Baldwin County has always been full of athletic talent, and a plethora of players from the area have gone on to have successful careers at the collegiate and/or professional level.
So in this …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
Please log in to continue |
Baldwin County has always been full of athletic talent, and a plethora of players from the area have gone on to have successful careers at the collegiate and/or professional level.
So in this weekly series, I’ll be highlighting how former local stars fared each week, breaking down their performances and how their respective careers are progressing.
If I’ve missed anybody that I should be including, don’t hesitate to contact parker@gulfcoastmedia.com and I’ll add them to the list.
In this week's edition, we take a look at what a plethora of collegiate soccer players have been up to, Bayside alum Monroe Partin's breakout game with Wake Forest and more:
To start off, a wide range of collegiate soccer players deserve some praise.
Spanish Fort alum Hayden Kessler is a freshman at Belhaven, and she recently earned 2nd Team All-Conference honors with the Lady Blazers. She's been named a Rookie of the Week and has logged over 1,000 hours of playing time this season as a starting defender, with her having also recorded an assist.
Kessler and second-seeded Belhaven competed in their conference tournament over the weekend in Huntsville, and they came out on top of the field to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA D-III Tournament. Both Kessler and Daphne's Abby Jordan started in the title game, with the latter scoring one of the team's two goals.
In addition, plenty of other former Baldwin County players are suiting up for Southern Union C.C., which just won its second regular-season conference championship and is currently embarking on its postseason run.
Lacy Daffin, Lil Baggett, Sarah Lynn, Alexia Charqueno, Lizzy Stroud, Emely Pineda, Addison Strickland and Havyn Quint are all on the team, and Daphne's Ella Byrd has been named the Player of the Year within her conference (ACCC).
Rounding out the rest of the former Baldwin County soccer players:
NC State Wolfpack | Safety | Junior
High School: Gulf Shores Dolphins
Previous Game: 41-3 L vs. Duke Blue Devils
Personal Stats: 5 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Royal tied for third on the team in tackles against the rival Blue Devils.
The former Dolphin needs 12 more across the final three games of the season to eclipse his career-high of 48 tackles from last fall.
Next Game: vs. Syracuse Orange | 11:00 a.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
NC State Wolfpack | Defensive Tackle | Senior
High School: Foley Lions
Previous Game: 41-3 L vs. Duke Blue Devils
Personal Stats: 1 tackle
Prim recorded his eighth tackle of the year against the rival Blue Devils.
Next Game: vs. Syracuse Orange | 11:00 a.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Linebacker | Freshman
High School: Bayside Academy Admirals
Previous Game(s): 77-0 W vs. Merrimack Warriors
Personal Stats: 9 total tackles
Partin had a breakout game over the weekend, as he led the Demon Deacons with nine total tackles (three solo) a week after recording five in a win over Virginia.
The former Admiral is clearly earning more trust from the Wake Forest coaching staff as the games go by, and it appears to be only a matter of time before the freshman begins challenging for a larger role.
Next Game: @ SMU Mustangs | 11:00 a.m. | Saturday, Nov. 21
Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Quarterback | Redshirt-Junior
High School: Fairhope Pirates
Previous Game: 47-14 W vs. Sam Houston Bearkats
Personal Stats: 246 passing yards, 64% completion, 13 carries, 87 rushing yards, 3 total touchdowns
Creel yet again led his team in both passing and rushing as the Gamecocks returned to playing their football on Saturdays.
The former Pirate has accounted for at least one touchdown in every game this season and is approaching 2,000 yards through the air and 1,000 yards on the ground.
Next Game: @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 2:30 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Miami (OH) Redhawks | Linebacker | Redshirt-Senior
High School: Fairhope Pirates
Previous Game(s): 34-31 L (OT) vs. Buffalo Bulls
Personal Stats: 4 tackles
Fresh off a bye, Myrick reached the 50-tackle mark on the season as Miami (OH) began the mid-week “MACtion” portion of its schedule with a marquee matchup against Buffalo.
Next Game: vs. Ohio Bobcats | 7:00 p.m. | Tuesday, Nov. 10
UAB Blazers | Wide Receiver | Redshirt-Senior
High School: Baldwin County Tigers
Previous Game(s): 23-12 W vs. Charlotte 49ers
Personal Stats: 2 catches, 6 receiving yards
Mims made it 23 receptions on the year as the Blazers got above .500 with their fifth win of the season.
