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AHSFHS Article Series


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





Pelham Football Team History


Pelham Panthers
Pelham High School

2500 Panther Circle Pelham, AL 35124
Stadium: Ned Bearden Stadium
Colors: Dark Green & Vegas Gold
Coach: Rick Rhoades
Region: 6A-R8
Other Sports

 

Team Home Summary Coaches Games by Year Opponents Players Rankings NFL Playoffs OT

Select Year:    
1976  <-- 1996 <- 1997 -> 1998 --> 2024
1997 Season Highlights
 Rick Rhoades enters his 2nd season as Head Coach at Pelham.
 First region championship.
 The Panthers won the Class 6A Region 8 Championship.
 
1997 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Fri., Sep. 5  vs. Thompson    24   23   W       
 Fri., Sep. 12  @ Mountain Brook    35   7   W       
 Fri., Sep. 19  vs. Minor    17   14   W       
 Fri., Sep. 26  @ Hueytown    28   13   W       
 Fri., Oct. 3  @ Hoover   *  20   17   W       
 Fri., Oct. 10  @ Hewitt-Trussville    34   7   W       
 Fri., Oct. 17  vs. Vestavia Hills   *  26   29   L       
 Fri., Oct. 24  @ Hillcrest Tuscaloosa    35   0   W       
 Fri., Oct. 31  vs. Shades Valley    21   24   L       
 Fri., Nov. 7  vs. Homewood   *  46   45   W (3OT)      
 Playoffs 
 Fri., Nov. 14  vs. Vigor    27   20   W       1st Round Playoffs 
 Fri., Nov. 21  vs. Jeff Davis    21   50   L       2nd Round Playoffs 
 
1997 Season Totals
  Record9-3
  Points Scored334
  Scoring Average27.8
  Points Allowed249
  Defense Average20.8
  Opponents Record79-56
  Region Record2-1
  Home Record4-3
  Away Record5-0
1997 Class 6A Rankings
 Date   Week   Rank   Record   Votes   Source 
9/18/19972 7(2-0) ASWA
9/25/19973 7(3-0) ASWA
10/2/19974 6(4-0) ASWA
10/9/19975 6(5-0) ASWA
10/16/19976 4(6-0) ASWA
10/23/19977 7(6-1) ASWA
10/30/19978 6(7-1) ASWA
11/13/1997Final 9(8-2) ASWA
  
1997 Class 6A Region 8 Standings
  Regular Season   Playoffs   Region/Area Record 
 Team  W/L/T  PF   PA  W/L/T PF   PA  W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Pelham 9-33342491-148702-19291  Rick Rhoades
Vestavia Hills 12-23852233-1121782-17474  Buddy Anderson
Homewood 7-33151572-110087  Bob Newton
Hoover 3-71461560-34357  Gerald Gann

1997 Player Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Lane Bearden P Sr.6-2185 AL-MS Game  
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-4205 AL-MS Game  
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-4205 All American  Parade
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-4205 All Southern  Orlando Sentinel
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-4205 6A Player of the Year  Gatorade
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-4205 6A Player of the Year  ASWA
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-4205 Super 12  ASWA
 Tyler Watts QB Sr.6-3200 Super All-State  Bham News

1997 All State Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Lane BeardenDL Sr.6-3190 HM  ASWA
 Lane BeardenP Sr.6-3190 1st  BN
 Lane BeardenP Sr.6-3190 HM  ASWA
 Tyler WattsQB Sr.6-3205 1st  BN
 Tyler WattsQB Sr.6-3195 1st  ASWA
 Will HillWR Sr. HM  BN
 Xavier PriceOL Jr. HM  BN
 Xavier RiceOL Jr. HM  ASWA



Some records may be incomplete. We have chosen to publish this information in hopes our visitors will participate in assisting us to complete every school.
Join us in the forums to submit corrections and new information.




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.