More rivalry and heated region action are on tap for Week 8 of the high school football season, including Elberta at Gulf Shores, Fairhope at Daphne and Orange Beach at Bayside Academy.

All will factor into the playoff races in the respective classifications, as will home games for Robertsdale (St. Paul’s, Thursday), Spanish Fort (McGill-Toolen) and Baldwin County (Saraland).

Foley (Alma-Bryant), St. Michael (Wilcox Central) and Snook Christian (Jackson Academy) are the lone away teams but all 12 of Baldwin County’s football teams will play under the lights this weekend.

Until then, here are a few of the biggest to keep an eye on and be sure to follow along on social media (@GCMSportsAL) for sideline updates.

Elberta Warriors at No. 6 Gulf Shores Dolphins, Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

In what will be the teams’ third meeting in as many years, each has won one game although Elberta retains a 31-26 point advantage heading into Thursday’s tilt.

Gulf Shores enters with a 4-1 region record with the Warriors on the opposite end at 1-3. Elberta fell 34-13 to top-ranked UMS-Wright last week where the Dolphins beat Williamson 51-12 for just their fourth 50-point game in program history.

The hosts enter the game with a 3-0 record at home this season and the visitors own an 0-3 road record.

No. 5 Fairhope Pirates at Daphne Trojans, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.

After suffering its first loss of the season in a rivalry meeting with Foley last week 39-38, Fairhope has another rival on the docket this week with a road trip to face the Daphne Trojans who are coming off a bye week.

Daphne fell in the final minutes to Spanish Fort the week prior but rattled off three wins before that to stake claim to first place in Class 7A Region 1. The Trojans also own a 24-9 all-time lead in the series against the Pirates although many of Fairhope’s wins have come in the last decade.

In the last eight meetings, the Pirates are 6-2 and their current head coach Tim Carter has been on their sidelines for the last seven contests, including overtime wins in 2018 (20-17) and 2021 (38-31).

Daphne lost its last home game but still owns a 2-1 record at Jubilee Stadium, however, Fairhope has won all three of its away games so far this season.

Orange Beach Makos at Bayside Academy Admirals, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.

The biggest game in Class 4A Region 1 pits half of the group’s 2-2 teams against each other where both Orange Beach and Bayside Academy also own 4-2 overall records.

Although it will be the schools’ first meeting on the gridiron, the teams are led by veteran coaches who own a combined 41 years’ worth of head coaching in Alabama. The Admirals’ Phil Lazenby (198-105, now in his 26th year) and the Makos’ Jamey DuBose (141-42, now in his 15th year) currently own the 16th- and 40th-most wins out of the active coaches in the state.

On the field, both teams have lost their last two region games and will be searching for its first Region 1 win since Sept. 9 although last week’s losses were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Bayside Academy fell to No. 10 T.R. Miller 28-3 and Orange Beach lost to St. Michael 49-41 in the final minutes despite holding just one practice during the week due to a flu outbreak.

It was the Makos’ first away loss of the season, and they’ll take that 2-1 mark to the Admirals’ home field where they’re 1-1, including the three-point win over St. Michael.

Foley Lions at Alma-Bryant Hurricanes, Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

All-time series: Foley leads 14-0.

Score advantage: The Lions have outscored the Hurricanes 471-189.

Last week: Foley upset then-No. 2 Fairhope 39-38, Alma-Bryant lost to Baker 27-6.

St. Paul’s Saints at Robertsdale Golden Bears, Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

All-time series: St. Paul’s leads 10-4.

Trend: Saints have won four in a row.

Last week: St. Paul’s lost to Spanish Fort 41-38 in triple overtime, Robertsdale lost to Murphy 47-20.

McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets at Spanish Fort Toros, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.

All-time series: McGill-Toolen leads 6-2.

Trend: Spanish Fort has won last two in a row.

Last week: The Toros beat St. Paul’s 41-38 in triple overtime. The Yellow Jackets beat Baldwin County 27-9 for their fourth straight victory.

No. 1 Saraland Spartans at Baldwin County Tigers, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.

All-time series: Saraland leads 7-1.

Trend: Spartans have won four in a row.

Last week: Saraland beat Blount 35-0, Baldwin County fell to McGill-Toolen 27-9.

St. Michael Cardinals at Wilcox Central Jaguars, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.

All-time series: 0-0, teams’ first meeting.

Last week: St. Michael beat Orange Beach 49-41, Wilcox Central lost to Satsuma 41-12.

Snook Christian Eagles at Jackson Academy Eagles, Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.

All-time series: Jackson Academy leads 2-0.

Last week: Snook lost to St. Patrick (MS) 56-18, Jackson beat Pickens Academy 46-0.