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The best of the best in Alabama High
School Football over the past 100 seasons.
Rivalries
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This rivalry series will forever be known as the Clay Bowl. Considered one of the best in the entire state it sadly ended following the 2011 football season when the two schools were combined to form Central Clay County High School. The rivalry is one of the longest in the state with the two teams playing every season between 1922 and 2011 for 90 consecutive seasons. Clay County's students would roll the trees around the courthouse square in Ashland with toilet paper after a Panther win and Lineville's students rolled downtown Lineville after an Aggie victory. And the only score listed on the cement markers at Lineville honoring each senior class is the score of the Clay Bowl. Clay County High School was just five miles south of Lineville High School, just off Alabama 9 which links the two rival schools. The two schools first met on the football field during the 1922 season. As a matter of fact they met twice that year. The Panthers won the first meeting and Lineville won the second 7-6 to start the heated rivalry. The next season Lineville beat the Panthers twice 18-0 and 12-7. Eighty-nine years and 100 games later, the rivalry judged as one of the Top 10 in the nation by USA Today in the 90s would come to an end. For decades the Clay Bowl wasn't just a football game, it was a major social event in the area. The rivalry was never more heated than during the 1990s. Clay County claimed five state championships between 1994-2002, including the 1996 title against Lineville. The Panthers won three consecutive titles from 1994-96. Lineville claimed two back-to-back state championship appearances in 1998 and 1999. In 1998 both teams entered the season ending game undefeated and ranked as the top two teams in Class 2A. The Panthers came away with a 37-21 victory and seemed destined to win a fourth state championship in the last five seasons. But the Aggies had other plans. They defeated Clay County 42-18 in the semi-finals to thwart any championship celebration. The Panthers won seven straight against the Aggies in the 1990s but it did little to diminish the rivalry. Clay County coach Danny Horn and Lineville coach Steve Giddens both played on the 1980 team at Clay County. Horn was the quarterback and Giddens his favorite receiver. Clay County won the series with a record of 55-43-4. The Panthers were 582-333-38 overall and the Aggies were 575-322-25. It is the most wins among any of the states rivalries. As the final game approached, tailgating began bright and early on Friday morning on Clay County's football practice field. Pep rallies were held both Thursday and Friday in Ashland. A few miles down the road in Lineville, an Aggie Walk progressed through the square, followed by a pep rally at the school. Another pep rally was held Friday at 2:30, before the Aggies and their fans headed to Ashland for the game. Clay County pulled out a hard fought 7-6 victory in the final game of the series. In 1980 the two teams met during the season. Clay County had not won in Lineville in 12 years but pulled out the win with a 16-15 victory at Lineville, Nov. 7, 1980. Lineville led by 15 points and looked on their way to extending their home winning streak. During the game both quarterbacks left the game with injuries. Clay County’s Garey Reynolds left with a knee injury and Don Jordan hurt his shoulder. And each went to the hospital. The Panthers got a field goal just before the end of the first half to cut the lead to 15-3. Late in the third quarter, backup quarterback James Echols passed to Dee Walker for a 10-yard touchdown to pull the Panthers within 15-9. Dexter Martin scored on an 8-yard run late in the game and the extra point proved to be a winner. In 1961 Lineville was 9-0 entering the Thanksgiving Day contest and ranked No. 1 by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. With no playoff system in place to decide state titles on the field, the Aggies needed an impressive victory to preserve their No. 1 ranking and claim a mythical state championship. Clay County entered the game with a 1-8 record and left on the short end of a 48-0 blowout at the hands of the Aggies. The last time both teams ended a season with losing records came way back in 1952. While fans will forever argue about the best rivalry in the state of Alabama and this one will fad into memories as the years pass, no one can argue the fact that it is among the best of all-time. Total Meetings: 102 Series Record: Lineville leads 55-43-4 Home Record: Lineville: 30-18-2 Clay County: 24-25-2 First Meeting: 11/30/1922, Lineville 7, Clay County, 6 Last Meeting: 9/23/2011, Clay County 7, Lineville, 6 Longest Winning Streak: Lineville 7 (1934-1940), Clay County 7 (1993-1997) Biggest Wins: Lineville 48-0 (1961), Clay County 42-0 (1996) Biggest Upsets: 1985 - Lineville (4-5) upset Clay County (8-1) 15-7
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David Parker
AHSFHS.org
dparker@ahsfhs.org
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Ken Stabler, Bart Starr, Ozzie Newsome, John Stallworth, John Hannah and Buck Buchanan are all members of the NFL Hall of Fame and played high school football in Alabama.
Ken Stabler, Bart Starr, Ozzie Newsome, John Stallworth, John Hannah and Buck Buchanan are all members of the NFL Hall of Fame and played high school football in Alabama.
