FAIRHOPE — On a damp Friday night, Fairhope regained bragging rights over Foley as the Pirates cruised to a 30-7 victory over the rival Lions.

It was an all-around effort for Fairhope, who recorded its fourth 30-point game of the season and kept Foley off the scoreboard for the final three quarters.

Big play Pirates

After senior Jahaven Johnson opened the scoring with a 12-yard rush, the Pirates started a string of 23 unanswered points immediately after the Lions’ touchdown when classmate Desmond Thomas produced a 95-yard kickoff return for a score.

Senior quarterback Jackson Robertson delivered a 23-yard touchdown pass to classmate Harrison Cook before junior Bryon Martin joined the action with a 61-yard rushing score. Fellow junior Grant Thompson capped the scoring with a 35-yard field goal to help follow the game plan from Fairhope head coach Tim Carter.

“We just knew they were a good football team and needed to score some points in other ways,” Carter said. “I was really proud that we got that, so that was critical. Defensively, we lost some guys, and we just got new guys finding a way so I’m really proud of that.”

Lagging Lions

Although junior Nelson Thompson connected with classmate Rylan Pedalino on a 5-yard touchdown in the first quarter, those served as the Lions’ lone points on the board.

“A lot,” is all Foley head coach Deric Scott said when asked what adjustments and changes the team needed to make moving forward.

The Lions started to put something together offensively in the second half only to suffer an interception by Fairhope sophomore Cooper Bell.

“We came out and did not execute at any phase completely,” Scott said. “All three phases we did not do well, so we’ve got to work on all three phases. We’ve got to execute at a high level.”

Up next

After their big rivalry win, the Pirates improved to 5-2 overall with an undefeated 4-0 mark in Class 7A Region 1. Fairhope is set to hit the road next week to play the Mary G. Montgomery Vikings (6-1, 4-0).

Foley fell to 3-3 overall with a 1-3 record in region play. The Lions are scheduled to return home on Oct. 11 to host the Baker Hornets (5-1, 4-0).