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Seasons of Wildcat Football History 91
Seasons of Wildcat Football History
Many names stand out in the history of Scottsboro Wildcat football from Matthews to Parsons, Treece to Talley, Hall to Utech and many in between. But perhaps none figure more prominently than those of John Meadows and Larry Morris, the two winningest coaches at Scottsboro High School. Remember the names.
This is but a brief history of the "greats" who have helped build the program. From its meager beginnings in 1913 to its zenith in the early 1960s and onto its success in the 1990s, this is Scottsboro Wildcat Football.
Not only have there been great coaches and players but great plays as well. None are more famous than the Kent Latham to Ben Sport "Hail Mary" pass that gave the Wildcats a 29-23 last second win over Albertville in 1994 and gained the national spotlight on ESPN's "Plays of the Week."
Larry Smart's five yard run late in a 7-0 victory over Cullman in 1965 is perhaps the biggest play in school history to date. It kept Scottsboro undefeated enroute to the Wildcats only State Championship.
Walton Bradford's last second field goal provided the margin in a 23-20 win over North Jackson in 1995. The kick helped the Cats to an undefeated regular season and a playoff berth.
And who can forget the 1996 comeback win over Fort Payne? Trailing 28-0 on a rain-soaked Trammell Stadium field the Wildcats were in danger of seeing another perfect regular season become nothing more than a dream. But then, in a manner resembling things we only dream of, the comeback began and by the time it ended Scottsboro had claimed a 32-28 win.
Along the way, Scottsboro set single game school records with 618 total yards offense on 79 plays.
Of course, there are some obscure facts like a 91-0 win over Morgan County in 1916, nine punts in a 1980 game versus Athens and a 14-game losing streak that began in 1985 and ended in 1987. And there is the longest road trip, a 1935 trek to Pine Bluff Arkansas that resulted in a 35-7 loss.
Then there are the characters that have coached and played their roles. Coaches with names like Noisy Gresham and Ben Bludworth. Players like Bob Jones, Bob "Foots" Clemons, Pat Trammell, Don Webb, and Keith Trimew. From A to Z they are all part of SHS Tradition.
The Wildcats' debut as Jackson County High School was not overly promising. The 1913 team finished at 0-2-1 with the results of another game, versus Huntsville, being unavailable.
It is widely believed and documented that the first win came in 1914, a 19-0 defeat of Gurley. Eighty-three years later, the school claimed its 400th victory with a 35-34 1997 playoff victory over McAdory, the alma mater of Bo Jackson.
Meadows's mark on Scottsboro football came in the early stages of the so-called Modern Era. His influence on the program is felt, even today.
Morris's coached teams posted a 32-5 mark from 1995-1997.
From 1913 through World War II, football came and went at Jackson County High School. It is assumed the team did not play in 1916 and 1917 due to WWI and in 1945 due to WWII.
The school had at least 13 head coaches during the period. Billy Hicks had the most success during his tenure from 1931-1935 with a record of 33-7-5.
The Wildcats also changed playing fields often. By the time the team moved to the campus of what is now Page Elementary School in the 1930s, it was at its third venue. The team later moved to a site where the Rec*Com is now located before occupying their current Trammell Stadium home at the start of the 1971 season.
From 1913 through 1944, the Wildcats posted a 110-86-24 record. The 50th and 100th wins were both shutouts. In 1932 Jackson County High defeated Athens for win number 50 and got number 100 in 1941 over New Hope 42-0.
In 1946, J.B. McClendon took over the reins as head coach. His 1946 team finished at 6-3 overall after dropping their first two games. There is no doubt the best team in the postwar era was the last to suit up as Jackson County High School. The 1956 team, led by the now legendary Pat Trammell, finished at 9-1 on the season.
The team's lone loss was a one point 25-24 setback at the hands of Etowah County. In its nine wins the team scored 60 points twice and over 40 points six times. It outscored opponents by a whopping 426-68.
The 11-year era from 1946 through 1956 saw the Wildcats post a 54-45-8 record. During the span Jack Cornelius' teams finished 15-4-1.
THE MODERN ERA – SCOTTSBORO WILDCAT FOOTBALL BEGINS
Cornelius led Scottsboro football in its debut when, in 1957, Jackson County High School became Scottsboro High School. The Wildcats opened 1957 with five wins before losing three of the last five to finish 7-3. 1958 was the last for Cornelius as Scottsboro stumbled to a 2-8 record and was shutout six times.
JOHN MEADOWS TAKES OVER
The next seven seasons, 1959-1965 would prove to be the most successful run in Scottsboro history. Under Meadows, the Wildcats won 55 games, lost only nine and tied five. The equaled an 83.3% winning percentage.
Meadows-coached teams were twice undefeated. The 1960 team was 10-0. His last team, the 1965 squad, also finished at 10-0 and captured the school's only football state championship.
The '65 team amassed over 2,700 yards in total offense while allowing opponents only 150 yards per game. It outscored in opposition by almost 21 points per game in averaging 26.7 PPG and allowing 5.8 PPG.
