Red Bay’s turnaround was one of best in state
• Red Bay had one of the state’s biggest turnarounds this year. The Tigers were plus-6 wins, when you compare their total at the end of this year’s regular season to last year.
Abbeville Christian was plus-7, going from 2-7 to 9-1. Red Bay and Cottage Hill were each plus-6. Red Bay went from 2-7 to 8-2, while Cottage Hill moved from 3-7 to 9-1.
• On the other end, Vina was one of six teams with a minus-6. The Red Devils, after going 6-4 last year for their first winning season since 1989, plummeted to 0-10.
The others with a sixwin dip are Decatur Heritage (from 7-2 to 1-9), Horseshoe Bend (6-4 to 0-10) and Locust Fork (8-2 to 2-8).
• Belgreen wasn’t eligible for the playoffs, but 12 others who were finished with winning records and aren’t headed to the postseason.
Huntsville (7-3) leads the list. Belgreen went 6-2, while the others all went 6-4: Dothan, Enterprise, Prattville, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, St. Paul’s, Ardmore, New Brockton, J.B. Pennington, Cold Springs, Sweet Water and Verbena.
St. Paul’s is sitting home for the first time since 2009.
• Columbia is setting the standard for the longest losing streaks entering the 2026 season. The Eagles’ tally is now at 101 straight losses.
After that, heading into next year, it’s Asbury (27 straight), Northside Methodist (23), Murphy (22) and Lee-Huntsville (21). Maybe Columbia and Lee could play next year. Lee’s last win was over Columbia.
• There were 21 winless teams this season.
• There are 22 undefeated teams entering the playoffs. That’s AHSAA and AISA.
