The high school football postseason rolls on this Friday, as seven local teams are still alive in their quests for state titles and there’s no more bye weeks for top-seeded squads.
Five …
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The high school football postseason rolls on this Friday, as seven local teams are still alive in their quests for state titles and there’s no more bye weeks for top-seeded squads.
Five Baldwin County programs will be welcoming their Round 2 opponents to town while a pair will hit the road as all teams eye their respective state-championship games in Mobile.
Here are the players to know, X-Factors, background information and predictions for each Round 2 matchup:
Fresh off an opening-round bye, Daphne will get its postseason run started by welcoming a familiar foe to Jubilee Stadium.
Carver-Montgomery will be visiting the Eastern Shore for the second time this season, as the Trojans already took down the Wolverines by a score of 21-7 back in late August.
Tay Young
Daphne | Running Back | Senior
Notable Stats: 99 carries, 591 rushing yards, 6.0 yards per carry, 25 catches, 221 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns
Christian Segar and the Trojans’ passing attack receive plenty of well-deserved attention, but if Daphne is to mount a memorable postseason run, the offense will need to be balanced.
Enter the do-it-all Young, who has produced a plethora of explosive plays this season and has the elusiveness and speed to break down any defender in the open field.
And even if the Wolverine defense manages to bottle up the ground game, the senior tailback is a strong receiving option out of the backfield.
Can the Daphne offense find a second gear?
The Trojans boast plenty of high-caliber talent on the offensive side of the ball, but they have experienced an up-and-down 2026 campaign despite that reality.
Daphne managed just 15, 19 and 24 points in its three losses, while the team has also eclipsed the 40-point mark on a trio of occasions.
In order for Kenny King’s squad to make a deep run, Segar and company will need to be firing on all cylinders for a full 60 minutes.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 2-2. The Trojans had dropped the previous two meetings in the series before winning earlier this year.
As the cliché generally goes in football, beating a team twice in the same season is never easy.
Carver will be determined to avenge its earlier loss to Daphne, and the visitors are certainly a stronger team than they were back on Aug. 28.
However, a well-rested Trojans side should be able to outlast the Wolverines behind a balanced offensive effort, a handful of key turnovers and a raucous crowd at Jubilee Stadium.
The Wolverines and Trojans will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
Top-seeded Fairhope enters the 6A bracket as one of the hottest teams in the field, but a perennial power will be visiting W.C. Majors Stadium in order to test the home side’s championship mettle Friday.
Opelika will be deadset on upsetting the surging Pirates, while head coach Caleb Ross would love to take down a proven entity to begin his first playoff run at the helm in Fairhope.
Cooper Bell
Fairhope | Defensive Back | Senior
Notable Stats: 45 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 pass breakups
There’s plenty of great defensive backs in Baldwin County, but few can match the ball-hawking instincts Bell has put on display this season.
It seems like every one of his five interceptions have occurred during crucial stages of a game, and Bell pairs with fellow senior Gus Faulkner and a host of other Pirates in forming one of the region’s best overall defenses.
Can Fairhope produce explosive plays?
The Pirate defense figures to more than hold its own this Friday, and thus the burden of winning the game may fall on its counterparts.
Fairhope presents a balanced offensive attack behind the arm of Trey Garner and legs of Nic Ronsisvalle, but Caleb Ross’ side generally employs a fairly methodical approach.
In order to take down the Bulldogs and others in the future, the Pirates will need to come up with at least 2-3 explosives (30+ yard pass, 20+ yard run) per game in order to keep defenses honest.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 1-0 in favor of Opelika. The only other meeting occurred during the opening round of the 2006 AHSAA 6A Playoffs, which saw the Bulldogs come out on top by a score of 49-0.
While Opelika isn’t necessarily having the campaign it's used to, the Bulldogs still boast plenty of talent and have a higher ceiling than most 5-5 teams as a result.
Still, with Fairhope being fresh off statement wins over Daphne and Vigor to close its regular season, the Pirates take as much momentum into these playoffs as any team at the 6A level, and they should be able to ride that to a victory.
The Bulldogs and Pirates will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
The party carries on in Gulf Shores this week, as the undefeated Dolphins will welcome McAdory for their second straight home playoff game.
While this group has championship aspirations, Gulf Shores’ players are focused on staying focused and hungry with a formidable foe visiting town.
