ORANGE BEACH — Bayside bounced back from away game woes in a triumphant 42-13 win over the Makos on Friday night. The Admirals had a dominating home win over Marbury last week, but Orange Beach was their first road game since a 41-10 defeat at the hands of St. Michael.

Both teams are now 2-1 on the year. This win was Bayside’s third in a row over the Makos and came after last year’s close 7-5 game in the rivalry.

The Admirals set the tone early in Mako-infested waters. Bayside running back Caid Lyons started the fireworks with a 44-yard touchdown catch on the first drive of the game — He wasn’t done there.

Lyons kept it going with a 46-yard rushing touchdown on the next drive. A two-point conversion later, and the Makos already trailed 15-0 with 4:40 left in the first quarter.

“He’s super fast, he’s explosive with the ball in his hands, and he’s the guy out in space,” Bayside head coach Barrett Trotter said of Lyons. “He can put the ball in the end zone on any play.”

On the first play of the second quarter, Bayside quarterback Davis Barnett connected to Walker Collins for his second passing touchdown of the night. After a botched extra point, the score was 21-0.

Trotter emphasized the importance of starting fast and avoiding complacency in a hostile environment.

“It’s obviously a big game. Big rivalry for us,” Trotter said. “Anytime you get a start like that, it’s easy to get complacent. Our kids didn’t. They kept their pedal down and really just kept fighting the whole game.”

With 6:41 to go in the half, the Makos found the end zone for the first time with a handoff to Aiden Kee to bring the score up to 21-6. They wouldn’t find it again until the last three minutes of the game.

A kickoff returned by Noah Cain to the Orange Beach 40-yard line set the Admirals up for a potential answer. An answer that had to wait as the game was held hostage by two holding calls, a personal foul and offsetting penalties being cycled through by both teams on one set of downs.

After Barnett got banged up, Bo Miller came in to finish the drive (as well as the rest of the game) for the Admirals. Soon after, a scrambling touchdown by Miller was a good sign to the Bayside faithful.

“I thought Davis played a really good first half. Made some really nice throws, had a couple deep balls and just operated the offense really well.” Trotter said. “Bo came in and did a heck of a job getting us what we needed to get to the end of the game. Scrambling, throwing and all in between.”

Makos quarterback Tucker Wade appeared uncomfortable, and his game ended after John Ben Wilkinson intercepted a pass late in the first half to set up a 15-yard trip to the end zone. Trotter later credited the D-line for not letting Wade get out in space where “he’s really good” at.

Brennen Yamane punched it in to bring the score up to 35-6 for the Admirals before the half. Orange Beach brought in Judah Spencer to bring some life to the passing game, but an uneventful third quarter would be plagued by turnovers on downs and three-and-outs (aided by missed Bayside field goals).

Miller scrambled for a second touchdown late in the fourth quarter. A big reverse by the Makos to Adrian Billups set up an eventual two-yard rushing touchdown from James Nuetze, locking the final score in at 42-13 in favor of the Admirals.

Bayside will look to keep their momentum next week at home against Monroe County on Sept. 12. Orange Beach will try to bounce back at W.S. Neal on the same date.