Talkin’ Anniston

’26 Anniston football schedule

CLASS 4A, REGION 6
Aug. 21: at Geraldine
Aug. 28: at Minor
Sept. 4: at Central-Clay *
Sept. 11: MOODY *
Sept. 18: LEEDS *
Sept. 25: Open
Oct. 2: at Jacksonville *
Oct. 9: ALEXANDRIA *
Oct. 16: LINCOLN *
Oct. 23: at Sylacauga *
Oct. 30: SOUTHSIDE

Anniston facts

Things to know about Anniston football heading into the 2026 season:

—  Anniston graduate Damien Dorsey enters his first season as the Bulldogs’ head coach and his fifth season overall as a head coach. He went 12–28 in four seasons at Talladega County Central and Talladega. He comes to Anniston after two seasons at Talladega.

— The AHSAA’s latest round of reclassifications brought major changes, with public and private schools separating for championship play and the elimination of Class 7A. Several schools moved down in classification, but Anniston remained in Class 4A, Region 6. That region got quite a bit harder, however, with Alexandria, Central-Clay, Jacksonville, Leeds, Lincoln, Moody and Sylacauga all vying for one of the region’s four playoff spots. Central-Clay, Jacksonville, Leeds, Lincoln, Moody and Sylacauga all moved down to 4A.

— Anniston graduated a lot of production from a 14-1 team that finished as Class 4A runner up under previous head coach Rico Jackson, who left for Minor. Gone are the following Class 4A-6A All-Calhoun County players of the year: QB/DB/PRB Damon Pope, RB Jabari Williams, RB Quintavious Cunningham, WR Jakorie Carr, WR Kaleb Moore, OL Mykel Cole, DL Jalyne Henderson, DL Charles Thomas, LB Dariontae Brooks Jr., LB Demris Almon, DB Dakyus Baker, DB Kyree Lewis and DB Tariq Judkins, 

— Key returnees include the following 2025 All-Calhoun County players: senior OL Sharontae Bailey, junior OL Adyn Goodson, senior DB Elijah Lanier, senior OL Zadien Spinks. 

— Players to watch including QB Jamorris Young, now in his third season at Anniston after transferring from Saks. He saw regular playing time sharing the load with Pope. Jahray “Blue” Gutierrez will be the featured running back in a run-first offense. Jayden Heard, Malachi Hall and Kyro Marlbrough also will play key roles.

— Anniston’s non-region schedule includes the Aug. 21 season-opener at Geraldine, a game against the Bulldogs’ former head coach at Minor on Aug. 28 and the Oct. 30 regular-season finale at Southside. 

—Joe Medley

A video interview with Anniston coach Damien Dorsey and editor Joe Medley’s take await EA+ subcribers.

A video interview and editor Joe Medley’s take on the ’26 Anniston High football team await EA+ subscribers.