“We go into each and every game with a chip on our shoulder. We tell each other: ‘You scratch my back, I scratch your back,’” star wide receiver Carter Davis said following his team’s opening-round win over Ramsay. “And we just do that every game.”
“It’s just an intense program, and we stay on our edge,” hybrid DE/OLB Jackson Serman added.
Garrett Sharkey
Gulf Shores | Center | Junior
Notable Stats: Team averages 6.0 yards per carry, 138.4 rushing yards per game, 74% completion
There’s a lengthy list of names one could choose from Gulf Shores, but in an effort to change things up, Sharkey deserves a shoutout.
The junior center leads a Dolphins offensive line that has grown immensely throughout this season, and the unit has allowed sophomore quarterback Major Hudspeth to feel comfortable in the pocket while linking up with his many weapons.
Can Gulf Shores continue to dominate in the trenches?
Keeping with the lineman theme, the Dolphins have owned the line of scrimmage for much of this season, but McAdory is well-equipped to test that trend.
For Mark Hudspeth’s team, everything starts and stops with winning up front, as the defense continues to shut down opposing rushing attacks while the young (albeit elusive) Major Hudspeth has been well-protected in the pocket.
If all of that holds true this week, then Gulf Shores should find itself in a quarterfinal bout.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Gulf Shores and McAdory on the gridiron.
At this point, it’s tough to pick against the momentum behind these Dolphins.
And while McAdory is likely the toughest opponent Gulf Shores has played since its date with Saraland back in early September, Mark Hudspeth’s team is simply on a mission.
The final margin will be much closer than the 26-point win they picked up in Round 1, but the Dolphins will advance thanks to some more explosive plays from their stars.
The Yellowjackets and Dolphins will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
Spanish Fort ventured northwards in Round 1 and returned home with a 13-3 victory over Helena, and the Toros’ reward is another game on “The Hill.”
But visiting Benjamin Russell would love nothing more than to spoil the party and claim the program’s first-ever victory over Spanish Fort.
Brandon Marinho
Spanish Fort | Defensive Lineman | Senior
Notable Stats: 53 total tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
The heart and soul of this Spanish Fort defense resides in the trenches, as Marinho has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the season.
At 6-foot-3, the veteran does a lot of dirty work for the Toros yet still stuffs the stat sheet with plenty of tackles in the backfield.
And if Spanish Fort can keep this as a low-scoring game, then Marinho will be able to have an even larger impact on his side of the ball.
Will the Spanish Fort offense be able to remain balanced?
The Toros’ defense has held up its end of the bargain for much of this season, but its offensive brethren have struggled at times.
That latter unit averages just over 21 points per game, and it will need to keep defenses honest as the competition gets tougher beginning Friday. Quarterback Jaylyn “JJ” Thibodeaux and tailbacks Ford Turner and Ya’Lin Lee form a quality trio running the ball, but the passing game needs to hit on some more deep throws to help them out.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 5-0 in favor of Spanish Fort. All of the previous meetings have occurred in the postseason, with the Toros winning in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2024. Only one of those contests (2015) featured a single-score margin.
Being road warriors for a week allows Spanish Fort to return home for Round 2, although the opposition is increasing in difficulty at the same time.
But as has been the case all year, if the Toros can set the tone with their ground game and defense, then they’ll be able to extend their season.
The Wildcats and Toros will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
Once Bayside Academy’s lights began to cooperate last weekend, the Admirals were off and running. Barrett Trotter’s team was the last to finish its Round 1 game after a temporary power outage forced its contest against St. James to be played Saturday morning.
Bayside took care of business in that matchup as it looks to make another push towards securing the program’s first state title, although a tough and familiar Cottage Hill team will stand in its way this weekend.
Davis Barnett
Bayside | Quarterback | Junior
Notable Stats: 2,882 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Barnett has effectively followed up his stellar sophomore season with an even stronger junior campaign, and his best may be yet to come in the playoffs.
After all, the Admirals are a complete and balanced team, but one of the primary players who can push them to a championship level resides under center.
And it’s worth taking a moment to call attention to that 41-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. That is a highly difficult statline to produce at any level of football, and Barnett has largely made it look easy.
Can the Admirals stay the course?
The pathway to a second straight state title appearance seems to be fairly clear for Bayside, but turning projections into reality is always easier said than done.
With a sizable target on their backs, the Admirals will need to maintain a consistent level of focus while taking each team’s best shot, beginning with a Warriors side that will be out for vengeance.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 13-2 in favor of Bayside. The Admirals have won the past six games against the Warriors, with this being the first postseason meeting in the series.
