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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Pleasant Grove Spartans

Head Coach: Darrell LeBeaux (sixth season)
Career Record: 5 seasons, (56-12)
At Pleasant Grove: 5 seasons, (56-12)
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  401
Rank:  143rd in the AHSAA, 55th in Class 5A

 History 
Overall Record:   313-258-1   (55.0%)
Last 25 years:   200-100   (67.0%)  (Rank: 52nd in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 5A)
Since 2010:   113-49  (69.8%)  (Rank: 44th in the AHSAA, 6th in Class 5A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2017

 2022 
Class:  5A              Region:   5
Record:  11-2
Region Record:   6-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Semi-finals loss to Ramsay by the score of 27-20.
Final ASWA Poll:   3rd
Scoring:  533 (41.0)
Defense:  184 (14.2)


 2023 
Class: 5A              Region:   5
Strength of Schedule: 42-56 (43%) (351st in the AHSAA, 50th in Class 5A)
Region Strength:  34-42 (45%)
Non-Region Strength:  8-14 (36%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  vs. Paul Bryant  (6A)   51-8   W  
 8/26   OPEN 
 9/2  vs. Wenonah  (5A)  *  55-7   W  
 9/8  vs. Ramsay  (5A)  *  14-21   L  
 9/16  @ Hayden  (5A)  *  53-0   W  
 9/23  @ Parker  (6A)   49-28   W  
 9/30  @ John Carroll  (5A)  *  48-13   W  
 10/7  @ Fairfield  (5A)  *  35-0   W  
 10/14  vs. Carver Birmingham  (5A)  *  42-0   W  
 10/21  @ Jasper  (5A)  *  45-14   W  
 10/28   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Alexandria    43-14   W  
 11/11  @ Russellville    37-14   W  
 11/18  vs. Arab    41-38   W (2OT) 
 11/25  @ Ramsay    20-27   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  @ Smiths Station  (7A)       
 9/1   OPEN 
 9/8  @ Wenonah  (5A)  *      
 9/15  @ Ramsay  (5A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Hayden  (5A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Parker  (6A)       
 10/6  vs. John Carroll  (5A)  *      
 10/13  vs. Fairfield  (5A)  *      
 10/19  @ Carver Birmingham  (5A)  *      
 10/26  vs. Jasper  (5A)  *      
 11/3   OPEN 
 11/9  vs. Lawrence County        
 11/17  @ Boaz        
 11/24  @ Guntersville        


Class  5A Region  5
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Ramsay (5A) 13-2 7-0597-250
Pleasant Grove (5A) 11-2 6-1533-184
Jasper (5A) 5-6 5-2318-336
Fairfield (5A) 3-8 3-4207-285
Hayden (5A) 4-6 3-4180-268
John Carroll (5A) 3-7 2-5183-326
Carver Birmingham (5A) 3-7 1-6184-311
Wenonah (5A) 3-6 1-6158-267

 2023 Preview 


       Pleasant Grove completed the 2022 season with a 11-2 record. With their 6-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 5A region five, the Spartans earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Pleasant Grove made a nice playoff run in 2022, reaching the semi-finals before falling to a very good Ramsay team by the score of 27-20.

       The high-scoring Pleasant Grove offense ranked 26th in the AHSAA. They averaged 41.0 points a game.

       The Spartans defense dominated most opponents as they ranked 28th in the AHSAA. The defense gave up just 14.2 points a game.

       Over the past two seasons the Spartans have Finished 23-4 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. Since 2010, Pleasant Grove has gone a combined 113-49. Their 69.8% winning percentage ranks 6th in Class 5A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Pleasant Grove has finished a combined 200-100. Their 67.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 5A and 52nd in the AHSAA.




       The Spartans are led by head coach Darrell LeBeaux who is entering his sixth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 56-12 over the past five seasons at Pleasant Grove. Under his direction the Spartans have qualified for the playoffs a total of five times. They have won one region crown with Coach LeBeaux.

       The only thing standing between the Spartans and another trip to the Super Seven last season were two losses to the Ramsay Rams. These two meet early in 2023 with the winner having the upper hand in Class 5A in the North.

       The Spartans enter the 2023 season riding a 6 game regular season winning streak.

       While most teams rebuild during the off season, Pleasant Grove has been a consistent winner the past few years and will simply reload this season. The Spartans are considered one of the favorites for the region five championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Don't be surprised if the Spartans are making another deep run into the playoffs. The Spartans have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2011 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

      QB Eric Handley will return to lead the offense. He threw for 2,921 yards and 40 touchdowns last year.

       The Spartans open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Smiths Station on Friday, August 25 at Panther Stadium. Last year the Smiths Station Panthers finished with an overall record of 1-9 and in eighth place in Class 7A region two. The Panthers closed out the regular season with a loss to Auburn by a score of 63-0.

       This will be the second meeting between Pleasant Grove and Smiths Station on the football field. The Spartans have a 1-0-0 record against the Panthers. They last met in with

       Pleasant Grove lost 5A All-State  defensive back Amare Small to graduation. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

       The Spartans return 5A All-State Senior quarterback Eric Handley. He was named to the second team last season. The Spartans also return Senior offensive lineman Jordan Foy. He was named to the second team.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The Tuscaloosa Black Bears were considered one of the best programs in the nation from 1925-1931. Their record over that span was an amazing 61-0-3.