Bayside Academy's historic season now comes down to one final stage as the Admirals will face defending Class 3A champion Mars Hill Bible on Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. at Birmingham's Protective Stadium, carrying a 13-1 record and the winningest campaign in program history into just their second-ever state championship appearance.

What Barrett Trotter's team has done to reach this point is unparalleled in Bayside's four decades of football. The Admirals had never won more than 11 games in the program's 25-year history and had managed just two previous 10-win seasons, but in three seasons under Trotter, they have surged to a 30-8 record, two region titles and six playoff victories. A win Thursday would give Trotter half as many playoff wins as longtime coach Phil Lazenby accumulated from 2007-22.

This run has been fueled by a roster that blends explosive offensive talent with a defense that has not only kept pace, but dominated at a level no one in 3A football has been able to match.

SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK REWRITING HISTORY

At the center of Bayside's offensive surge is sophomore quarterback Davis Barnett. The first-year starter has thrown 43 touchdowns in 2025, breaking the Alabama single-season record for a sophomore previously held by Saraland's K.J. Lacey.

With a true quarterback cemented in place, former QB1 options from 2024 Bo Miller and Caid Lyons were unleashed as versatile playmakers across the formation. Lyons became one of Barnett's top receiving targets, while Miller shifted seamlessly into a Swiss-army role that stretched defenses horizontally and vertically.

A KEY RETURN FOR THE GROUND GAME

Another major catalyst came when Brennen Yamane returned home after a two-year stint at IMG Academy in Florida. His physical, down-hill running style helped Bayside rush for more than 1,000 yards than last season's total, giving the Admirals the balance needed to become one of the state's most dangerous offenses. At media day before the season, Trotter expressed the need to be able to run the ball and not be one-dimensional on offense — safe to say Yamane solved that problem.

With one game left in his high school career before heading off the play in the collegiate ranks at Pomona-Pitzer, Yamane will go into the title game with 788 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

PLAYMAKERS EVERYWHERE

Bayside's offense thrived because it could put stress defenses at every level. Junior Walker Collins is the team's most explosive perimeter threat and leads the Admirals with 806 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. Senior Noah Cain showcased his versatility every game, recording 820 yards of total offense, 11 touchdowns and a staggering 472 return yards, turning special teams into another scoring threat.

And then there is Wake Forest commit Monroe Partin, who has been one of the most dominant two-way players in Alabama regardless of classification. As a tight end, Partin produced 555 yards and eight touchdowns, but his defensive impact was even greater: 120 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two sacks at middle linebacker.

"THE CHAIN GANG"

If Bayside's offense is high-powered, its defense is downright overwhelming. Calling themselves, "The Chain Gang," the unit is physical, disciplined and statistically elite.

Leading the is senior Billy Neill with a team-high 150 tackles, plus 12 tackles for loss, two sacks and three interceptions. He now has 481 tackles over the past three seasons, one of the highest totals in the state. Will Allen, a recent Samford commit, is the team's premier disruptor and terrorizer of opposing backfields with 14.5 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss.

Jack Wilkinson added 5.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, while Amos McDaniel compiled 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions. Cain, in addition to his offensive role, produced 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and two pick-sixes, making him one of the most impactful two-way players in school history along with Partin.

JOB NOT FINISHED

For a program that has steadily climbed through the ranks since the 2020s began, and built its identity on consistency and player development, the Admirals now stand one win away from a long-awaited state title. Mars Hill Bible is the defending champion and one of the most seasoned playoff teams in Alabama, but I have a feeling this particular Bayside team is up for the task to compete with whoever lines up across from them. 

On Dec. 4, the Admirals have a chance to finish the greatest season in school history — and add a long-awaited Blue Map to the football trophy case.