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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Isabella Mustangs

Head Coach: Tate Leonard (eighth season)
Career Record: 7 seasons, (66-18)
At Isabella: 7 seasons, (66-18)
Stadium: Bill Nabors Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  178
Rank:  303rd in the AHSAA, 37th in Class 2A

 History 
Overall Record:   359-531-27   (40.0%)
Last 25 years:   156-121   (56.0%)  (Rank: 131st in the AHSAA, 11th in Class 2A)
Since 2010:   96-50  (65.8%)  (Rank: 71st in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 2A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   2015

 2022 
Class:  2A              Region:   4
Record:  8-3
Region Record:   5-2, (third)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Highland Home by a score of 29-21.
Final ASWA Poll:   10th
Scoring:  485 (44.1)
Defense:  272 (24.7)


 2023 
Class: 2A              Region:   4
Strength of Schedule: 55-56 (50%) (193rd in the AHSAA, 32nd in Class 2A)
Region Strength:  39-39 (50%)
Non-Region Strength:  16-17 (48%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19   OPEN 
 8/26  vs. Maplesville  (1A)   30-6   W  
 9/2  vs. Thorsby  (2A)  *  59-30   W  
 9/8  @ Central Coosa  (2A)  *  65-24   W  
 9/16  vs. Fayetteville  (2A)  *  59-21   W  
 9/23  @ Billingsley  (1A)   50-14   W  
 9/30  @ B.B. Comer  (2A)  *  22-52   L  
 10/7  @ Ranburne  (2A)  *  34-7   W  
 10/14  @ Vincent  (2A)  *  42-49   L  
 10/21  vs. Woodland  (2A)  *  48-14   W  
 10/28  vs. Keith  (1A)   55-26   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  @ Highland Home    21-29   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25   OPEN 
 9/1  @ Maplesville  (1A)       
 9/8  @ Thorsby  (2A)  *      
 9/15  vs. Central Coosa  (2A)  *      
 9/22  @ Fayetteville  (2A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Billingsley  (1A)       
 10/6  vs. B.B. Comer  (2A)  *      
 10/13  vs. Ranburne  (2A)  *      
 10/20  vs. Vincent  (2A)  *      
 10/27  @ Woodland  (2A)  *      
 11/3  @ Keith  (1A)       
 11/9  @ St. Lukes        
 11/17  vs. Cottonwood        


Class  2A Region  4
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
B.B. Comer (2A) 12-3 7-0530-305
Vincent (2A) 10-2 6-1541-224
Isabella (2A) 8-3 5-2485-272
Thorsby (2A) 7-4 4-3326-315
Ranburne (2A) 5-5 3-4255-206
Fayetteville (2A) 3-7 2-5183-360
Woodland (2A) 1-9 1-682-392
Central Coosa (2A) 1-9 0-7140-471

 2023 Preview 


       Isabella completed the 2022 season with a 8-3 record. With their 5-2 region record and a third place finish in Class 2A region four, the Mustangs earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Isabella's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Highland Home by a score of 29-21.

       The high-scoring Isabella offense ranked 8th in the AHSAA. They averaged 44.1 points a game.

       Since 2010, Isabella has gone a combined 96-50. Their 65.8% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 2A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Isabella has managed to compile a record of 156-121. Their 56.0% winning percentage ranks 11th in Class 2A and 131st in the AHSAA.




       The Mustangs are led by head coach Tate Leonard who is entering his eighth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 66-18 over the past seven seasons at Isabella. Under his direction the Mustangs have qualified for the playoffs a total of seven times. They have won three region crowns with Coach Leonard.

       The Mustangs should be in contention for a playoff spot in region four this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage. They have reached the playoffs every year since 2015 and will once again be in the hunt for a spot in 2023.

      QB Elijah Kendrick will be returning after completing 42 of 74 passes for 939 yards last season along with 12 touchdowns.

       The Mustangs open the 2023 season on the road against non-region opponent Maplesville on Friday, September 1 at Red Devil Stadium. Last year the Maplesville Red Devils finished with an overall record of 8-4 and in first place in Class 1A region four. The Red Devils lost in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs to Leroy by a score of 33-8.

       Isabella and Maplesville have met a total of 82 times on the football field. The Mustangs have a 18-59-5 record against the Red Devils. They last met in 2022 with Isabella winning by a score of 30-6.

       Isabella lost 2A All-State  running back Zac Chapman to graduation. He was named to the second team last season.

       The Mustangs return 2A All-State Senior receiver Drevon Lee. He was named to the second 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.