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






2023 Team Previews 

  



Pelham Panthers

Head Coach: Mike Vickery (second season)
Career Record: 7 seasons, (30-44)
At Pelham: one season, (6-6)
Stadium: Ned Bearden Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  832
Rank:  57th in the AHSAA, 25th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   234-263   (47.0%)
Last 25 years:   132-139   (49.0%)  (Rank: 196th in the AHSAA, 37th in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   63-75  (45.7%)  (Rank: 217th in the AHSAA, 38th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2020
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2019

 2022 
Class:  6A              Region:   3
Record:  6-6
Region Record:   4-2, (second)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to St. Pauls by a score of 38-7.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  275 (22.9)
Defense:  284 (23.7)


 2023 
Class: 6A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 46-60 (43%) (349th in the AHSAA, 53rd in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  35-30 (54%)
Non-Region Strength:  11-30 (27%)




 2022 Results 
 8/19  vs. Jackson-Olin  (6A)   10-14   L  
 8/26  @ Oak Mountain  (7A)   17-21   L  
 9/2   OPEN 
 9/8  vs. Briarwood  (6A)  *  35-34   W  
 9/16  @ Helena  (6A)  *  24-31   L (OT) 
 9/23  @ Chelsea  (7A)   35-28   W  
 9/30  @ Calera  (6A)  *  31-14   W  
 10/6  vs. Benjamin Russell  (6A)  *  30-20   W  
 10/14  vs. Homewood  (6A)  *  0-28   L  
 10/21  @ Chilton County  (6A)  *  28-7   W  
 10/27  vs. Spain Park  (7A)   14-35   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Northridge    44-14   W  
 11/11  @ St. Pauls    7-38   L  


 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  @ Jackson-Olin  (6A)       
 9/1  vs. Oak Mountain  (7A)       
 9/8   OPEN 
 9/15  @ Briarwood  (6A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Helena  (6A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Chelsea  (7A)       
 10/6  vs. Calera  (6A)  *      
 10/12  @ Benjamin Russell  (6A)  *      
 10/20  @ Homewood  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Chilton County  (6A)  *      
 11/2  @ Spain Park  (7A)       



Class  6A Region  3
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Homewood (6A) 10-3 6-0400-301
Pelham (6A) 6-6 4-2275-284
Benjamin Russell (6A) 8-3 4-2374-207
Calera (6A) 4-7 3-3228-307
Helena (6A) 6-4 3-3300-276
Briarwood (6A) 3-7 1-5222-303
Chilton County (6A) 4-6 0-6223-275


 2023 Preview 


       Pelham completed the 2022 season with a 6-6 record. With their 4-2 region record and a second place finish in Class 6A region three, the Panthers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Pelham reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to St. Pauls by a score of 38-7.

       Since 2010, Pelham has gone a combined 63-75. Their 45.7% winning percentage ranks 38th in Class 6A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Pelham has managed to compile a record of 132-139. Their 49.0% winning percentage ranks 37th in Class 6A and 196th in the AHSAA.




       The Panthers are led by head coach Mike Vickery who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 6-6 record in his first season at Pelham. Under his direction the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Vickery. Over the course of his career, Coach Vickery's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times .

       The Panthers return four offensive and five defensive players to the team. Linebackers Will Felton and Bishop Rellah are two of the best in 6A and will lead the defense when they take the field this fall. Quarterback Clayton Mains also returns to lead the offense.

       The Panthers should be in contention for a playoff spot in region three this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage.

      QB Clayton Mains will be returning after completing 109 of 215 passes for 1,503 yards last season along with 8 touchdowns.

       The Panthers open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Jackson-Olin on Friday, August 25 at J-O Field. Last year the Jackson-Olin Mustangs finished with an overall record of 4-7 and in third place in Class 6A region five. The Mustangs lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Center Point by a score of 26-8.

       Pelham and Jackson-Olin have met a total of 8 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 4-4-0 record against the Mustangs. They last met in 2022 with Jackson-Olin winning by a score of 14-10.

       Pelham lost 6A All-State  defensive back Jamal Miles to graduation. He was named to the second team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Morris Higginbotham coached three different teams to divisional state championships in the 1950s. He won titles at Walnut Grove in 1952, West Blocton in 1955 and Enterprise in 1960.