We are officially 50 days out from high school football season in the Tuscaloosa area, so The Tuscaloosa News has come up with 50 questions that we have ahead of the season.

The season starts with two area games on Aug. 22 before a nearly full slate of contest take place the next day, Friday. A few teams will see their season the next week on Aug. 30.

The 2023 season was a strong one for many area teams, with Pickens County advancing to the Class 1A semifinals and Demopolis, Hillcrest and Tuscaloosa Academy making it to the quarterfinals. Those teams will look to repeat the success of last season, while others will look to improve and make a playoff run.

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Here are 50 questions The Tuscaloosa News has ahead of the season:

1. Hillcrest sees itself in Class 7A, Region 3 with some of the strongest competition in the state, how will the Patriots come out in their first season after seeing such success in Class 6A?

2. Tuscaloosa County named Miles Holcomb as its new head coach in the offseason. What impact can Holcomb make in his first season with the Wildcats?

3. What Tuscaloosa area teams will make the deepest playoff run this year?

4. Sulligent had an impressive first year under coach Brian Gunnels. How will the Blue Devils come out this year and build off of 2023?

5. Pickens Academy made the jump from the AISA to the AHSAA in Class 1A. How will Pickens Academy do in the AHSAA?

6. Danny Raines was named the head coach at Berry this offseason, what impact will he have in his first year back at the helm of the Berry program?

7. How will the much-anticipated Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa County rivalry pan out this year?

8. It was a close battle in Class 2A, Region 5 last year with Tuscaloosa Academy coming out on top. Who will win the region this year?

9. Tuscaloosa Academy quarterback Preston Lancaster won the ASWA Class 2A Back of the Year award in 2023 and let the state in passing yards, what can he does as an encore this season as a senior?

10. What team will surprise everyone and make a deep run into the playoffs, possibly a year ahead of schedule?

11. Pickens County has continually been a state championship contender, but is looking for its first state title since 2013. Can this finally be the year for the Tornadoes to claim another state championship?

12. What will end up being the game of the year, will it be an obvious one or one that shocks us all?

13. Who will end up being the breakout player that comes from out of nowhere this year and shocks the area?

14. Holt won its first game since 2021 last season under first year coach Brian Newton. How else can we expect to see Holt grow this season under Newton in his second year?

15. Northside and Sipsey Valley see themselves move from Class 4A into Class 5A. How will their first seasons in Class 5A treat them?

16. Bibb County has won its last seven matchups over West Blocton dating back to 2015. Will the Choctaws continue with their winning streak, or will it be the Tigers year?

17. With a lot of youth around the area at quarterback, what young QB steps up with a surprise breakout season?

18. Lance Tucker led Demopolis to a 5A quarterfinal playoff appearance in his first season at the helm of the Tigers program, what can we expect from Demopolis and Tucker this season?

19. Central came up just short of a playoff bid in 2023 under first year coach Demario Pippen. Can this be the year the Falcons make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2018?

20. With Hillcrest moving up to Class 7A, who will take control of Class 6A, Region 4, which the Patriots won in back-to-back years?

21. Chris Fowler was named the head coach at Brookwood during the offseason, how will Fowler's first season coaching at his alma mater go?

22. Fayette County is making the jump from Class 3A back to Class 4A. How will the Tigers' perform in Class 4A?

23. Tuscaloosa Academy has made it to the quarterfinals in each of its two seasons in the AHSAA. Can this be the breakthrough year for the Knights to claim their first AHSAA state title?

24. Sipsey Valley made it to the playoffs in each of its two seasons under coach Joey Milligan after a three-year playoff drought. How will the Bears build off of that and continue improving in 2024 as they see themselves in Class 5A?

25. Can Tuscaloosa County make it to the Class 7A playoffs for the first time since 2014?

26. Northridge lost quarterback Rowdy Christensen to injury halfway through the 2023 season and finished with a losing record for the first time since 2019. How will the Jaguars come out this season?

27. Lamar County has won its last four games over South Lamar. Will it continue with its winning streak this year, or will South Lamar regain control of the rivalry?

28. Will any new rivalries that we did not see coming form this season?

29. Gordo has won its last five games over Fayette County, only letting the Tigers score 12 points across the contests. The Green Wave and Tigers meet in Week 0, will Gordo continue with its winning ways or will Fayette County get its first win over the Green Wave since 2018?

30. Bibb County defeated American Christian Academy for the first time since 2020 last season. How will the game between the two pan out this year?

31. Paul W. Bryant enters its second season under coach John McKenzie. What other improvements can we expect to see in the Stampede this year?

32. Class 1A, Region 3 is loaded with Tuscaloosa area teams in Holy Spirit, Linden, Pickens Academy and University Charter School, who will claim the region this year?

33. Cory Cockrell went 2-7 in his first season at the helm of Greene County, what improvements can we expect from the Tigers this season?

34. Sipsey Valley quarterback Lance Cormier threw for 2,666 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. What can we expect from Cormier in his senior season with the Bears?

35. Hillcrest has made it to the playoffs in each of its three seasons under coach Jamie Mitchell. Will the Patriots be able to continue with that success and earn a playoff bid in Class 7A?

36. Class 4A, Region 4 is full of Tuscaloosa area teams with American Christian, Bibb County, Holt and West Blocton. Over the last few seasons, the region championship has come down to American Christian and Bibb County, will it be the same this season or will a new team take control?

37. West Blocton has a new coach in Chris Wilson. How will the Tigers look in their first year under Wilson?

38. Hillcrest lost 30 seniors to graduation in 2024, including First Team All-State member and now Ole Miss defensive bank TJ Banks. How will the Patriots fill those holes left by graduating senior?

39. Hillcrest had one of the top defenses in the state last year, allowing just 8.9 points per game. Will the Patriots be able to continue with that success this year?

40. Tuscaloosa County has finished on or around .500 for the last two seasons, can coach Miles Holcomb be the one to get the Wildcats over the hump?

41. Can struggling Tuscaloosa area schools put together a run to the playoffs?

42. Central finished 5-5 last season under first year coach Demario Pippen after seven-straight seasons of losing records. What other improvements can we expect to see in Central this season under Pippen?

43. What Tuscaloosa area teams will be competing at the AHSAA Super 7 Championships come December?

44. Northridge lost both Tucker Cornelius (K) and Anderson Green (P), both now playing at Alabama. Who will fill the Jaguars holes on special teams?

45. Who will lead the area in receiving yards?

46. West Blocton has struggled to make it out of the first round of playoffs, will this be the year the Tigers are able to do so?

47. How will Greensboro continue to improve under second-year coach Deon Washington?

48. Aliceville turned it around last season after a 1-5 start to make it to the playoffs, will the Yellow Jackets have a better start to the season this year?

49. Winfield has lost two games each of the last two years but has been unable to make it past the second round of playoffs. Could this be the breakthrough year for the Pirates?

50. Which team will have the highest scoring offense in the Tuscaloosa area?

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA football: 50 questions for Tuscaloosa area teams ahead of 2024 season