The Alabama High School Athletic Association will not budge on the penalties facing Mary G. Montgomery High School’s football program. In a press release issued Thursday, the AHSAA confirmed it had taken “no action” following a presentation made by the Mobile County school one day earlier, meaning every sanction connected to the program’s recruiting violations case remains fully in place.
The ruling closes the door, at least for now, on the Vikings’ hopes of having any part of their punishment reduced before the 2026 season kicks off later this month.
What the Penalties Mean for the Vikings
The AHSAA’s original findings determined that Mary G. Montgomery committed recruiting violations, triggering a restrictive probation period for the football program along with a series of specific sanctions. Chief among them is a one-year suspension for then-head coach Zack Golson, who is barred from coaching at any AHSAA-member school during that time.
The program also remains under a postseason ban for the 2026 season. The Vikings will still be permitted to play their full 10-game regular-season schedule, but they cannot participate in the playoffs this fall. Additionally, any games MGM plays against Class 6A, Region 1 opponents will not count toward those opponents’ official region records, a provision designed to prevent the sanctioned program from influencing which of its region rivals qualify for postseason play. Any current or future students found to have violated the AHSAA’s recruiting rules in connection with the case will also be permanently ineligible to suit up for the Vikings.
A New Coach Takes the Reins Amid the Fallout
The coaching suspension forced a leadership change within the program almost immediately. Defensive coordinator Alex Page stepped in as interim head coach after Golson’s suspension took effect, guiding the Vikings through the transition. The school recently made that arrangement permanent, removing Page’s interim tag and naming him the program’s full-time head coach as it prepares for the upcoming season under a cloud of penalties he did not create but must now manage.
An Appeal Remains a Possibility
Thursday’s decision does not necessarily mark the end of the road for Mary G. Montgomery. Under AHSAA bylaws, rulings issued by executive director Heath Harmon can be appealed to the school’s district board, in this case District 1. If a school remains unsatisfied after a district board ruling, it can escalate the matter further to the Central Board of Control, which holds the final say in any appeal brought before it.
Whether MGM intends to pursue that route is not yet clear. An attempt to reach Mary G. Montgomery athletics director Hailey Culbreth for comment on the school’s next move was unsuccessful, leaving open the question of whether the Vikings will continue fighting the sanctions or simply play out the season under the current restrictions.
Pell City Receives the Same Verdict
Mary G. Montgomery was not the only program seeking relief this week. Pell City’s football program, which was placed on restrictive probation just two days after MGM back in mid-May and received a comparable set of penalties, also made its case to the AHSAA on Wednesday in hopes of having at least some sanctions lifted. Like MGM, Pell City was met with a “no action” ruling, meaning both programs enter the 2026 season carrying the full weight of their respective punishments.
The parallel outcomes underscore how seriously the AHSAA is treating recruiting-rule enforcement this offseason, sending a clear signal to member schools across the state about the consequences of violations regardless of a program’s size or region.
Looking Ahead to Kickoff
Despite the unresolved sanctions, the on-field schedule marches forward. Mary G. Montgomery is set to open its 2026 season on Friday, Aug. 21, hosting Saraland at home. For Page and his players, the opener offers a first chance to shift the conversation from courtrooms and compliance hearings back to the game itself, even with the postseason officially out of reach this year.
Fans across Mobile County will be watching closely to see how the Vikings respond under new permanent leadership, and whether the program uses this transitional season to rebuild for a return to full postseason eligibility in the years ahead.