Baldwin County high school football teams wasted no time making history in the 2024 regular season as St. Michael staked claim to the program’s first win over crosstown rival Bayside Academy to kick off action in Week 1.

The Cardinals went to Freedom Field in Daphne and secured a 31-10 win over the Admirals thanks in part to two touchdowns each from sophomore quarterback Gunner Rivers (throwing) and junior running back Kamarjay Lavoie (rushing).

It was the Eastern Shore rivals’ fifth meeting where St. Michael avenged two-straight losses that came down to the wire. The Cardinals opened 1-0 for the first time since 2021, head coach Philip Rivers’ first year at the helm.

This week will be St. Michael’s first true home regular season game in their new on-campus stadium which debuted with a preseason jamboree on Aug. 16. John Carroll Catholic is set to travel to Fairhope for another non-region contest on Aug. 30 coming off a 35-7 loss to Homewood.

Bayside Academy has its first 0-1 start since 2019 and has a bounce-back chance in another non-region tilt against Marbury on the road. The Class 5A Bulldogs dropped their opener 28-13 to Class 6A Stanhope Elmore.

Check out more Week 1 highlights below and follow @GCMSportsAL on social media for immediate updates from the sidelines.

Orange Beach outlasts for overtime victory

The Makos needed extra time but locked in their first win of 2024 by a 27-21 margin over the Elberta Warriors. The Wade Waldrop era started in the win column thanks in part to a pair of first-half touchdown passes from JW McAlpine to Joel Douglas Chandler.

Elberta got some explosive plays out of Brady Cole Harrison and Adrian Billups but it wasn't quite enough in the home opener and the Warriors will have a road test against a hot Robertsdale team in Week 2. Orange Beach's first home game is on tap for Friday against Citronelle who opened with a 28-25 win over Millry.

Gulf Shores suffers first loss since 2022 quarterfinals

Gulf Shores had its 15-game win streak snapped by a Floridian opponent as the Dolphins lost their first game since the 2022 state quarterfinals in a 31-7 decision. Gulf Shores got its first touchdown of the season on a 21-yard passing touchdown from sophomore quarterback Judson Harris to junior Nick Hampton but fell to 0-6 against teams from the Sunshine State according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society.

Senior running back Kolin Wilson racked up 181 total yards and junior linebacker Landon Everett led the defense with 20 total tackles. The Dolphins are set for their first road trip of the season in Week 2 to visit Class 7A Mary G. Montgomery who also fell to a Floridian team, Pace (17-14 in overtime), to open the season.

Foley, Baldwin County light up scoreboard

Central Baldwin rivals combined for 49 points in the first half alone before the Foley Lions pulled away from the Baldwin County Tigers to take the teams’ 95th meeting by a 39-19 score.

Junior quarterback Nelson Thompson finished with 245 passing yards and touchdowns to seniors Ty Motes (10 yards) in the first half and Shaborn Oakes (47 yards) in the second half. Thompson added a rushing touchdown on fourth down to help Foley take a 30-19 lead into halftime.

Seniors Damien Martial (1-yard rush) and Kenneth Franklin (20-yard pick-six) also hit pay dirt for the Lions on top of two field goals from classmate Josue Sandoval (32 and 30 yards). Foley is set for its home opener on Friday against B.C. Rain who opened with a 16-14 loss to Hillcrest Evergreen.

Baldwin County senior Ti Mims led the way for the Tigers with 107 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on top of a 55-yard receiving score. Baldwin County will return home for its Class 6A Region 1 opener against the St. Paul’s Saints on Friday. St. Paul’s started the year with a 10-3 overtime win against UMS-Wright in the Battle of Old Shell Road.

Daphne locks in season’s first win

Sophomore quarterback Jaylyn Thibodeaux paced the Daphne offense to a 28-3 lead before senior defensive end Talib Graham punctuated the defensive effort with a 16-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown that sealed a 34-16 win for the Trojans over McGill-Toolen.

Friday served as the first regular-season game on the new turf at Daphne’s Jubilee Stadium where Thibodeaux’s 35-yard rushing score became the first touchdown.

The Trojan signal-caller connected with senior RJ Dailey on an 11-yard passing score before classmate Maddox Bailus plunged into pay dirt from 1 yard away for a 21-0 halftime lead.

Thibodeaux recorded a 12-yard touchdown run as time expired in the third quarter to push Daphne’s lead to 25 points and helped the Trojans start 1-0 for the second-straight season.

The Trojans are scheduled for a Week 2 road trip to Florida to face the Pine Forest Eagles who started the year with a 19-6 win over Pensacola.

Other Week 1 final scores

Robertsdale Golden Bears 31, Chickasaw Chieftains 0

Rocky Bayou Knights 42, Snook Christian Eagles 6

Spanish Fort Toros 42, Fairhope Pirates 6

Bayshore Christian Eagles 35, Fruitdale Pirates 12 (jamboree)