Our next stop on the 7th Annual MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard brought us to Prattville, Alabama, home of the Lions of Prattville High. Despite this being the fourth time the Lions have been honored during the Tour of Champions, the enthusiastic community and supportive families of both players and coaches alike were excited to honor the 2011 team. The Lions (12-2) lost their two games by a total of five points during the regular season, but ran through the postseason as they capped their third Alabama Class 6A State Championship in four seasons with a thrilling 35-34 victory over the Hoover Buccaneers on December 2, 2011. The team finished nationally ranked at No. 21 out of over 16,000 high school football teams in the MaxPreps Freeman poll and is one of 50 schools to receive the Army National Guard national ranking trophy.
I arrived on campus in the afternoon of Monday, January 23, 2012 and was greeted by Prattville High School athletic director and head football coach Jamey DuBose who escorted me to the gym where the football dinner banquet would take place. Members of the football team, their families, and community members filed into the gym as the anticipation grew for a special event full of tremendous awards and acknowledgment of a special high school football season. Coach Dubose kicked the evening off with a brief introduction before the audience enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner. Throughout the course of the evening, the football program honored everyone from the equipment managers, video production team, and cheerleaders to the freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity teams with special recognition for the graduating seniors. In addition, State Representative Paul Beckman read a resolution in recognition of the amazing season for the Prattville Lions. Our presentation began with Coach DuBose describing what a privilege it was for his team to receive the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and how exciting it was for not only his team and school but also for the entire community. It was then turned over to MaxPreps representative Leland Gordon who spoke about the prestigious award and the Lions' winning tradition leading to MaxPreps' fourth stop to Prattville High School in the seven years of the Tour of Champions. With major media outlets in attendance to catch the entire ceremony, Major Chris Amos and Staff Sergeant David Spradlin of the Alabama Army National Guard presented Coach Jamey DuBose the coveted "Minuteman" national ranking trophy and championship rafter banner. The crowd then erupted in cheers and applause as the coach raised the trophy above his head, showing how truly special this distinguished award is to the entire Prattville community. The Prattville Lions truly demonstrate the characteristics of excellence and dedication embodied in the "Minuteman" national ranking trophy, and most certainly are worthy of this honor for the 2011 season.
Congratulations to the Lions and Prattville High School on winning yet another state championship and their impressive national ranking!!
