Red Bay Tigers get football started with eye toward beating past season’s record
Red Bay is coming off a 2-7 record in Heath Childers’ first year as the Tigers’ head coach. Childers heads into his second season as Red Bay’s head coach with a much more manageable schedule.
Red Bay replaces Mars Hill, Colbert County and Fayette County with Lindsey Lane, Falkville, Tanner and Phil Campbell.
This past year the Tigers had nine opponents; this year they are back to 10. The big games to watch will be against Belmont Sept. 23, Tanner Oct. 14, Hatton Oct. 21 and Phil Campbell Oct. 28.
RED BAY VS. HAMILTON
Red Bay will open the season Aug. 19 when the Tigers host the Hamilton Aggies. This past year the two teams met on the field for the first time since 1983, with Red Bay losing 40-24. Red Bay is 1-18 historically against Hamilton.
The Tigers come off week one straight into an open date to get ready for a long nine-game stretch.
RED BAY VS. LEXINGTON
Red Bay takes the field again Sept. 2, hosting Lexington in the first region game. Red Bay is 10-14 against the Golden Bears and lost 34-6 this past year.
RED BAY AT SHEFFIELD
Sept. 9 the Tigers travel to Sheffield for a regional game. Red Bay is 8-4 against the Bulldogs historically.
The Tigers got a big region win this past year, beating Sheffield 34-20. Red Bay is 4-2 in the two teams’ past six consecutive meetings.
RED BAY VS. HACKLEBURG
Sept. 16 Red Bay was scheduled to host upstart Lindsay Lane for a region game and homecoming. Not having enough players to field a team, however, Lindsay Lane had to cancel its season. Red Bay picked up Hackleburg as a replacement game.
Red Bay and Hackleburg have a competitive history, with the Tigers holding a 28-23-1 all-time record.
The two teams have played twice in this century, in 2006 and 2007. Hackleburg won the 2006 matchup 20-14, but Red Bay turned the table the next year, blowing out the Panthers 45-18.
This will be the Tigers’ homecoming game.
RED BAY VS. BELMONT
Red Bay will host Mississippi rival Belmont Sept. 23. The Tigers lead the series against the Cardinals 33-22-1 but lost this past year 21-0. Red Bay is 8-5 in 13 consecutive meetings.
RED BAY AT THARPTOWN
Sept. 30 Red Bay travels to Tharptown. The Tigers and Wildcats have been region opponents for eight straight years, and Red Bay has never lost. This past year Red Bay won easily, 54-7.
RED BAY AT FALKVILLE
The Tigers travel to Falkville for a region game Oct. 7. Red Bay and Falkville have met twice on the gridiron, and the Tigers have won both. The last time the two teams met was in 2003, when the Tigers won 35-0.
RED BAY VS. TANNER
Oct. 14 Red Bay will host Tanner.
Historically this has been a good series, with the Rattlers holding a slight edge, 11-9-1. The two teams haven’t met since 2019, when Red Bay won 50-21.
RED BAY AT HATTON
Red Bay will travel to Hatton Oct. 21 for the Tigers’ longest-running rivalry. Red Bay and Hatton have met 41 times, with the Tigers holding a 31-10 record.
The two teams have met 24 straight times, and Red Bay has won 23 of those. The only loss in those 24 straight years came this past year, when the Tigers lost 16-14.
RED BAY AT PHIL CAMPBELL
The Tigers close out the regular season at home Oct. 28, renewing their rivalry with Phil Campbell. The two teams haven’t played in two years. Red Bay won the last meeting 54-20 in 2019. The Tigers are 48-31 overall against Phil Campbell.
