News

We now have 837 teams &  
195,282 games on AHSFHS.org.


Search Site





AHSFHS Article Series


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






2026 Team Previews 

  


Russell County Warriors

Head Coach: Dillon Griggs (sixth season)
Career Record: 5 seasons, (30-24)
At Russell County: 5 seasons, (30-24)
Stadium: Corbett-Mitchell Stadium
2026 Enrollment:  818
Rank:  58th in the AHSAA, 26th in Class 5A

 History 
Overall Record:   229-476-5   (32.0%)
Last 25 years:   68-185   (27.0%)  (Rank: 362nd in the AHSAA, 59th in Class 5A)
Since 2010:   52-111  (31.9%)  (Rank: 330th in the AHSAA, 56th in Class 5A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2025
Last Region Championship:   1998
Last Winning Season:   2025
Last Losing Season:   2023

 2025 
Class:  6A              Region:   2
Record:  10-2    (Team record for wins in a season)
Region Record:   5-1, (second)
Playoff Record:   Second round loss to Hueytown by a score of 49-29.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  427 (35.6)
Defense:  267 (22.3)


 2026 
Class: 5A              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 59-48 (55%) (115th in the AHSAA, 15th in Class 5A)
Region Strength:  42-36 (54%)
Non-Region Strength:  17-12 (59%)



 2025 Results 
 8/22  @ Carroll  (5A)   42-13   W  
 8/29  @ Eufaula  (5A)   35-14   W  
 9/5  vs. Wetumpka  (6A)  *  31-18   W  
 9/12  vs. Percy Julian  (6A)  *  56-22   W  
 9/20  @ Park Crossing  (6A)  *  38-0   W  
 9/26  @ Valley  (5A)   44-34   W  
 10/3  vs. Stanhope Elmore  (6A)  *  28-10   W  
 10/10   OPEN 
 10/17  vs. Pike Road  (6A)  *  6-49   L  
 10/24  @ Rehobeth  (6A)  *  49-20   W  
 10/31  vs. Beauregard  (5A)   36-8   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/7  vs. Gulf Shores    33-30   W  
 11/14  @ Hueytown    29-49   L  

 2026 Schedule 
 8/21  vs. B.T. Washington  (3A)       
 8/28  @ Headland  (4A)       
 9/4  @ Stanhope Elmore  (5A)  *      
 9/11  @ Wetumpka  (5A)  *      
 9/18  vs. Benjamin Russell  (5A)  *      
 9/25  vs. Valley  (4A)       
 10/2  @ Pike Road  (5A)  *      
 10/8  vs. Rehobeth  (5A)  *      
 10/16  @ Percy Julian  (5A)  *      
 10/23  vs. Park Crossing  (5A)  *      
 10/30   OPEN 


Class  5A Region  2
Team 2025 Record Region Scoring                            
Benjamin Russell (6A) 12-2 6-0501-248
Pike Road (6A) 10-3 6-0468-153
Russell County (6A) 10-2 5-1427-267
Stanhope Elmore (6A) 7-4 4-2317-266
Wetumpka (6A) 6-5 3-3329-286
Rehobeth (6A) 4-6 1-5198-333
Percy Julian (6A) 3-7 2-4158-306
Park Crossing (6A) 0-9 0-650-273

 2026 Preview 


       Russell County completed the 2025 season with a 10-2 record. With their 5-1 region record and a second place finish in Class 6A region two, the Warriors earned a spot in the playoffs in 2025. Russell County reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Hueytown by a score of 49-29.

       No team at Russell County ever won more games in a season than the ten victories last year. The last time they won as many was back in 1998.

       Since 2010, the Russell County football program has struggled with a record of 52-111.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Russell County has not won much with a record of 68-185. Their 27.0% winning percentage ranks 59th in Class 5A and 362nd in the AHSAA. The Warriors have struggled on the football field with only three winning seasons during this time.

Head Coach:
       The Warriors are led by head coach Dillon Griggs who is entering his sixth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 30-24 over the past five seasons at Russell County. Under his direction the Warriors have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times. They have not won a region crown with Coach Griggs.

Season Outlook:

       The Russell County Warriors will play in Class 5A region two during the 2026 season.

      

       What a season for the Warriors in 2025! Ten wins in a single season for only the second time in school history. Nineteen victories over the past two seasons are also a school record. Back-to-back playoff appearances can also be added to the list.

       After so much recent success, can the Warriors take the next step in their program building process and make a deep playoff run in 2026. They lost a great signal caller to graduation but return enough talent to make a run possible.

       Chris Lucas rushed for 1,366 yards and 17 TDs and will return for his Junior season.

    The Warriors should be in contention for a playoff spot in region two this season. Hosting a first round playoff game on their home turf would be an advantage.

      

Graduated All-State Players
2 ATH Bryson Riggins Sr.
HM RB Chris Lucas Sr.


Players to Watch in 2026:
  Offense:  (4) - Quentin Lewis - WR - Committed to Jacksonville State University; Chris Lucas - RB - Holds multiple offers including WVU, Austin Peay, UNA, Samford; Jordan Smith - OL - Holds offers from The Citadel, ASU and, Samford; Trenton Jones - OL

  Defense:  (4) - Daniel Walton - LB, Christian Wardlaw - DB, Ladaniann Sosene - LB, Josh Sides - DL

  Newcomers:  Dominique ''Neko'' Key - QB, Deontae Deas - WR, Kaleb Lowe - DL, Santony Cope - DB, Maverick Mckinney - DL

The Coach had this to say:
      It has been a great offseason thus far. We have a much less experienced group coming into the '26-'27 Season but the previous two classes have laid the groundwork for future success. We have become a much more well-rounded team and aim to be a situationally improved team that still holds itself to the high standard that RC fans have grown to expect. Our goals haven't changed: earn a playoff berth, win the region, and practice on Thanksgiving.

Season Opener:
       The Warriors open the 2026 season at home against non-region opponent B.T. Washington on Friday, August 21 at Corbett-Mitchell Stadium. Last year the B.T. Washington Golden Eagles finished with an overall record of 7-3 and in second place in Class 4A region three. The Golden Eagles lost in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs to Pleasant Grove by a score of 16-6.

       Russell County and B.T. Washington have met a total of 25 times on the football field. The Warriors have a 18-7-0 record against the Golden Eagles. They last met in 2019 with Russell County winning by a score of 35-6.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

The Tuscaloosa Black Bears were considered one of the best programs in the nation from 1925-1931. Their record over that span was an amazing 61-0-3.