Editor’s Note

Kyle Parmley

It’s really neat to see a team’s journey from beginning, when expectations and hopes are high and the desire to do better than last year burns deep, to end, where the raw emotion of the sudden end to a season hits home.

For most teams, the season ends in either the regular season or the early rounds of the playoffs, but for a few teams, the ultimate goal is realized and they bring home a state championship trophy.

Hoover pulled off the feat last season, using a dominant defense to pave the way to its 10th state championship in this century. Briarwood came close, as a dream season featured a 12-game winning streak that led the Lions all the way to the Class 5A semifinals.

For the other teams featured in this magazine, the 2016 season ended too soon, and there is renewed energy and anticipation for the 2017 season. Each team begins the new season with the same 0-0 record, and the possibilities going forward are endless.

Last fall provided many moments that made your jaw drop – like Oak Mountain’s last-second win over Thompson, or Mountain Brook’s game-winning drive to knock off Spain Park, or even Vestavia Hills’ overtime victory over Mountain Brook.

This season is sure to bring many more moments to fill up a fan’s memory bank. Hopefully this magazine gives you some insight and a look into each local team, but what happens on the field in the crisp, autumn air will be what’s remembered long after the season concludes once again.