The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has imposed a fine and placed the Mary G. Montgomery High School football program on restrictive probation after a recruiting rule violation was self-reported by the school.
Postseason Exclusion and Coaching Suspension
As part of the penalty, the varsity squad will be barred from postseason competition during the 2026 season, a blow that reverberates through the school's athletic ambitions. The sanctions also render the involved students permanently ineligible to participate in athletics at Mary G. Montgomery.
Head coach Zach Golson, who was placed on leave earlier this month by the Mobile County Public School System, will remain suspended from coaching duties for the entire 2026‑27 school year. In a social‑media statement, Golson thanked supporters while expressing disappointment with the outcome.
The AHSAA has not released additional details regarding the nature of the recruiting violation, leaving the specific circumstances undisclosed.
The sanctions mark a pivotal moment for the Vikings program, affecting not only the upcoming campaign but also the longer‑term trajectory of the team within the competitive landscape of Alabama high school sports.