined 234-75. Their 76.0% winning percentage ranks 6th in Class 4A and 35th in the AHSAA. The Patriots have been successful on the football field with twenty-two winning seasons during this time.




       The Patriots are led by head coach Chris Smelley who is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 29-17 over the past four seasons at American Christian. Under his direction the Patriots have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Smelley.

       Coach Smelley's overall record as a head football coach in four season stands at 29-17 (63.0%).

       The American Christian Patriots will play in Class 4A region three during the 2018 season. The Patriots move up in classification to Class 4A. They may find the going slightly tougher with the move.

       The Patriots should be considered one of the favorites for the region three championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

       The Patriots open the 2018 season at home against non-region opponent Trinity on Friday, August 24 at Freedom Field. Last year the Trinity Wildcats finished with an overall record of 4-6 and in fifth place in Class 4A region two.

       American Christian and Trinity have met a total of 2 times on the football field. The Patriots have a 2-0-0 record against the Wildcats. They last met in with

       American Christian returns 3A All-State  receiver Dan Parker. He was named to the second team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.