MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions celebrates Central High School

The 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Alabama on Thursday, February 7 to recognize Central (Phenix City, Ala.) High School and its football team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.

Having upended Thompson 52-7 in the AHSAA Class 7A state championship contest, the 14-0 Red Devils claimed their second state football title and earned the No. 41 ranking in MaxPreps' National Rankings!

MaxPreps and the Alabama Army National Guard were on hand to celebrate Red Devil Football at an assembly held at Central's breathtaking indoor football facility. Central football coach Jamey DuBose greeted the Tour of Champions and directed them to the facility where he was running a practice and preparing his squad for next season.

Upon arrival, the TOC began setting up its display of the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy, which is shaped in the likeness of a ‘Minuteman.' DuBose kicked off the presentation by talking about Central Football's accomplishments and recalling how the Red Devils fell short of a state championship in each of the three previous seasons. Those finishes inspired Central Football to adopt the 2018 motto, ‘finish.'

DuBose then introduced MaxPreps representative Nick Capote, who elaborated on how much school and community support there was for the Red Devils, just one of 50 football programs across the country to earn an invitation to this year's Tour of Champions. Capote also mentioned how remarkable it is to be highly ranked out of 17,000 football programs nationally before congratulating Central on its undefeated state championship season.

After finishing his portion of the program, Capote introduced Staff Sergeant Matthew Oden of the Alabama Army National Guard, who also congratulated the Red Devils and their coaches on the high national ranking and state championship. SSG Oden then related how competing on a state championship football team is similar to being a soldier in the Army National Guard before proudly handing the prestigious trophy and a nationally ranked rafter banner over to DuBose and the Red Devils.

On behalf of the 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, congratulations to the Central High School Red Devils! Keep up the hard work, determination and relentlessness! You are ranked No. 41 nationally. Go Red Devils!