It's hard to believe, but the 2024 high school football season is basically in the books.
We have the North-South All-Star Game today and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game on Saturday - both at Hancock Whitney Stadium at South Alabama - but that is pretty much it.
The championships were decided last week at Birmingham's Protective Stadium. We are still waiting on an AHSAA decision about where the 2025 Super 7 will be played. I believe the original plan was for that to be announced last week. That didn't happen, but we should know soon. I still believe Mobile will be a huge factor.
Also, there are plenty of honors still to be given out. The Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State team will be announced next Saturday (Dec. 21) and three finalists for back and lineman of the year in each classification and the AISA will be announced on Christmas Day. The ASWA will present its Mr. Football Award on Jan. 28 in Montgomery.
Here at AL.com, we also will have our All-Region football and volleyball teams coming out in the next few weeks in Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville. So, I guess the door isn't totally shut on the 2024 season.
However, I was thinking this week about what my memories of this year's season will be. Here are just a couple that came to mind immediately.
Alvin Henderson wraps up amazing career
The Auburn signee and Elba star rushed for 3,620 yards in his senior season and became the AHSAA's all-time leading rusher with 10,930 yards. He is the first player in Alabama history to rush for more than 10,000 yards in his career. He already has been named Gatorade's Alabama Player of the Year and certainly is a candidate to be the state's Mr. Football. I'm looking forward to seeing how his ability translates into the SEC next fall.
Another 10,000-yard milestone
Saraland quarterback and Texas signee KJ Lacey finished his high school career with 10,985 yards passing. He finished just 39 yards shy of the current AHSAA record held by former Piedmont QB Jack Hayes. In his final game for the Spartans, he went 11-of-24 for 226 yards in last week's title game loss to Parker. His most impressive statistic may be Saraland's record during his three years as a starter. The Spartans lost three games in that span and played in three straight Class 6A title games.
"In my opinion, he's the best quarterback to come through Alabama," Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. "His numbers prove it. He didn't play a lot in the second half of some games because we were way ahead. All quarterbacks are judged at the end of the day by winning and losing, and KJ is an absolute winner. He left his mark on this state and should be regarded as the best player in Alabama this year. He's one of the best to ever strap it on."
Both Lacey and Henderson will be on the field Saturday representing Alabama against Mississippi.
I can't wait to see them one more time. If you are in Mobile or can get to Mobile, it would be worth your time to come check out the All-Stars.
Hoover setback sets up comeback
The season didn't get off to a great start for perennial power Hoover. Bucs coach Drew Gilmer, who hadn't coached a game yet, resigned in August under criticism and quarterbacks coach Chip English was promoted to interim coach. It was natural to then wonder how Hoover might perform in 2024 with a talented roster but a daunting schedule.
As it turns out, the Bucs performed just fine. They went 10-3, winning the tough Class 7A, Region 3 and reached the state semifinals before losing to Central-Phenix City. This week, English was named the team's full-time head coach. He certainly deserved that opportunity for what he was able to accomplish this season.
Class 7A playoff change
A lot was made of the changes to the Class 7A playoff format, which saw the teams grouped in pods and facing different opponents in Round 1.
How did it turn out?
There were some different matchups along the way, but ultimately we ended with the same matchup we had in 2023: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City.
Suspensions and forfeits
New AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon took the job promising that he would uphold the rules of the member schools, and it seemed like he did just that this fall.
Multiple schools forfeited games for various violations of the rules and missed the playoffs. Also, a pair of 7A coaches were suspended for a game each - one for using a media pass to access the field in scouting a future opponent and another after an assistant coach appeared to video a future opponent without permission.
It certainly appears Harmon is standing by his promise to make sure everyone is following the rules as best he can. We will see how that continues in the future.
The final records
With the 2024 high school football season officially completed, I know everyone is interested in how our AL.com picks panel finished the season.