The 1956 version of the West Blocton Tigers came into the seaon with high hopes and great expectations. They fielded a veteran club with stars throughout the lineup. By seasons end West Blocton was awarded the 1956 State Championship as voted by the Birmingham Post Herald.

Three stars of the West Blocton powerhouse that won their last twenty games and 38 of their last 40 games went on to attend the University of Alabama. Walter Sansing and Tommy White were star halfbacks while Roy Holsombeck started at tackle. Sansing gained more than 1,200 yards in each of his last two seasons as a starter. He closed out his career with 226 yards rushing and three touchdowns against rival Bibb County.

As a junior he rushed for 1,205 yards and scored 20 touchdowns while throwing for two more scores. He followed that with 1,255 yards rushing and another 20 touchdowns. He also added eight scoring passes to his totals.

White shifted from fullback to halfback as a senior and responded with 940 yards and eleven touchdowns rushing despite missing one game. As a junior he ran for 822 yards while also serving as the team punter and was a terror on defense as a safety.

Fullback Bob Allen gained over 600 yards rushing the give West Blocton a very potent running attack that just proved to be too much for their opponents. Allen was the only starting member of the team that was not a senior in 1956.

Holsombech was considered the best lineman in the area and was twice named lineman of the week by the Tuscaloosa Quarterback Club.

West Blocton was coached by Morris Higginbotham who in his first four seasons at the helm went 38-2 with three undefeated teams. He came over from Walnut Grove after only one season there with a 7-1-1 record. He had attended the University of Alabama after graduation from Phillips high school in Birmingham. Between high school and college he actually played minor league baseball for two years.

The state championship was the second in a row as the 1955 edition of the West Blocton Tigers won the award given by the Birmingham News.