Autauga Academy Secures First AHSAA Playoff Win, Coach Honored

Autauga Academy completed a milestone season in Class 1A football when the Generals, the number two seed in Region 4, hosted and defeated Choctaw County 21 to 12 to reach the second round of the AHSAA playoffs. The win on December 5 marked the first playoff victory for Autauga Academy since the school moved from the Alabama Independent School Association to the Alabama High School Athletic Association in 2024. It was also the only playoff win by any Autauga County football team during the 2025 postseason.

The recent run capped back to back strong regional finishes for the Generals. In their first AHSAA season the team went 9 and 1 in the regular season but lost in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. This season the team again finished as the number two seed in Region 4 and converted its home playoff opportunity into the program’s first ever AHSAA postseason win. The victory and season performance led the Elmore Autauga News to name Coach Jeremy Carter Autauga County Football Coach of the Year.

Coach Carter credited the players and the staff for the turnaround and for steadying the program through difficult periods. “It feels great to be named (Autauga County) Coach of the Year,” said Coach Carter. “I am truly honored to receive this recognition. I have a great group of guys who have played extremely hard all season.” He also praised his staff and the perseverance of the roster over several seasons of change. “I’m fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff that makes my job easier and keeps everything running smoothly throughout the week. I am very proud of this team in so many ways. Over the past three years, they’ve overcome a lot, players leaving, coaches leaving, and these guys just keep pushing forward. It amazes me how they continue to get better year after year,” said Coach Carter.

Several seniors, including Logan Dunaway, Ke Cleveland Cook, and Barrett McIntyre, served in two way roles as injuries and roster departures forced weekly adjustments. “They played both ways and were willing to move positions each week when injuries forced us to adjust. We lost Logan, our starting quarterback, during a scrimmage before the first game and were without him for four weeks. But our guys regrouped, stepped up, and embraced the challenge. When we got Logan back around week five, they shifted again without hesitation. Like I’ve said before, these guys are tough and never back down from any opponent,” said Coach Carter.

The on field progress carries wider implications for the school and county. Moving into AHSAA competition creates new travel and scheduling demands, and sustained success will likely depend on steady coaching staffs, deeper rosters, and support from the school system for player development and safety given the prevalence of two way play. Coach Carter acknowledged the personal toll of a long season and the shared nature of the achievement. “Hosting Choctaw County and earning the first AHSAA playoff win in school history was a great moment for our players and our school. It feels incredible for these guys to be the first team to achieve that, and I was extremely proud of them because it is hard to win in the playoffs,” said Coach Carter. “As we reflect on the season, I couldn’t be more proud. Even though we didn’t end with the result we wanted, our players set a standard that means a great deal to me. I’m excited and humbled by this honor, and I want to thank my wife, Susan, for her support, there are a lot of hours during the season when we’re away from home. I’m excited for our school, our players, our coaching staff, and our community, because this honor is truly a team effort.”

Autauga Academy’s milestone provides a foundation for program growth and raises practical questions for local education leaders about funding, staffing stability, and injury mitigation as small county schools compete in statewide associations. Local residents and school officials will be watching how the program builds on this season as it seeks deeper playoff runs and a sustainable model for success.