The fall sports calendar in Baldwin County offered everything from last-second football finishes, state championship celebrations, surprise success stories and record-breaking performances — and with another season in the books, Gulf Coast Media is recognizing fall superlatives across the board.

These superlatives are opinion-based and reflect observations from the 2025 fall sports season across Baldwin County. Picks were made based on performance, impact and overall impression, not on official awards or postseason honors.

Best football team: Bayside Academy

Bayside Academy's 2025 football season is etched in the archives of program history. The Admirals finished as the 3A state runners-up to Mars Hill Bible, marking only their second-ever championship appearance. With a record-breaking 13 wins, Bayside not only showcased its offensive firepower — averaging 40.4 points per game and amassing over 5,000 yards of total offense — but also boasted a fierce defense, posting 134.5 tackles for loss and 44 sacks.

At the heart of Bayside's success was sophomore quarterback Davis Barnett, who shattered state records with 43 touchdown passes and led a dynamic offense. The return of Brennen Yamane brought a powerful ground game, while versatile playmakers like Walker Collins and Monroe Partin added depth and excitement. On the defensive side, Billy Neill and Will Allen dominated opponents, making Bayside's defense as feared as its offense.

Best volleyball team: Spanish Fort

Dominance and another Blue Map once again defined Spanish Fort volleyball. The Toros finished the season as the No. 2 program in the state per MaxPreps, controlling their destiny all the way to back-to-back titles.

Spanish Fort was led by a nearly unstoppable offense with six players recording over 200 kills on the season, four of which were sophomores. Seniors Zöe Beech, Victoria Holley and Caroline Downey led with their experience while junior Cailyn Boykin finished second in the nation with 1,638 assists. In a state loaded with strong volleyball programs and a plethora of talent, the Toros stood above the rest from start to finish with a 60-8 record — the best winning percentage in program history.

Best cross country team: Bayshore Christian

Bayshore Christian stood atop Class 4A cross country, sweeping both the boys and girls sectional titles for the sixth consecutive season. At the 4A state meet, the Eagles finished second in the girls race and third in the boys 5K.

Depth defined the Eagles, with Henry Barber, Jonah Elliott, Joseph Lovelady and Sawyer Hall all placing in the top 10 on the boys side, while Kat Hart and Allie McTaggart did the same for the girls. McTaggart also broke the course record at sectionals, adding another exclamation point to a program that is following suit to the standard set.

Best football player: Noah Moss (St. Michael)

There were plenty of elite individual seasons across Baldwin County this fall, but Noah Moss separated himself from the field. The St. Michael running back finished eighth in the state in rushing with 2,107 yards and ranked third in total touchdowns with 35, all while averaging 9.5 yards per carry and 150 yards per game. Moss recorded 11 games of 100 or more rushing yards and was the engine behind the Cardinals' historic season.

His signature moment came in the first round of the 4A playoffs against Pike County, when he rushed for 368 yards and six touchdowns on just 16 carries, setting an AHSAA 4A playoff record for rushing yards in a single game. Moss helped lead St. Michael to a program-record 13 wins and its first undefeated regular season before signing to play at NC State, the alma mater of his head coach, Philip Rivers.

Best volleyball player: Ella Lomax (Daphne)

Ella Lomax put together one of the most productive seasons in the state, leading Alabama with 734 kills while anchoring Daphne's run to a 7A South Regional berth. The Trojans finished the season 35-21 and ranked No. 19 in Alabama, with Lomax serving as the focal point of their offense from start to finish.

In addition to her offensive production, Lomax added 81 aces and 313 digs, showcasing her all-around impact on the Trojans. She earned AHSVCA All-State First Team honors in Class 7A and finished her career just 73 kills shy of 2,000. Lomax has signed to play beach volleyball at North Alabama, closing her high school career as one of the most decorated players Daphne has produced across all sports.

Best cross country runner: Allie McTaggart (Bayshore Christian)

Allie McTaggart capped off another dominant season by leading Bayshore Christian to its sixth straight sectional championship while rewriting the record books in the process. As mentioned above, McTaggart broke the sectional course record, a mark she now holds outright, and consistently finished among the top runners in Class 4A throughout the fall.

She also placed fourth in the state meet to end the year, the highest among any Baldwin County state qualifier. McTaggart wasn't just the best runner on the course every meet — she was the standard.

Best coach: Gretchen Boykin (Spanish Fort Volleyball)

Gretchen Boykin added yet another championship to her résumé this fall, capturing her sixth state title as the head coach at Spanish Fort. The Toros claimed their second consecutive state championship and posted a 60-8 record.

Boykin led the state's No. 2 team in the MaxPreps rankings for a second straight season, trailing only McGill-Toolen, and recorded a consecutive season with more than 60 wins. Much like her counterpart, Ann Schilling of Bayside volleyball, Boykin is well on her way to a Hall of Fame speech at the end of her career.

Best newcomer: Justin Jones (Robertsdale football)

Although the streak of nonwinning seasons continued to 24 years for the Golden Bears, first-year head coach Justin Jones guided the program to four wins for the first time since 2020. Robertsdale also earned its first Class 7A victory in program history with a late-season win over Alma Bryant.

One thing was clear throughout the season: Jones changed the culture at Robertsdale by establishing an expectation to win. He often said Rome was not built in a day, and the progress was evident for a football community that has endured decades of limited success.

Best game: St. Michael vs. UMS-Wright (Football - Week 11)

There were several standout performances and competitive matchups that could have earned this distinction, including out-of-county games and county rivalries. Ultimately, the best games are decided in the final moments, and this one delivered.

Despite several uncharacteristic turnovers, St. Michael quarterback Gunner Rivers and the Cardinals engineered a late drive to take the lead with 12 seconds remaining. The back-and-forth contest ended in a 25-20 St. Michael victory, capping the first undefeated regular season in program history.

Best student section: Gulf Shores

Every student section across the county brought energy in its own way, but Gulf Shores consistently stood out. Whether it was football or volleyball, Dolphins students showed up in large numbers and provided a steady presence throughout the fall.

Even as the football season fell short of expectations and volleyball ended earlier than hoped, Gulf Shores remained one of the loudest environments in the county, regardless of weather or results.

Best stadium/atmosphere: Orange Beach and Fairhope

Stadium and atmosphere were combined for this category, and for good reason. Both Orange Beach and Fairhope provided consistently strong environments throughout the season, making this one of the most difficult selections.

Orange Beach unveiled a more than $40 million athletic facilities project this fall, highlighted by catered tailgating in front of the stadium featuring local Gulf Coast food. Meanwhile, Fairhope continued to pack W.C. Majors Field, with Pirates fans showing up and supporting their team from kickoff to the final whistle, no matter the opponent.

Best cheer team: Orange Beach and Daphne

This was another category that warranted co-winners, as both cheer programs captured state championships earlier this fall. Each squad delivered championship-level performances throughout the season.

Orange Beach completed a back-to-back state championship run by claiming the 4A Gameday title once again. Daphne won the Varsity Coed state championship and features one of the most balanced male-to-female rosters among county cheer programs.

Best band: Daphne

Anyone who has attended a game at Jubilee Stadium is familiar with the quality of the performances that The Sound of the Eastern Shore puts out. One of the largest bands in the county — and potentially the state — Daphne regularly travels with a full ensemble, making its presence impossible to miss.

From the national anthem to halftime performances to the alma mater, Daphne's band consistently enhanced the game-day experience, earning its place as the county's best this fall.