Steve Christopher

Christopher was a two-year starter at quarterback for Anniston High School in 1988 and 1989. He and his teammates became more comfortable with coach Berry Halladay’s version of the spread offense as the 1988 season progressed. After an 0-3 start, the Bulldogs advanced to the third round of the Class 6A playoffs before losing 13-9 to W.A. Berry, now Hoover, and finished 8-5. 

In 1989, there was no 0-3 start. The Bulldogs didn’t lose all season, finishing a perfect 15-0 and Class 6A state champions. When the season ended, Christopher held six AHSAA records. He established state records for touchdown passes completed in a season with 42, passing yards in a season with 3,586 yards, passes attempted in a season with 392 and passes completed in a season with 246. Christopher also rushed for 741 yards, earning him the AHSAA records for total offense in a season with 4,327 yards and all-purpose yards in a season with 4,327 yards. 

Christopher was the Alabama Sports Writers Association 6A player of the year, Gatorade player of the year for Alabama and one of five Alabama players named a first-team all-Southern selection by the Orlando Sentinel.

With Christopher at the helm, Anniston could light up the scoreboard quickly. In the Bulldogs’ 53-6 win over Benjamin Russell, he completed seven touchdown passes, tying an existing AHSAA record. Six of those scoring passes came in the first half. The following week, Anniston improved to 9-0 with a 47-0 victory over visiting Cedartown (Ga.) as Christopher completed 29 of 37 passes for 287 yards and four first-half touchdowns, two each to Tracy Pilot and Orlando Watters. 

The Bulldogs completed their regular season at 10-0 with a 39-14 road win over Talladega. Christopher completed three touchdown passes in the first half and two more in the second half. In Anniston’s 49-3 first-round playoff win over Hewitt-Trussville, Christopher passed for five touchdowns and ran for an 80-yard score.      

Christopher was 18 of 27 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the 1990 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game as Alabama won 21-14 in overtime.