Long before NFL Sundays roll around each fall, Mobile’s semi-pro football scene is already in full swing, with three local clubs giving area fans a chance to watch competitive football close to home. The Mobile Generals and the West Mobile 49ers both play in the Xtreme South Football League, while the South Alabama Dolphins compete in the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League. Together the three teams offer a season’s worth of Saturday games at parks across the Mobile area, drawing players who compete for the love of the sport rather than a paycheck.
The Mobile Generals are entering their fifth season under owner Jerome Jones, having recently moved from the APDFL to the smaller XSFL after a wave of retirements thinned their roster. “We had a lot of players retire, so we went to a smaller league to give us time to rebuild,” Jones said. He had considered stepping away from the game himself, but two losses within the organization changed his plans. Longtime player Jamal Chambers was killed during a robbery in December, and the team has dedicated its season to his memory, with a Generals jersey set to be presented to his mother during a pregame ceremony. Another player, Johnny Pace, died of a heart attack, prompting Jones to return to the field for one more season wearing Pace’s No. 44 jersey at defensive and offensive tackle.
The Generals will also welcome a special guest this season in Jalston Fowler, the former Vigor High School standout who went on to star for the Alabama Crimson Tide and play in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans. Fowler is being made an honorary Generals team member. “He is a great role model,” Jones said. “He was raised in the projects, but he worked hard and made something of himself. He loves to be an asset in his community. That is what the Mobile Generals are all about.” Jones said the current roster, led by veteran J.B. Robinson along with Tyree Hill and brothers Bryan and Brandon Samuels, is one of the most talented groups he has coached, despite its youth. The team, under head coach Damen Simon, has also adopted Maryvale Elementary in Mobile and Escatawpa Elementary in Mississippi, with players regularly visiting to read to students. The Generals close out their announced home schedule April 27 against the Tri-County Bengals at Navco Park.
Across town, the West Mobile 49ers are playing their second season under their current name after competing as the Brookley Field 49ers for two years. Head coach Eric Reed said the transition has gone smoothly even with a roster full of newcomers learning a faster style of football. Gmyers Walker, a versatile player who lines up at fullback, offensive line and linebacker, has been with the team since its founding, while first-time player Ashton Lloyd has quickly become a factor on both the offensive and defensive lines. Veteran quarterback Rydarrian Dees has continued to support the team through an injury. “We are about unity,” said Reed, who coaches alongside assistant Gregory Armstead. “We are getting guys from different parts of Mobile that never knew each other. They are black and white from different neighborhoods. They enjoy the family-like atmosphere.”
Reed said the 49ers see their mission extending well beyond the scoreboard. “Our mission is to keep kids off the streets,” he said. “A lot of them are straight out of high school. We want to help them get jobs and lead them in the right way. If we do that, we help keep the violence down. If they are at practice, then they don’t get in trouble.” Team owner Zizedeka Reed, reportedly the only female team owner in the state, hopes to add a peewee squad in the Mobile Youth Football Conference next year, with 49ers players and coaches stepping in to mentor the younger athletes. The 49ers have two remaining home games at Cottage Hill Park, facing the Redstone Raiders on April 13 and the Mississippi Spartans on May 4.
The newest of Mobile’s three clubs, the South Alabama Dolphins, formed after a group of players split off from the Hiawayi Robinson Falcons of Prichard. Head coach James Matthews, who played for the Falcons, said the new team was built to keep young men engaged and out of trouble. “The Falcons won four championships when I played, so we look forward to having something to play for at the end of the year,” Matthews said. Linebackers Bubba Freeze and Mark Gwin have emerged as early team leaders, and Matthews said the group’s commitment stands out even though none of the players are paid to suit up. “They just love to play the game,” he said. “They are not getting paid, so they really must want to do it. They get off work and still want to come to practice.”
The Dolphins bounced back from an opening loss to win three straight games, a start that fits the high expectations set by team owner Bubba Flood, who has said he expects nothing less than a championship. The roster also features quarterback Matt Rowser, receiver John Moffett Jr. and defensive backs Leroy Rix and Dee Dailey. The Dolphins have two home games remaining at Trimmier Park, including an April 6 matchup against two-time defending APDFL champion Mississippi Dynasty and a regular-season finale April 27 against the Tri-County Venom.
For fans looking for an affordable, close-to-home alternative to the pro and college game, Mobile’s semi-pro scene offers plenty of options this spring, along with a reminder that football in the area runs deeper than the big-name programs that usually make headlines. Each team shares additional schedule updates and game-day information through its own Facebook page.