Gordo and Fayette County are two of the most successful high school football programs in the state of Alabama. To be exact, Fayette County is the third most successful program in the state, while Gordo is the 15th.
The two teams also share one of the oldest rivalries in West Alabama, with games dating back to 1917. This year marks the first time since 2019 that the teams will not compete in the same region. Fayette County will move to 4A, Region 5 and Gordo will remain in 3A, Region 5. This will also mark the start of the 2024 high school football season.
“First game, Thursday night game,” Gordo athletic director Byron Fair told The Tuscaloosa News. “…It’s always going to be a good game, it’s always going to be a hard-fought game. Both teams are going to give it their all, that gives them some bragging rights.”
The rivalry between the two schools began in the late 1980s when then-Gordo coach Waldon Tucker left the school and took the head coaching job at Fayette County. Tucker had spent six years at Gordo, from 1978 to 1983, compiling a 54-15 record and winning a state title in 1980. With the Tigers, Tucker had a 230-95 record for 27 years, including the 1996 state championship.
Tucker originally retired in 2010, but ended his career a decade later to lead Fayette County during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, finishing 9-12 during those two seasons.
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“That was one of the areas where he didn’t go far enough,” Fair said, laughing.
There are also many smaller connections between the two schools, one of which is Fayette County Schools Superintendent Jim Burkhalter. Burkhalter, Fair said, is a graduate of Gordo High School, coached several sports in Fayette County and is now the school district’s superintendent. Add to that the fact that the schools are about 30 miles apart, roughly.
“At the end of the day, we all love each other,” Fair said. “But you know, one night a year we don’t like each other.”
Overall, Fayette County leads the series 42-34-2, with Thursday night being the 78th meeting. Gordo has dominated the rivalry in recent years, however, winning the last six meetings, including a 62-12 victory on Thursday night. It was a game that was tied 6-6 early in the second quarter, with Gordo outscoring Fayette County 56-6.
“You always heard about them, they’re the third most successful team in the state of Alabama,” Gordo coach Gus Smith said after the game. “It’s always good to knock off a big-name opponent.”
In the win, Green Wave quarterback Jase Neel scored six touchdowns, four rushing and two passing, including a 99-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. James Davis II, AJ Latham and Hudson Ward also contributed a touchdown each for Gordo, with Latham scoring a pick-six in the third quarter.
Maurice Harris and Hester Whittaker both scored touchdowns for the Tigers, Whittaker’s in the second quarter and Harris’ in the fourth.
“We outworked them and outplayed them,” Smith said. “I always tell them, there comes a time in every fight when someone gives up, no matter what the fight is, and I think we made them give up.”