Meadows focused on defense as evidenced by the fact his teams' shutout 21 opponents in his 69 games as head coach. During those seven seasons, Scottsboro opponents scored an average of 9.1 PPG. The Wildcats scored at a 24.9 PPG clip to have an average victory margin of 15.8 PPG.
Eight of Meadows players garnered All-State recognition.
17 signed college scholarships. Meadows' teams were synonymous with excellence. Certainly the man left his mark on Scottsboro football and his legacy is forever etched into the annals of Scottsboro history and tradition.
After leaving Scottsboro, Meadows showed up at Butler High School in Huntsville. His teams there were among the state's best. He then concluded his career at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville Tennessee where he captured two state titles before retiring.
THE MODERN ERA CONTINUES
Bill Hawkins received the unenviable task of replacing Meadows. He came to Scottsboro from Oneonta where he had turned out state powerhouses for several years. His 1966-68 squads posted a respectable 16-14 overall mark but it wasn't what the city had become accustomed to and Hawkins was out after three seasons.
Buddy Moore led the Wildcats in 1969. His team challenged for the playoffs but finished the season at 7-2. That season included a season ending Monday night 23-20 loss to Athens (a game played on Monday due to severe winter weather that plagued the area).
Next came Morris Higginbotham who quickly became known for his blood and guts attitude. His teams posted a two-year record of 13-9.
1970 was high successful as the Wildcats made their first ever playoff appearance and finished at 10-2 losing to eventual state champion Lee-Montgomery in the semifinals. Barry Talley led the way with over 1,600 rushing yards and garnered first team All-State honors. Higginbotham had five players to go on the college ranks.
Jim Tompkins spent the 1972 season in Scottsboro before moving on. His team posted a 2-8 record.
Larry Keys replaced Tompkins and led the Wildcats from 1973 through 1979. His teams posted a 33-36-1 mark. The 1976 team, led by Don Jacobs at quarterback, finished 8-2-1 after a playoff loss to Walter Wellborn.
Seven of Keys players signed college scholarships and six gained All-State recognition.
In 1980 Lyle Darnell was called on to resurrect the Scottsboro program and that he did. The Wildcats finished the season 9-3 after losing to Grissom in round two of the state playoffs. Darnell was named Coach of the Year following the season and left, only to return seven years later.
George Hoblitzell took the 1981 Wildcats to a 5-5 record in his only season at Scottsboro.
From 1982-84 Wayne McNutt led Scottsboro to a 13-17 record. He sent six players into the college ranks and one was honored as an All-State selection.
Randy Ross spent two seasons at Scottsboro. His teams finished at 6-5 and then 0-10. He left after the 1986 seasons to coach at Vanderbilt University.
Darnell returned in 1987 for his second stint as head coach. It was not as successful as his first as the Wildcats posted a 14-20 record in three years. The best year was an 8-4 campaign in 1989.
Rick Brown led the 1990 Wildcats to their fourth straight playoff appearance. The team finished at 5-6 but Brown left to coach his Alma Mater, Pell City.
THE 1990'S AND BEYOND: LARRY MORRIS LEADS THE WAY
1991 began the Larry Morris era. His first team made the playoffs and finished 5-6 overall.
The 1992 and 1993 seasons were ones of struggle for Morris and the Wildcats but that began to change in 1994. The '94 team finished at 6-6 after going two games into the playoffs.
1994 is where Morris' success began. A version of the veer offense was installed and since that time offense has been the name of the game at Scottsboro.
With 90 wins in fourteen seasons Morris has won more games than any coach in Scottsboro history. He has had 18 players receive All-State honors and has sent eleven players into the college ranks including defensive lineman Eric Scott, who went on to play at the University of Southern Mississippi.
The 1995-97 seasons produced the most wins (32-5) in any three-year period at the school. It included back-to-back 10-0 regular seasons. Morris-coached teams did it with offense, averaging nearly 400 yards per game and scoring at 31 PPG during the span. His '96 and '97 teams each had two 1,000 yard rushers.
After a down season in 1998, the 1999 Wildcats exceeded expectations as an undermanned squad rose to the occasion and posted a 7-3 slate. Jason Utech rushed for 1,538 yards and his 153.8 YPG average stands as the highest mark in school history.
The 2000 Wildcats again made the State Playoffs, finishing at 8-3. The team had three 1,000 yard backs, the only time in school history this has been accomplished.
In 2003, the Wildcats finished with an 8-4-0 record reaching the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. The highlight of the 2003 campaign was a 24-6 season-opening thumping of North Jackson.
The 2004 season marked the last for Coach Morris, announcing before the opening game that this would be his final year to walk the side lines for his beloved Wildcats. The Cats sent him out with a bang, finishing with a 10-2-0 mark and again reaching the second round of the state playoffs. Morris ended his career with more wins than any other Scottsboro coach in history.
Like Meadows, Morris has forever left his mark on Wildcat football. Morris won't take credit where credit is due. He is quick to point out that he had "the best coaching staff in Alabama." And our course he credits the players who have been dedicated to the Scottsboro tradition and "who have worked so hard."
Starting with the 2005 season, Scottsboro assistant Freddie Tidmore took over the helm as head coach of Wildcat football.