Baldwin County football roundup: Foley Lions honor Coach Lester Smith

Orange Beach returns to win column, Gulf Shores storms back for non-region win

By Cole McNanna
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 9/25/22

Week 6 is in the books and the homestretch of the high school football season has arrived. Regional playoff pictures will soon come into a clearer focus with big matchups still ahead.

Last Friday …

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Baldwin County football roundup: Foley Lions honor Coach Lester Smith

Orange Beach returns to win column, Gulf Shores storms back for non-region win

Posted

Week 6 is in the books and the homestretch of the high school football season has arrived. Regional playoff pictures will soon come into a clearer focus with big matchups still ahead.

Last Friday night, both island teams notched non-region wins and the Foley Lions recognized former head coach Lester Smith with a pregame ceremony.

No. 3 Saraland 49, Foley 21

Lion quarterback Reece Tynes ran for a pair of scores and receiver Perry Thompson threw one touchdown to Makai Mitchell but it was not enough to top KJ Lacy (4 TDs, 3 to Ryan Williams) and the Saraland Spartans in non-region action.

Before the game, Foley High School honored the legacy of former head coach Lester Smith, who was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. The quarterback of the Lions’ 1961 state championship team and 1962 graduate of Foley High School returned to coach his alma mater from 1969-1985 and 2001-2004. Smith’s teams finished 127-85-2 overall with three region titles.

Next up: Foley (2-3, 1-1) travels to face the No. 2 Fairhope Pirates (5-0, 2-0) in region action Friday.

Orange Beach 42, McIntosh 14

The Makos emphatically returned to the win column in non-region play behind both quarterbacks.

Cash Turner provided the bookending scores with a pass to John Wallace Holladay and a running touchdown to give Orange Beach a 42-14 halftime lead. In between Turner’s touchdowns, Chris Pearson supplied a punt return for a touchdown before Holladay grabbed a pick-six and scored twice more on the ground.

Next up: The Makos (4-1, 2-1) host the St. Michael Cardinals (3-3, 2-1) in region play Thursday, Sept. 29.

No. 7 Gulf Shores 35, Murphy 14

Contrarily to their island counterparts, the Dolphins were tied with the Murphy Panthers, 14-14, at halftime.

Enter junior running back Ronnie Royal, who finished off a 122-yard performance on the ground with four touchdowns – as well as an interception on defense – to help lead Gulf Shores to its second straight win.

Next up: The Dolphins (5-1, 3-1) travel to face the Williamson Lions (5-1, 3-1) Friday in a battle for second place in Class 5A Region 1.

Other Baldwin County final scores

Alma-Bryant 41, Robertsdale 20

McGill-Toolen 27, St. Michael 7

MGM 42, Baldwin County 7