Next Game: @ Temple Owls | 12:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Alabama State Hornets | Wide Receiver | Sophomore
High School: Spanish Fort Toros
Previous Game(s): 34-31 W @ Texas Southern Tigers
Personal Stats: 1 catch, 2 receiving yards, 2 kickoff returns, 63 return yards
Hixon made his usual two-way impact as the Hornets outlasted the Tigers to get above .500 on the season.
Next Game: vs. Jackson State Tigers | 2:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
North Alabama Lions | Linebacker | Sophomore
High School: Spanish Fort Toros
Previous Game(s): 28-21 W vs. West Florida Argonauts
Personal Stats: 2 tackles
After leading all freshmen on the UNA roster with 22 tackles last fall, Burkhalter recorded one solo and one assisted Saturday as he registered on the stat sheet for the first time in 2026.
Next Game: @ West Georgia | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Bishop Burkhalter
North Alabama Athletics
Southern Jaguars | Running Back | Senior
High School: Spanish Fort Toros
Previous Game(s): 45-17 W vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Personal Stats: 7 carries, 19 rushing yards
Franklin ranked second on the team in carries against the Wildcats.
Next Game: vs. Alcorn State Braves | 2:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Southeast Louisiana Lions | Defensive Back | Redshirt-Freshman
High School: Gulf Shores Dolphins
Previous Game: 35-16 L vs. Incarnate Word Cardinals
Personal Stats: 8 tackles
Byrd made it back-to-back weeks with eight tackles as he has now racked up over 50 this season.
Next Game: vs. McNeese Cowboys | 6:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
West Alabama Tigers | Linebacker | Graduate Student
High School: Baldwin County Tigers
Previous Game(s): 45-17 W vs. Monroe Mustangs
Personal Stats: 1 punt block
Williams managed to block a punt during the first quarter of his team’s game against the Mustangs.
Next Game: @ Northeastern State Riverhawks | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
West Alabama Tigers | Wide Receiver | Redshirt-Sophomore
High School: Gulf Shores Dolphins
Previous Game(s): 45-17 W vs. Monroe Mustangs
Personal Stats: 1 catch, 10 receiving yards
Registering in the stat sheet for the first time this season, Byrd hauled in a first-down pass against Monroe.
Next Game: @ Northeastern State Riverhawks | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
West Georgia Wolves | Wide Receiver | Freshman
High School: St. Michael Cardinals
Previous Game(s): 35-14 L @ Central Arkansas Bears
Personal Stats: 2 catches, 14 receiving yards, 2 punt returns, 18 return yards
Jones made an impact offensively and on special teams against the Bears.
Next Game: vs. North Alabama Lions | 2:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Miles College Bears | Edge Rusher | Redshirt-Sophomore
High School: Gulf Shores Dolphins
Previous Game(s): 35-27 W @ Tuskegee Tigers
Personal Stats: 2 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
Lowe eclipsed 10 tackles for loss on the year during Miles’ regular-season finale.
Next Game: Playoffs
Miles College Bears | Wide Receiver | Freshman
High School: Daphne Trojans
Previous Game(s): 35-27 W @ Tuskegee Tigers
Personal Stats: 1 catch, 15 receiving yards
Gardner recorded his 16th reception of the season against the Tigers.
Next Game: Playoffs
Belhaven Blazers | Wide Receiver | Junior
High School: Daphne Trojans
Previous Game(s): 31-15 L vs. LaGrange Panthers
Personal Stats: 2 catches, 33 receiving yards, 1 touchdowns
Davis brought in the first touchdown reception of his collegiate career against the Panthers.
Next Game: @ Huntingdon Hawks | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Huntingdon College Hawks | Linebacker | Senior
High School: Gulf Shores Dolphins
Previous Game(s): 39-25 W @ Southern Virginia Spartans
Personal Stats: 6 tackles
Cooper ranked fourth on the team in tackles against the Spartans.
Next Game: vs. Belhaven Blazers | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
Huntingdon College Hawks | Linebacker | Freshman
High School: Orange Beach Makos
Previous Game(s): 39-25 W @ Southern Virginia Spartans
Personal Stats: 1 tackle
Brunick recorded his 11th tackle of the season against the Spartans.
Next Game: vs. Belhaven Blazers | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 14