The only two opponents Bayside lost to this season reside in larger classifications, and Barrett Trotter’s team will be extra energized to be playing under the lights of Friday night again.
As a result, Cottage Hill may keep this game close for a half, but the Admirals will continue their march towards another state-title appearance.
The Warriors and Admirals will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
One of the headlines of the AHSAA’s Round 1 action was Orange Beach, as the Makos secured their first postseason victory in program history by upsetting Charles Henderson, 21-20, on the road.
Head coach Wade Waldrop and company hoped that they’d be returning home for Round 2, but they instead have to hit the road for a fourth straight week in order to battle Sipsey Valley.
"I told them [players] last night that you're walking off the field in somebody else's house and seeing the tears from those guys as you go through the handshake line," Waldrop said following his team’s opening-round victory. "You're seeing that emotion, and you're understanding that you're playing to fight those off for another week."
Lee Steele
Orange Beach | Tight End/Defensive End | Junior
Notable Stats: 26 catches, 314 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 57 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 2 pass deflections
Like many teams in this article, plenty of players could have been chosen in this space, but Steele is fresh off one of his most impactful games of the season and thus deserves the spotlight. His team-high nine total tackles, three tackles for loss, 4 catches for 53 yards and a touchdown helped propel the Makos to an upset win over Charles Henderson.
Offensively, the 6-foot-6 tight end is impossible to cover with just one defender yet possesses the athleticism necessary to make someone miss in the open field.
And on the other side of the ball, Steele’s frame makes him a tough block for most high-school offensive lineman, as he constantly finds himself in the opposing backfield.
Can the Makos put together a full four quarters?
The early moments of Orange Beach’s opening-round contest against Charles Henderson last Thursday were straight out of a dream for Waldrop and his staff, as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
However, the middle portion of the game likely felt like a nightmare as the Trojans ripped off 20-straight points, with the Makos having to regain their footing and ice the win late.
It’s safe to assume that a major point of emphasis within the Orange Beach program this week was maintaining its edge for a full 48 minutes, and the team will need to do so this week.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Orange Beach and Sipsey Valley on the gridiron.
The cardiac Makos have experienced all of the ups and downs football has to offer this season, and they’re certainly riding high following last week’s performance.
Sipsey Valley is a similarly lower-seeded squad, and so both sides will feel as if they’re playing with house money as they aim to punch their tickets to a program-defining quarterfinal appearance.
Conventional thinking leads one to believe that Orange Beach will run out of gas during its fourth straight road trip, but after Waldrop’s team pulled off last week’s stunner, I won’t be betting against them from here on out.
The Makos and Bears will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
First-year head coach Bryan Moore’s Foley side picked up its first playoff win since 2014 with a dominant victory over JAG last Friday, but the going gets much tougher from here.
The Lions will be hitting the road Friday to clash with a banged-up yet still wildly talented Auburn team that hopes to hold off the confident visitors.
Jaxson Dixon
Foley | Wide Receiver | Senior
Notable Stats: 44 catches, 922 receiving yards, 11 carries, 204 rushing yards, 17 total touchdowns
Dixon can truly call himself a record-setter now, as he recorded his 17th touchdown of the year to pass the legendary Julio Jones for most in a single season by a receiver.
And given his track record of at least one scored in every game he’s participated in, it’s safe to assume that the senior receiver will find the end zone in some form or fashion Friday night.
Can the Foley defense steal some possessions?
The Lions’ offense figures to put points on the board no matter who is lining up on the other side of the ball.
Therefore, springing a road upset may come down to the performance of the Foley defense, which has struggled at times but also came up with some pivotal plays this season.
The unit figures to give up points, but if it can force a handful of turnovers or failed 4th-down conversions, then its offense will be able to get a consistent leg-up.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 2-1 in favor of Foley. All of the previous meetings also occurred during the postseason, with the Lions winning in 1995 and 2014 while the Tigers came out on top in 2013.
The combination of questions regarding the health of Auburn’s quarterback room and Foley’s potent offense have made this a trendy upset pick at the 6A level, especially considering the track record of Moore.
Still, it will take one of the grittier, most physical performances the Lions have produced this season to escape with a victory, because the home side will be hellbent on defending its own turf to kickstart another deep playoff run.
The Lions and Tigers will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
