When Williamson led Murphy 71-0 at halftime earlier this year — en route to a 100-0 final in Class 5A — the scoreboard said everything the clock didn’t: games like that don’t build character; they expose how badly Alabama needs a permanent mercy rule.

High school football is supposed to be about competition, sportsmanship and growth. But when the outcome is decided before halftime, those values give way to frustration, embarrassment and unnecessary injuries. The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) can prevent that by adopting a mandatory running-clock mercy rule, similar to those used in neighboring states.

Unlike Georgia, Mississippi and other Southern states, Alabama has no official mercy rule in football. Even when a team leads by 50 or 60 points, the clock runs as usual unless both coaches agree to shorten the game — an ending that rarely happens. The result is mismatched contests that drag on long after the result is decided, forcing players to endure more hits in meaningless minutes.

The issue hit close to home this fall. On homecoming night, Baldwin County fell 54-0 to Mary G. Montgomery, a powerhouse 7A squad that controlled the game from the opening kick.

“The challenge is they got D1 athletes all over the field, and they’re well-coached,” Tigers head coach Andrew Davis said. “They’re established, and they’re a powerhouse.”

A few miles southeast, Elberta trailed Faith Academy 48-13 before narrowing the margin late. Warriors head coach Joel Williams said his program is still trying to catch up to the physicality of elite opponents.

“They really haven’t trained and lifted weights here in two years,” Williams said. “Our bodies are just not caught up with the rest of our league right now.”

Over the past five years, there have been 96 games decided by 35 points or more in Baldwin County alone — and 21 of those games have come in the 2025 season that is yet to be finished.

Coaches aren’t making excuses — they’re describing reality. The gap in talent and resources between programs can be massive, especially at rebuilding schools. A mercy rule wouldn’t erase that difference, but it would spare young players from unnecessary punishment when games spiral out of control.

In Georgia, a running clock automatically starts once a team leads by 35 points in the second half. It’s a simple, effective safeguard that reduces injury risk, maintains respect and keeps the focus where it belongs — on development, not domination.

A mercy rule doesn’t punish success; it protects athletes. These are teenagers, not professionals. When one team is up by eight touchdowns midway through the third quarter, there’s nothing left to prove. Continuing to pile on doesn’t teach toughness — it teaches disregard for others.

The AHSAA has made real progress with concussion and heat protocols in recent years; implementing a mandatory running clock is just another way to ensure safety and prevent injuries. A standardized mercy rule should be the next step, because when the scoreboard reads 56-0 — or 71-0 at halftime — everyone already knows who won.

At the end of the day, every school in Alabama is either building a culture or strengthening one. So, why are the programs still trying to build theirs the ones that keep getting punished?