18 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025
Alpha Omega
Lions make it back to state final in second year of six-man
It was four years filled with ups and downs for Alpha Omega Academy football since the decision to move up to 11-man in 2021 .
But after two years , the Lions reverted to the six-man ranks and after their second year it showed that it was the right choice for this group . In two years , AOA is 16-4-1 and this year they finally found a home and claimed the district title .
AOA went 12-2 this season with a loss to the top team in TAPPS Division I and then in the TAPPS Division II Championship game to Covenant Classical . While the Lions didn ’ t hoist a trophy , it was still a season that capped off major change and gave the Lions ’ senior class a chance to make a run in the postseason after years of going one-and-done for their first two years .
With it being the first time the Lions could play in a district , they made things count as they mercy-ruled all three district games they played to win the crown and get the jump to the postseason .
“ The whole year almost felt scripted at times . The way things fell into place . Players played for us for the first time , little things kept happening that made us feel destined to be in certain positions ,” Alpha Omega Academy head coach Jeff Norris said . “ It felt special throughout the year .”
The storybook ending didn ’ t quite end how the Lions would have hoped , but the run was still special . AOA found itself making several decisions that weren ’ t going to be easy . But the team handled it with class .
Midway through the year , the Lions decided to play with depth and that move made them switch quarterbacks . AOA went from a four-year senior to a freshman at the helm of the offense , but it worked .
William Winn had taken the reins for the Lions in three previous years but with a slew of members on the team , AOA had an opportunity to keep people rested . The Lions turned to freshman Case Collum to lead the offense and keep things going . Collum did that . While the change was made with the most significant player , AOA did it all over the field too . At certain points , AOA had a set of fresh legs at all 12 positions as nobody had to play both ways in such a fast-paced game .
“ It ’ s hard anytime you ’ re trying to decide anything , especially the quarterback position . We had a lot of conversations
Lions
18 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025