The 2023 season opened this week with a partial schedule of games. Here are a few tidbits from the first week of football action.

   *  What a start to the 2023 football season. If you missed any of the action we will give you a weekly rundown of everything. Be sure to catch our podcast this Sunday night as we will be posting a new episode. Also follow the Barber Shop Gurus on Wednesday morning for their latest game analysis and predictions.

   *  Arguably the biggest game of the week was played in Saraland between the defending 6A champions and Tennessee champions Lipscomb Academy. Saraland held on to win the game 31-30 in overtime. By the time the game was completed the players were totally spent and had given their all in this one. Great game. Just when I thought Saraland had the game in hand it all changed in the last few minutes but they held on for a huge win.

   *  A few games Thursday raised some eyebrows opening night. Mars Hill 55-21 buried 6A Cullman. The Panthers led 28-21 at the half and shut down the Bearcat to make a statement in 3A. Vestavia Hills ran away from Mt. Brook by a score of 35-10. Cole Gamble still had over 200 yards rushing but it was not enough for the Spartans. Mt. Brook had won the last six games in that series.

   *  Reeltown proved they will be a force in 2A as they ran all over Tallassee 41-14. Reeltown's Arthur Woods had seven carries. He scored on five of them and finished with 202 yards rushing. Springville shocked Etowah by coming out in the wishbone offense and rolled to a 28-21 victory over the Blue Devils. It took a while for the new found offense to get going but once it did the Tigers wore down Etowah's defense in the second half.

   *  Isn't it great to see these big cross state matchups on the opening weekend? Thompson defeated Opelika 44-13, Auburn beat Hoover 39-14, Central Phenix City doubled up Hewitt-Trussville 48-24.

   *  Other big-time games Friday night were played around the state. Austin defeated Hartselle 28-17, Spain Park shutout Calera 56-0, Madison Academy jumped on Deshler 42-6, Foley ran over Prattville 45-19 and Pickens County held off Aliceville 8-6.

   *  The biggest upset was likely Mortimer Jordan shocking Leeds 31-28. That was a total surprise in my opinion. Another game that made me go wow was John Carroll over Homewood 36-31. Homewood was a 22 point favorite.

   *  Other surprising games were Childersburg beating Munford 28-22, Reeltown 41-14 over Tallassee and Mars Hill knocking off Cullman 55-21.

   *  Forty different coaches won their first football game at their respective new schools. Gentrell Eatman at Pinson was delighted following a 18-3 win over Florence. Also noteworthy was Hunter Adams as Stanhope Elmore topped Shades Valley 42-13. Congratulations to all the new coaches in Alabama.

   *  There were a few games won in dramatic fashion over the weekend. Holtville fell behind 24-0 before scoring 28 unanswered point to beat Fultondale 28-24.

   *  Did you notice Addison was shutout by Winston County 14-0. It was the first time they have not scored in a game since 2015 a total of 97 games.

   *  Alabama teams went 6-3 vs. out-of-state competition. The biggest game being Saraland over Lipscomb Academy.

   *  If we missed anything I will try to include it in our podcast tomorrow.

   *  Hoover has been ranked by the ASWA for an amazing 260 consecutive polls dating back to the 2000 season. The Bucs opened the 2023 season as the #3 team in 7A and lost to Auburn at the AHSAA Kickoff Classic in Montgomery.

   *   Fyffe once again begins the 2023 football season riding the state's longest winning streak at fifteen games.

   *   Columbia now holds onto the longest losing streak at 72 straight contests. The Eagles fell to Fairview Friday night 46-6. They hold the all-time record for consecutive losses.

   *   American Christian has a streak of 35 consecutive region wins. The Patriots open region play in a couple of weeks. Mars Hill (32) and Catholic Montgomery (27) are the next two schools with long region winning streaks.

   *   Barbour County has lost 58 consecutive region games but do not begin region play for a couple of weeks.

   *   The #3 ranked Catholic Montgomery Knights have won 25 straight regular season games. The Hartselle Tigers had their 23 consecutive regular season winning streak snapped by Austin.

   *   UMS-Wright saw their string of 17 consecutive home wins come to an end against rival St. Paul's as they lost 14-7. Saraland takes over the top spot with a 17 game streak of their own.

   *   Catholic Montgomery also holds onto the longest road winning streak having won 17 consecutive road games after shutting out McGill-Toolen by a score of 21-0.

   *   Jackson has won their last 15 season openers since losing to Leroy to start the 2007 football season. They open the 2023 football season next week against Demopolis on the road. That will be a test for the Aggies.

   *   Fyffe hopes to avoid the dreaded shutout and extend their streak of consecutive games scoring. They are currently sitting on a string of 306 games without being shutout. The Red Devils open play next week at home against Geraldine.

   *   Central Phenix City won the 600th game in the school's history Friday night with the huge win over Hewitt-Trussville.

   *   Some head coaches will be reaching milestone wins in 2023. Mark Freeman has amassed 248 victories and will in search of number 250 in the upcoming weeks. Mike Battles Jr. can join his father in the 200 win club with just six more wins at Tallassee this season.

   *   No less than six different coaches will be in search of their 100th win as a head football coach once the season opens. All have over 90 victories during their careers.

Team approaching the 700 win club
  694  -  Deshler  (694-370-35)

Team approaching the 600 win club
  596  -  Anniston  (596-400-27)

Team approaching the 500 win club
  496  -  Southern Choctaw  (496-370-24)
  495  -  Randolph County  (495-408-25)
  495  -  Greensboro  (495-432-37)
  494  -  Minor  (494-479-22)
  492  -  Hale County  (492-436-24)
  491  -  Hackleburg  (491-438-29)

Coaches approaching the 250 win club
  248 - Mark Freeman (Thompson)  (248-55)

Coaches approaching the 200 win club
  194  -  Mike Battles Jr. (Tallassee)  (194-101)

Coaches approaching the 150 win club
  149  -  Josh Wright (Tuscaloosa Academy)  (149-45)
  147  -  Clint Smith (Jacksonville)  (147-86)
  145  -  Jamey DuBose (Orange Beach)  (145-44)
  144  -  Doug Vickery (Flomaton)  (144-111)
  142  -  Ernie Willingham (Collinsville)  (142-94)

Coaches approaching the 100 win club
  98  -  Patrick Plott (Carroll)  (98-48)
  98  -  Patrick Nix (Central Phenix City)  (98-31)
  95  -  Adam Fossett (B.B. Comer)  (95-76)
  93  -  Jason Massey (Leroy)  (93-52)
  91  -  Jeremy Perkins (Austin)  (91-57)
  90  -  David Smothers (Addison)  (90-39)