Was Evergreen High's 1949 football team the greatest in county history?

Evergreen High School's undefeated 1949 football team.

The Mobile Press-Register reported last week that the entire 1988 Vigor High School football team would be inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame last Thursday night during a ceremony in downtown Mobile.

That historic prep team, which included future pro players like Darrell “Lectron” Williams, Kelvin Simmons, Mitch Davis, Marcus Durgin, Kevin Lee and Roosevelt Patterson, was arguably the greatest high school team in the history of the state. Outscoring opponents 387-44, they captured the Class 6A football title and were named national high school football champions by ESPN.

Of course, all of this got me to thinking about all of the great teams that have taken the field in Conecuh County over the years. There have been many standout teams over the years, but which was the all-time greatest is up for debate.

Hillcrest’s 2000 team, which played 5A ball, boasts the school’s best all-time record with their 9-3 finish, but no team in school history put up points like the 2010 team, which scored 333 total points. Hillcrest’s 1989 team was also no pushover, giving up just 67 total points while going 8-1 overall under former Auburn head coach Doug Barfield. Only two teams in school history ever won a playoff game, the 2000 team and the 1995 team.

Sparta Academy’s 1988 team was arguably the best in that school’s history. They went 12-1 overall under coach Mike Bledsoe with their only loss coming in the state championship game. That team also gave up just 52 total points in 13 games, which is a school record that still stands over a quarter of a century later. The best offensive team in Sparta history was the high-flying 1997 team, which put up 465 total points on their way to a 10-3 record and state runner-up honors.

It’s even harder to pick the greatest team from Evergreen High School. You could make the argument that the 1979 team was the best because it was the only team to ever represent the school in the state playoffs, finishing 7-4 overall. However, many say that the 1949 team was the best because they were the only team in school history to finish the season with an undefeated record. Evergreen went 8-0-2 that year.

Repton High School fielded some outstanding teams years ago, but the best was probably the 1985 squad that went 12-3 overall on their way to a state runner-up finish in Class 1A. Other great teams there included the 1977 team that went 10-1-1 and the 1986 team that finished with a 10-2 record while scoring a school-record 401 total points.

When it comes to Conecuh County High School in Castleberry, their best team was probably the 1981 squad, which finished with a school best record of 7-3. They also set a school record by scoring 227 total points while giving up just 62 points. Keep in mind that CCHS didn’t field football teams between 1939 and 1973.

Last, but not least, there’s Lyeffion High School. You could make the argument that the 1985 and 1981 teams were the best in the history of that school. The 1985 team went 7-4 and made the playoffs, while the 1981 team went 7-3 overall, but didn’t get in the playoffs. Notably, both of those teams were coached by Mike Bledsoe.

In the end, which of our local teams from years past do you think was the greatest? Why? Let me know what you think by e-mailing me at courantsports@earthlink.net.