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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Briarwood Lions

Head Coach: Matthew Forester (fifth season)
Career Record: 4 seasons, (33-14)
At Briarwood: 4 seasons, (33-14)
Stadium: Lions Pride Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  601
Rank:  88th in the AHSAA, 55th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   397-186-1   (68.0%)
Last 25 years:   248-78   (76.0%)  (Rank: 12th in the AHSAA, 3rd in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   117-48  (70.9%)  (Rank: 36th in the AHSAA, 11th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2021
Last Region Championship:   2019
Last Winning Season:   2021
Last Losing Season:   2022

 2022 
Class:  6A              Region:   3
Record:  3-7
Region Record:   1-5, (sixth)
Playoff Record:   Did not qualify.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  222 (22.2)
Defense:  303 (30.3)    (Team record for points allowed in a season)


 2023 
Class: 6A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 60-48 (56%) (78th in the AHSAA, 15th in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  38-29 (57%)
Non-Region Strength:  22-19 (54%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ Clay-Chalkville  (6A)   0-48   L  
 8/26  vs. Spain Park  (7A)   23-21   W  
 9/2  vs. Chilton County  (6A)  *  36-29   W  
 9/8  @ Pelham  (6A)  *  34-35   L  
 9/16   OPEN 
 9/23  @ Oak Mountain  (7A)   34-14   W  
 9/30  vs. Helena  (6A)  *  21-31   L  
 10/7  vs. Calera  (6A)  *  28-31   L (2OT) 
 10/14  @ Benjamin Russell  (6A)  *  14-16   L  
 10/21  @ Homewood  (6A)  *  10-34   L  
 10/28  vs. Fairhope  (7A)   22-44   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. Clay-Chalkville  (6A)       
 9/1  @ Spain Park  (7A)       
 9/8  @ Chilton County  (6A)  *      
 9/15  vs. Pelham  (6A)  *      
 9/22   OPEN 
 9/29  vs. Oak Mountain  (7A)       
 10/6  @ Helena  (6A)  *      
 10/13  @ Calera  (6A)  *      
 10/20  vs. Benjamin Russell  (6A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Homewood  (6A)  *      
 11/3  @ Fairhope  (7A)       
 11/10  @ Carver Montgomery        
 11/17  vs. Saraland        


Class  6A Region  3
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Homewood (6A) 10-3 6-0400-301
Pelham (6A) 6-6 4-2275-284
Benjamin Russell (6A) 8-3 4-2374-207
Calera (6A) 4-7 3-3228-307
Helena (6A) 6-4 3-3300-276
Briarwood (6A) 3-7 1-5222-303
Chilton County (6A) 4-6 0-6223-275

 2023 Preview 


       Briarwood finished the 2022 season with a disappointing 3-7 record. Last year Briarwood finished sixth in Class 6A region three with a 1-5 region record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

       Briarwood took a step backwards last year with their first losing season since 2015. The Lions lost as many games as in any season since 2015. The defense allowed a team record 303 points last season. The Lions hope to rebound after a down year. Last season they struggled winning just three games which followed a 10-2 record in 2021.

       Since 2010, Briarwood has gone a combined 117-48. Their 70.9% winning percentage ranks 11th in Class 6A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Briarwood has finished a combined 248-78. Their 76.0% winning percentage ranks 3rd in Class 6A and 12th in the AHSAA.




       The Lions are led by head coach Matthew Forester who is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 33-14 over the past four seasons at Briarwood. Under his direction the Lions have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times. They have won one region crown with Coach Forester.

       The three wins last year were the fewest for the Lions since 1989. Do not expect the losing to continue for the once great football program. Briarwood returns three starters on the offensive side of the ball so filling some of those vacancies will be a priority for Coach Forester. The defense will return nine starters in 2023 so experience will be available on that side of the ball.

       The Lions could find themselves challenging for one of the playoff spots for region three this season with a few breaks and a little improvement. Briarwood came up short of the playoffs last year but are optimistic of a return to the post season this year.

       The Lions open the 2023 season at home against non-region opponent Clay-Chalkville on Friday, August 25 at Lions Pride Stadium. Last year the Clay-Chalkville Cougars finished with an overall record of 8-2 and in first place in Class 6A region six. The Cougars lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Parker by a score of 7-6.

       Briarwood and Clay-Chalkville have met a total of 3 times on the football field. The Lions have a 0-3-0 record against the Cougars. They last met in 2022 with Clay-Chalkville winning by a score of 48-0.

      

       The Lions return 6A All-State Senior defensive back Grey Reebals. He was named to the honorable mention team last season.

  


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.