By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

MONTEVALLO – Montevallo High School has released its football schedule for 2016. The Bulldogs, who are moving from Class 4A to 3A at the start of the 2016-17 school year, will be playing in Region 4 of Class 3A along with American Christian Academy, Carbon Hill, Gordo, Greene County, Midfield and Oakman. Montevallo is one of only two county schools, along with Helena, that is changing classifications, and is the only school in the county that is moving down a classification.

The Bulldogs had something of a renaissance season last year, going 9-3 and making an appearance in the second round of the 4A playoffs. The nine games Montevallo won in 2015 matched the Bulldogs’ cumulative win total from Oct. 29, 2010, through the end of the 2014 season. Montevallo was the only team out of 4A Region 4 last season to win a game in the playoffs, and although the Bulldogs are dropping down a class this upcoming season, the competition level, especially at the top of the region, is going to just as strong if not stronger.

Gordo and American Christian Academy in particular present tough challenges for Montevallo. Gordo was ranked as the top 3A team in the state for the entirety of the 2015 regular season, finishing 10-0 before falling in the third round of the playoffs to Bayside Academy. American Christian Academy’s only regular season loss came at the hands of Gordo, and the Patriots fell by three points in the second round of the 3A playoffs as well. Gordo is losing Parade All-American and 3A ASWA Lineman of the Year Ben Davis, who signed with the University of Alabama to play linebacker, and American Christian is losing a slew of talented skill players as well, but both have younger talent ready to step into larger roles.

There are only two teams on the 2016 schedule that were on the 2015 schedule as well. West Blocton and Bibb County, both of which were in Montevallo’s region last season, are on the 2016 schedule as non-region opponents. The Bulldogs beat West Blocton 52-28 last season, and the two will meet on Aug. 26 this year in Montevallo’s regular season home opener. Montevallo lost to Bibb County last season, the only region loss in the regular season for the Bulldogs, 24-21, and the two will meet on Sep. 23 this season at Bibb County.

The entirety of Montevallo’s regular season schedule is as follows.

Aug. 19: Verbena (Jamboree) – Home

Aug. 26: West Blocton – Home

Sept. 2: American Christian* – Home

Sept. 9: B.B. Comer – Away

Sept. 16: Midfield* – Home

Sept. 23: Bibb County – Away

Sept. 30: Greene County – Away

Oct. 7: Oakman*- Home

Oct. 14: Gordo* – Away

Oct. 21: Carbon Hill* – Away

Oct. 28: Fultondale – Home

 

*Denotes region game