Talkin’ Donoho

’26 Donoho football schedule

PRIVATE A, REGION 3
Aug. 21: at Hope Christian *
Aug. 28: DECATUR HERITAGE
Sept. 4: at Ellwood Christisn *
Sept. 11: HOLY SPIRIT *
Sept. 18: Open
Sept. 25: at Gaylesville
Oct. 2: TUSCALOOSA ACADEMY *
Oct. 9: Open
Oct. 16: VICTORY CHRISTIAN *
Oct. 23: PICKENS ACADEMY *
Oct. 30: at Ragland

Donoho facts

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

— Bill Smith enters his third season as Donoho’s head coach. He’s 5-16 at Donoho, including a 5-6 finish and playoff berth in 2024. Smith is 82-101 overall in 18 seasons as a head coach at Crossville, Shades Valley, Munford, Fayette County, Huffman, Talladega and Donoho.

— A young Donoho team finished 0-10 in 2025, 0-5 in Class 1A, Region 6.

— Key graduation losses from last year include the following All-Calhoun County players: DL Sam Montgomery, LB Cooper Christopher and RB Ethan Bailey.

— Key returnees to watch include freshman defensive lineman Daniel Storey, an all-state and All-Calhoun County selection as an eighth-grader. Also returning are the following all-county players: junior WR/DB Noah McClendon, junior QB/LB Luke Farrell, freshman WR/DB Hudson Stone and senior OL/DL Dylan Hullett.

— AHSAA realignment separated public and private schools for championship play and aligned Donoho in Private Class A, Region 3 with Autauga Academy, Ellwood Christian, Holy Spirit, Hope Christian, Pickens Academy, Tuscaloosa Academy and Victory Christian. Autauga Academy has since announced it will return to AISA, leaving Donoho with an extra open date on Sept. 18. The Falcons have five home games and four road games.

A video interview and editor Joe Medley’s take on Donoho’s coming ’26 football season await EA+ subcribers.