The intra-county matchup between the Gulf Shores Dolphins and Spanish Fort Toros highlights local action as the final month of the regular season gets underway.

It will serve as Gulf Shores’ first trip to The Hill since the Dolphins’ previous stint in Class 6A Region 1 three years ago. Spanish Fort holds a 15-1 lead in the all-time series where Gulf Shores recorded its lone win during the teams’ first meeting in 2006.

The Dolphins enter this year’s contest 2-4 overall and 2-2 in region play while the Toros will be 6-1 overall and 4-1 in region.

Both squads are led by relentless tacklers who find themselves in the top 20 of MaxPreps’ state rankings as of Tuesday.

Gulf Shores junior Landon Everett is Alabama’s top tackler with 106 total between 69 solos and 37 assists to go along with 11.5 tackles for loss over 6 games. Spanish Fort senior Bishop Burkhalter checked in at No. 18 with 88 total tackles between 40 solos and 48 assists to go along with 6 tackles for loss and 1 sack over 7 games. Both linebackers’ single-game high sits at 21 total tackles where Everett logged that many twice (against Choctawhatchee and Saraland) and Burkhalter did so against Theodore.

Cottage Hill Christian Warriors at Bayside Academy Admirals

Another pair of the state’s top tacklers suit up for the Bayside Academy Admirals and lead their team into a home meeting against Cottage Hill Christian with an undefeated record in region play.

Bayside Academy enters 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Class 3A Region 1 while the Warriors will be 1-5 overall and 0-3 in region. The Admirals won the teams’ last meeting 35-7 in 2021.

Junior classmates Billy Neill and Monroe Partin both represented Bayside Academy in the top 10 of MaxPreps’ state rankings as they both approach 100 total tackles entering their seventh game of the season.

Neill was the seventh-ranked tackler in Alabama with 98 total tackles between 55 solos and 43 assists to go along with 7 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Partin ranked No. 10 with 96 total tackles between 50 solos and 46 assists on top of 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack. They both recorded 20-tackle games to set a season high so far where Neill did so against St. Michael and Partin did so against Hillcrest Evergreen.

Jackson Aggies at Orange Beach Makos

The top spot in Class 4A Region 1 will be on the line when the Jackson Aggies come to Orange Beach to play the Makos. Both teams enter 3-0 in region play where Jackson, the state’s No. 1 team in Class 4A, will be 6-1 overall.

Orange Beach will enter 5-2 overall fresh off a pair of stellar defensive performances against Class 7A Robertsdale and Escambia County last week in region play. The Makos have allowed only 5 first downs and 80 yards of offense to go along with 9 forced turnovers, including a pick-six from junior James Key, over their last two games.

However, the Aggies are the top-ranked team for a reason and will enter off a dismantling of No. 6 St. Michael by a 55-16 score where junior quarterback Landon Duckworth and sophomore running back EJ Crowell teamed up to deal the most damage. Orange Beach is scheduled to close region play against the Cardinals from St. Michael in Week 10 on the road.

Other Week 8 matchups

Baker Hornets at Foley Lions

Team records entering play: Foley will be 3-3 overall and 1-3 in 7A Region 1, Baker will be 5-1 overall and 4-0 in region. Last year: Hornets won 55-44. All-time series: Lions lead 17-10.

Bayshore Christian Eagles at Central-Hayneville Lions

Team records entering play: Bayshore Christian will be 1-4 overall and 0-3 in 2A Region 1, Central-Hayneville will be 1-5 overall and 0-4 in region. All-time series: Teams’ first meeting.

Daphne Trojans at Alma-Bryant Hurricanes

Team records entering play: Daphne will be 4-3 overall and 2-2 in 7A Region 1, Alma-Bryant will be 1-5 overall and 1-3 in region. Last year: Trojans won 49-35. All-time series: Daphne leads 8-0.

Fairhope Pirates at MGM Vikings

Team records entering play: Fairhope will be 5-2 overall and 4-0 in 7A Region 1, MGM will be 6-1 overall and 4-0 in region. Last year: Vikings won 24-10. All-time series: Pirates lead 39-14-1.

LeFlore Rattlers at Elberta Warriors

Team records entering play: Elberta will be 0-6 overall and 0-4 in 5A Region 1, LeFlore will be 1-5 overall and 1-3 in region. Last year: Warriors won 31-13. All-time series: Elberta leads 3-1.

Murphy Panthers at Baldwin County Tigers

Team records entering play: Baldwin County will be 0-6 overall and 0-4 in 6A Region 1, Murphy will be 0-7 overall and 0-5 in region. Last year: Panthers won 34-20. All-time series: Murphy leads 18-10.

Robertsdale Golden Bears at Davidson Warriors

Team records entering play: Robertsdale will be 2-5 overall and 0-4 in 7A Region 1, Davidson will be 1-5 overall and 0-4 in region. Last meeting: Golden Bears won 22-17 in 1999. All-time series: Tied 1-1.

Southern Academy Cougars at Snook Christian Eagles

Team records entering play: Snook Christian will be 0-6 overall and 0-3 in AISA’s Class 2A Region 1, Southern Academy will be 0-7 overall and 0-3 in region. All-time series: Teams’ first meeting.

St. Michael Cardinals at Mobile Christian Leopards

Team records entering play: St. Michael will be 5-1 overall and 3-1 in 4A Region 1, Mobile Christian will be 2-4 overall and 2-1 in region. Last meeting: Leopards won 43-20 in 2021. All-time series: Mobile Christian leads 4-0.