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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Russellville Golden Tigers

Head Coach: John Ritter (sixth season)
Career Record: 10 seasons, (76-39)
At Russellville: 5 seasons, (43-16)
Stadium: Tigers Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  556
Rank:  100th in the AHSAA, 12th in Class 5A

 History 
Overall Record:   658-361-31   (65.0%)
Last 25 years:   236-77   (75.0%)  (Rank: 17th in the AHSAA, 4th in Class 5A)
Since 2010:   102-49  (67.5%)  (Rank: 57th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 5A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2022
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2017

 2022 
Class:  5A              Region:   8
Record:  7-5
Region Record:   6-0, (first)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Pleasant Grove by a score of 37-14.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  442 (36.8)
Defense:  186 (15.5)


 2023 
Class: 5A              Region:   8
Strength of Schedule: 56-52 (52%) (137th in the AHSAA, 21st in Class 5A)
Region Strength:  26-37 (41%)
Non-Region Strength:  30-15 (67%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ Grissom  (7A)   21-34   L  
 8/26  @ Deshler  (4A)   7-14   L  
 9/2  vs. Lawrence County  (5A)  *  49-0   W  
 9/8  @ West Point  (5A)  *  27-0   W  
 9/16  vs. East Limestone  (5A)  *  52-7   W  
 9/23  vs. Mars Hill  (3A)   30-31   L  
 9/30  vs. Brewer  (5A)  *  58-0   W  
 10/7   OPEN 
 10/14  @ Ardmore  (5A)  *  49-7   W  
 10/21  @ Fairview  (5A)  *  41-14   W  
 10/28  vs. Athens  (6A)   31-32   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  vs. Boaz    63-10   W  
 11/11  vs. Pleasant Grove    14-37   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. Grissom  (7A)       
 9/1  vs. Deshler  (4A)       
 9/8  @ Lawrence County  (5A)  *      
 9/15  vs. West Point  (5A)  *      
 9/22  @ East Limestone  (5A)  *      
 9/29  @ Mars Hill  (3A)       
 10/6  @ Brewer  (5A)  *      
 10/13   OPEN 
 10/20  vs. Ardmore  (5A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Fairview  (5A)  *      
 11/3  @ Athens  (6A)       
 11/10  vs. Fairfield        
 11/17  @ Moody        


Class  5A Region  8
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Russellville (5A) 7-5 6-0442-186
Fairview (5A) 7-4 5-1406-235
Brewer (5A) 5-6 3-3200-304
East Limestone (5A) 5-6 3-3295-348
West Point (5A) 3-7 2-4168-235
Ardmore (5A) 3-7 2-4206-314
Lawrence County (5A) 3-7 0-6134-322

 2023 Preview 


       Russellville completed the 2022 season with a 7-5 record. Last year Russellville captured the region eight title and a number one seed in the Class 5A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. Russellville reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Pleasant Grove by a score of 37-14.

       The Golden Tigers had some tough luck last season as three of their five losses were by less than eight points.

       Since 2010, Russellville has gone a combined 102-49. Their 67.5% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 5A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Russellville has finished a combined 236-77. Their 75.0% winning percentage ranks 4th in Class 5A and 17th in the AHSAA. The Golden Tigers have been successful on the football field with twenty-two winning seasons during this time.




       The Golden Tigers are led by head coach John Ritter who is entering his sixth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 43-16 over the past five seasons at Russellville. Under his direction the Golden Tigers have qualified for the playoffs a total of five times. They have won three region crowns with Coach Ritter. Over the course of his career, Coach Ritter's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of nine times and won four region championships.

       The Golden Tigers are considered one of the favorites for the region eight championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

      QB Harrison Burch will be returning after completing 124 of 220 passes for 2,524 yards last season along with 27 touchdowns.

      Martin Tomas will lead the defense this season after collecting 133 total tackles last season.

       The Golden Tigers open the 2023 season at home against non-region opponent Grissom on Friday, August 25 at Tigers Stadium. Last year the Grissom Tigers finished with an overall record of 3-7 and in seventh place in Class 7A region four. The Tigers ended last season on a positive note with a win over Buckhorn by a score of 34-31 after failing to gain a playoff spot.

       Russellville and Grissom have met a total of 2 times on the football field. The Golden Tigers have a 1-1-0 record against the Tigers. They last met in 2022 with Grissom winning by a score of 34-21.

       Russellville lost 5A All-State  receiver Randell Johnson to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating was teammate running back Conner Warhurst.

       The Golden Tigers return 5A All-State Senior quarterback Harrison Burch. He was named to the honorable mention 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.