Montgomery, AL – Oxford High School’s head football coach, Sam Adams, has been selected to lead the North team in the 66th AHSAA North-South All-Star Football Classic, which will take place on Friday, December 13, at 2 p.m. in Mobile’s Hancock Whitney Stadium. Adams, along with Kenny King of Daphne High School, will coach the North and South teams, respectively, in this highly anticipated event. Their appointments were announced by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association (AHSADCA) earlier this year.
The following day, on December 14, the 38th Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic will kick off at the same stadium, beginning at noon, with Jeff Kelly of Saraland High School serving as head coach for the Alabama squad.
Since its inception in 1948, the North-South All-Star Game has been a major highlight in Alabama high school football. The South team has dominated the competition since the game was moved to Mobile in 2020, winning three of the four matchups played at Hancock Whitney Stadium, including a 31-28 victory last year. The South enters this year’s contest on a two-game winning streak and leads the overall series 35-28-2.
AHSADCA Director James T. Lawrence announced the assistant coaching staffs, praising the talent and commitment of the selected coaches. “This game carries deep meaning for all involved,” Lawrence said. “It’s the oldest all-star game in the AHSAA, and for over 77 years, it has given players and coaches the opportunity to create lasting memories and friendships.”
The North-South All-Star Classic was paused from 1985 to 1996 but made its return in 1997 as part of AHSAA’s All-Star Sports Week series. The game shifted from its traditional July date to December in 2020, with Mobile becoming its permanent home.
As excitement builds for both games, fans across the state are eager to see top high school talent from Alabama compete in these celebrated matchups.
