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The best of the best in Alabama High
School Football over the past 100 seasons.
The Toughest Schedules
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Which teams have the toughest road ahead of them this season? Well, as everything else concerning the game of football, it is always debatable depending on which fan you ask.
If we simply look into the numbers it can become a little clearer. The team whose opponents have the highest winning percentage from last year would be the best place to begin. But that is not always the case depending on how tough each region is for that team. But, for now, that is where we will look.
How would you like to be a first year head football coach of a team that finished 0-10 last season and find out you have the most difficult schedule of any team in the state this season? Well that is exactly the scenario facing Chris Smelley at Sylacauga. The Aggies face eight team which made the playoffs in 2022. Their combined opponent's record is 82-35 while their non-region opponents finished 45-15. They did swap out Benjamin Russell for Wenonah but it was not enough to help much. They also play Moody (10-2), Trinity (9-3), Leeds (11-1) and Piedmont (12-3). We wish you the best Coach Smelley.
It is a big drop off from the 70% winning percentage of Sylacauga's opponents to the second place team Montgomery Academy. Their opponents won at a 64% clip last season with a record of 77-43. It does not help that they play in a region with the likes of Andalusia and Catholic Montgomery. Their non-region games include contests with state champion St. James (13-2), Trinity (9-3) and Alabama Christian (8-4).
The toughest non-region schedule belongs to Providence Christian. Their two opponents Highland Home (12-2) and Elba (11-1) finished last year 23-3. Opelika and Auburn are up next for the most difficult non-region schedules with their opponents sporting identical 24-4 records last year. The Auburn Tigers will face Hoover (11-2) to open the season and state champions Ramsay (13-2) midseason. Opelika takes on Thompson (11-3) to open the season and travels to Theodore (13-1) for a midseason matchup.
The easiest non-region schedules in the state belongs to Wenonah, Sumiton Christian and Phillips. Their two opponents, Sylacauga (0-10) and Midfield (2-6) finished last season 2-16. Sumiton Christian and Phillips Bear Creek will face out of region opponents who went 2-18 in 2022.
The easiest overall schedule belongs to Chickasaw. Their opponents went 29-65 last year. The second easiest schedule will certainly benefit Moody who will face off against in-state teams that finished the 2022 football season with a record of 30-63.
| All Games | Non-Region | ||||
| Sylacauga | 5A | 82-35 | 70% | 45-15 | 75% |
| Montgomery Academy | 4A | 77-43 | 64% | 30-9 | 77% |
| Columbia | 6A | 69-40 | 63% | 25-25 | 50% |
| Scottsboro | 5A | 64-37 | 63% | 30-15 | 67% |
| Smiths Station | 7A | 72-43 | 63% | 19-5 | 79% |
| Plainview | 3A | 75-45 | 62% | 30-7 | 81% |
| Dale County | 4A | 73-44 | 62% | 23-12 | 66% |
| Alabama Christian | 3A | 71-44 | 62% | 35-14 | 71% |
| Baker | 7A | 71-44 | 62% | 40-12 | 77% |
| Clarke County | 2A | 70-45 | 61% | 49-14 | 78% |
| Cleburne County | 4A | 62-40 | 61% | 24-10 | 71% |
| North Sand Mountain | 2A | 62-40 | 61% | 16-6 | 73% |
| Hoover | 7A | 73-47 | 61% | 34-8 | 81% |
| Jackson-Olin | 6A | 71-45 | 61% | 31-15 | 67% |
| Opelika | 7A | 73-46 | 61% | 24-4 | 86% |
| Non-Region Games Only | |||
| Providence Christian | 3A | 23-3 | 88% |
| Opelika | 7A | 24-4 | 86% |
| Auburn | 7A | 24-4 | 86% |
| St. Paul's | 6A | 23-4 | 85% |
| Murphy | 6A | 11-2 | 85% |
| Pickens County | 1A | 22-4 | 85% |
| Saraland | 6A | 20-4 | 83% |
| Sylvania | 3A | 33-7 | 82% |
| Plainview | 3A | 30-7 | 81% |
| Hoover | 7A | 34-8 | 81% |
| Geraldine | 3A | 31-8 | 80% |
| Smiths Station | 7A | 19-5 | 79% |
| Austin | 7A | 30-8 | 79% |
| Hueytown | 6A | 30-8 | 79% |
| Clarke County | 2A | 49-14 | 78% |
| James Clemens | 7A | 32-9 | 78% |
| Anniston | 4A | 32-9 | 78% |
| Bob Jones | 7A | 28-8 | 78% |
David Parker
AHSFHS.org
dparker@ahsfhs.org
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Woody Clements was the head coach at Holt for a record 41 straight seasons.
Woody Clements was the head coach at Holt for a record 41 straight seasons.
