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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Sipsey Valley Bears

Head Coach: Joey Milligan (second season)
Career Record: 4 seasons, (17-27)
At Sipsey Valley: one season, (4-7)
Stadium:
2022 Enrollment:  368
Rank:  160th in the AHSAA, 15th in Class 4A

 History 
Overall Record:   38-97   (28.0%)
Last 25 years:   38-97   (28.0%)  (Rank: 360th in the AHSAA, 55th in Class 4A)
Since 2010:   38-97  (28.1%)  (Rank: 344th in the AHSAA, 52nd in Class 4A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2022
Last Region Championship:   Never
Last Winning Season:   2012
Last Losing Season:   2022

 2022 
Class:  4A              Region:   3
Record:  4-7
Region Record:   3-4, (fourth)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Anniston by a score of 52-0.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  187 (17.0)
Defense:  302 (27.5)


 2023 
Class: 4A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 54-54 (50%) (182nd in the AHSAA, 36th in Class 4A)
Region Strength:  31-43 (42%)
Non-Region Strength:  23-11 (68%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ Gordo  (3A)   7-50   L  
 8/26   OPEN 
 9/2  @ Dallas County  (4A)  *  17-0   W  
 9/8  vs. West Blocton  (4A)  *  14-18   L  
 9/16  @ Bibb County  (4A)  *  10-56   L  
 9/23  @ Oak Grove  (4A)   36-19   W  
 9/30  vs. Montevallo  (4A)  *  33-14   W  
 10/7  vs. Holt  (4A)  *  37-6   W  
 10/14  @ American Christian  (4A)  *  3-28   L  
 10/21  vs. Hale County  (4A)  *  24-32   L  
 10/28  @ Northside  (4A)   6-27   L  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  @ Anniston    0-52   L  

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25  vs. Gordo  (3A)       
 9/1   OPEN 
 9/8  vs. Dallas County  (4A)  *      
 9/15  @ West Blocton  (4A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Bibb County  (4A)  *      
 9/29  vs. Oak Grove  (4A)       
 10/6  @ Montevallo  (4A)  *      
 10/13  @ Holt  (4A)  *      
 10/20  vs. American Christian  (4A)  *      
 10/27  @ Hale County  (4A)  *      
 11/3  vs. Northside  (4A)       
 11/10  @ Andalusia        


Class  4A Region  3
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
American Christian (4A) 9-3 7-0319-212
Bibb County (4A) 7-4 6-1430-177
West Blocton (4A) 6-5 5-2204-170
Sipsey Valley (4A) 4-7 3-4187-302
Hale County (4A) 4-6 3-4168-283
Montevallo (4A) 4-6 3-4169-183
Dallas County (4A) 1-9 1-698-303
Holt (4A) 0-10 0-742-400

 2023 Preview 


       Sipsey Valley completed the 2022 season with a 4-7 record. With their 3-4 region record and a fourth place finish in Class 4A region three, the Bears earned a spot in the playoffs in 2022. Sipsey Valley's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Anniston by a score of 52-0.

       It marked the first time since the 2018 season that the Bears qualified for the playoffs. The Bears have never won a playoff game in the school's history. They would like to break through and pick up that first post season victory in 2023.

       Sipsey Valley was inconsistent offensively last year and they need some improvement if the Bears want to be competitive. They only averaged 17.0 points a game.

       Since 2010, Sipsey Valley has gone a combined 38-97. Their 28.1% winning percentage ranks 52nd in Class 4A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 13 seasons, Sipsey Valley has not won much with a record of 38-97. Their 28.0% winning percentage ranks 55th in Class 4A and 360th in the AHSAA. The Bears have struggled on the football field with only one winning season during this time.




       The Bears are led by head coach Joey Milligan who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 4-7 record in his first season at Sipsey Valley. The Bears saw improvement from a 3-7 record the season before coach Milligan arrived. Under his direction the Bears have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Milligan. Over the course of his career, Coach Milligan's teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of three times .

       With returning players at most of the skilled positions the Bears could be more competitive in 2023.

       The Bears could find themselves challenging for one of the playoff spots for region three this season with a few breaks and a little improvement.

      Junior QB LJ Cormier will be returning after completing 101 of 220 passes for 1,496 yards last season along with 19 touchdowns.

      Receiver Wyatt Bailey will return after catching 51 passes good for 1,005 yards and 14 TDs as a junior last season.

      The defense will be led by Jon Welch this season after collecting 159 total tackles last season.

       The Bears open the 2023 season at home against non-region opponent Gordo on Friday, August 25. Last year the Gordo Green Wave finished with an overall record of 11-2 and in first place in Class 3A region five. The Green Wave lost in the quarter-finals round of the Class 3A playoffs to Piedmont by a score of 27-14.

       Sipsey Valley and Gordo have met a total of 10 times on the football field. The Bears have a 0-10-0 record against the Green Wave. They last met in 2022 with Gordo winning by a score of 50-7.

      

       The Bears return 4A All-State Senior receiver Wyatt Bailey. He was named to the second team last season. The Bears also return Senior kicker William Espino. He was named to the honorable mention team.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The Alabama High School Athletic Association was first organized in 1921.