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





2023 Football Preseason Preview


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2023   Class 3A  Top Ten
1. St. James (13-2)6. Sylvania (10-4)
2. Piedmont (12-3) 7. Opp (8-3)
3. Mars Hill (10-2) 8. Mobile Christian (6-8)
4. Gordo (11-2) 9. Trinity (9-3)
5. Madison Academy (9-3) 10. Dadeville (10-1)
  
 
  2023 Predictions
 
      The Piedmont Bulldogs have dominated class 3A the past eight seasons winning four titles and 104 games. One unusual thing about the top two teams in 3A is the fact that both made coaching changes during the off season.

       Steve Smith left Piedmont for Westbrook Christian and Jimmy Perry retired after taking St. James to their first ever state championship. The Bulldogs will be in the capable hands of a proven head coach in Jonathan Miller who came over from Saks to fill the head coaching position at Piedmont. They lost a lot of talent on both sides of the ball including Jack Hayes their record setting quarterback.

      Competition will come from St. James as the Trojans return a cast of excellent skilled players. The Trojans also had a change at the top with Neal Posey taking over from veteran Jimmy Perry. Coach Neal Posey will have the Trojans ready for a deep playoff run. St. James returns QB KJ Jackson who completed 132 of 205 passes for 2,813 yards last season along with 42 touchdowns.

      Mars Hill won state championships at the 1A and 2A levels but found the going a little tougher in 3A.

      Down south, Mobile Christian will be loaded on defense led by Kentonio Kelly but they lost Sterling Dixon who transferred to Spanish Fort in July. A tough schedule will get the Leopards battle tested for November and the post season.

      Sleeper teams in 3A and teams to watch out for include: Geraldine, Southside Selma, Randolph County, Thomasville, Houston Academy and especially Pike County.

      The most competitive region belongs to region six with three teams that won at least nine games last season. Region five is not far behind and should be one of the most competitive and a good race for that final playoff spot come November is assured.

 
Playoff Teams
Region 1Region 2
Thomasville Opp
W.S. Neal Pike County
Excel Houston Academy
Hillcrest Evergreen Straughn
    
Region 3 Region 4
St. James Dadeville
Trinity Randolph County
Alabama Christian Saks
Prattville Christian Walter Wellborn
   
Region 5 Region 6
Gordo Piedmont
Winfield Sylvania
Fayette County Geraldine
Oakman Plainview
   
Region 7 Region 8
Madison Academy Mars Hill
J.B. Pennington Lauderdale County
Susan Moore Phil Campbell
Vinemont Colbert County
   


 Most Difficult Schedules 2023
 
   The Bears of Plainview and Coach Pruitt play in one of the toughest regions in the entire state. They also added Priceville, Fyffe and New hope to their non-region schedule giving them the honor of having the most difficult schedule in 3A this season. Four of the top eight team with the hardest schedules reside in region six.

    Providence Christian scheduled Elba and Highland Home for their non-region games in 2022-23. Those two teams finished last season with a 23-3 record.
Toughest Overall
Plainview 75 45
Alabama Christian 71 44
Sylvania 72 47
Geraldine 71 48
Providence Christian 65 45
New Brockton 63 44
Childersburg 65 47
Ohatchee 67 49
Flomaton 66 49
St. James 64 48
Toughest Non-Region
Providence Christian 23 3
Sylvania 33 7
Plainview 30 7
Geraldine 31 8
New Brockton 17 6
Opp 18 7
Dadeville 28 11
Alabama Christian 35 14
Flomaton 24 11
Straughn 17 8

 
 Most Victories 2010-2022
 
   No surprise here as Piedmont, Gordo and Madison Academy lead all 3A schools with the most wins over the past thirteen seasons. They also have seven championships between them. Piedmont won at least eleven games in every season except one.

   Gordo with 138 victories to their credit has won the most games of any team without winning a state championship.
Titles
  Piedmont     158-24     86.8%   4
  Gordo     138-29     82.6%  
  Madison Academy     139-33     80.8%   3
  Saks     111-41     73.0%  
  Lauderdale County     111-46     70.7%  
  St. James     104-46     69.3%  
  Winfield     100-45     69.0%  
  Fayette County     111-52     68.1%  
  Randolph County     104-49     68.0%  
  Thomasville     102-50     67.1%   1
  Dadeville     95-51     65.1%  
  Mobile Christian     104-56     65.0%  
  Oakman     95-56     62.9%  
  Walter Wellborn     90-54     62.5%  
  Flomaton     92-56     62.2%   1
  Trinity     93-57     62.0%  


 
 Last 25 seasons (1998-2022) 
 
    Gordo is also one of only four teams that have not had a losing season since 1998. They actually have the longest streak in the state and have not lost more games than they won in any season since 1992.
Titles
  Gordo 238-74 76% 1
  Piedmont 226-89 72% 5
  Trinity 213-87 71% 1
  Thomasville 208-89 70% 1
  Winfield 201-88 70%
  Fayette County 208-92 69%
  Madison Academy 208-94 69% 3
  Pike County 198-95 68% 3
  Colbert County 208-102 67%
  Plainview 180-102 64%
  Randolph County 183-108 63% 1
  Mars Hill 71-41 63% 2
  St. James 176-106 62% 1
  Dadeville 173-107 62%
  Lauderdale County 170-117 59%
  Mobile Christian 170-119 59%
  Geraldine 164-114 59%




David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org





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