November brings with it crisp air, colorful leaves, the inescapable smell of pumpkin…and playoff football.
The high school football regular season concluded over Halloween weekend, meaning …
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November brings with it crisp air, colorful leaves, the inescapable smell of pumpkin…and playoff football.
The high school football regular season concluded over Halloween weekend, meaning that programs across the state are now turning their attention towards what they hope are lengthy postseason runs.
From Baldwin County, nine teams will be participating in the AHSAA’s various brackets, spanning from the smallest Private A level to the largest 6A classification.
The opening round begins this Friday, and with Daphne and Fairhope both currently enjoying bye weeks, seven local teams will be in action this weekend, with four of them playing at home.
Here are the players to know, X-Factors, background information and predictions for each Round 1 matchup:
*All AHSAA brackets can be found at this link.*
Wade Waldrop’s Makos are looking to make history in the coming weeks, as they could earn their schools’ first playoff victory this Thursday and can reach double-digit wins for the first time in school history with another positive result in the Second Round.
*This game is taking place Thursday due to it occurring at Troy’s home stadium, as the Trojans are hosting a game Saturday.*
Lee Steele
Orange Beach | Tight End/Defensive End | Junior
Notable Stats: 17 catches, 199 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 47 total tackles, 5 sacks
Listed at 6-foot-7, Steele is hard to miss on either the field or court, and he’s been a force to be reckoned with throughout the fall.
The junior holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee, and his combination of immense size and athleticism has made him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
Can Orange Beach’s offense create explosive plays?
The Makos have prided themselves on producing highlight-reel plays on the offensive side this season, while the Trojans have only allowed one team to score more than 27 points.
Thus, something has to give Thursday night.
If Orange Beach can get guys like Steele, Verchaun Simms, Devin Gause and Deundrea Gray into space with regularity, then it will have a strong shot at springing an upset.
This will be the first-ever meeting between these schools on the gridiron.
Waldrop and his staff have built Orange Beach into a playoff-caliber program over the course of the past three years, and the fruits of their labor will be on display this week.
Still, going on the road and taking down a team of Charles Henderson’s pedigree will require winning the turnover battle, owning field position and benefiting from a handful of fortunate bounces.
The Makos and Trojans will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Making its first playoff appearance since 2022, third-seeded Foley will welcome sixth-seeded JAG to Ivan Jones Stadium. The Lions are seeking their first playoff victory since 2014.
Jaxson Dixon
Foley | Wide Receiver | Senior
Notable Stats: 44 catches, 922 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns
Nicknamed “Jack Rabbit,” Dixon resembles the nimble animal in his ability to evade defenders, and he’s been a standout for the Lions throughout this campaign.
The senior has recorded over 100 receiving yards in five separate games and just tied Julio Jones’ single-season touchdown record with his 16th during Foley’s 53-32 win over St. Michael.
Can Foley’s defense start its playoff run on the right foot?
The Lions have rarely struggled to put points on the board during Bryan Moore’s first season at the helm, but their defense has endured through its fair share of ups and downs.
However, the unit showed signs of improvement down the stretch, and Foley’s defensive performance may end up being the difference between this team making a memorable run.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 2-0 in favor of JAG. The programs’ only two meetings occurred in 1982 and 1983.
Overall, Foley’s offense figures to be too much for a JAG team that has allowed five teams to eclipse the 40-point mark. Judah Spencer, Makai Holmes, Jaxson Dixon and the Garcia twins should all build off their strong showings in the regular-season finale with another productive game.
The Jaguars and Lions will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
With rumors swirling around the future of head coach Philip Rivers, St. Michael will begin its postseason run with a rematch against Glenwood.
Nygel Mitchell
St. Michael | Running Back | Junior
Notable Stats: 244 carries, 1,989 rushing yards, 8.2 yards per carry, 26 touchdowns
Currently ranking third overall in the state when it comes to rushing yardage, Mitchell figures to eclipse the 2,000 mark early in this one.
When star quarterback Gunner Rivers went down during the Cardinals’ opener, the St. Michael coaching staff opted to lean on their star tailback, and that strategy has paid plenty of dividends.
The real question each week has been whether Mitchell will break 200 yards, as he’s done that in half his appearances thus far.
Can the Cardinals block out the exterior noise?
It appears more and more likely that Philip Rivers will join his son Gunner in heading to NC State next year, and that’s created a unique dynamic around the 2026 St. Michael squad.
The Wolfpack alum and current head coach has frequently emphasized that he wants to finish out this high school season properly before making any formal decisions, but that can still weigh on a team.
And considering the Cardinals lost to Foley, 53-32, in the first game since Rivers’ name began to swirl around the position, it remains to be seen if the news impacts the program’s postseason run.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 1-0 in favor of St. Michael. The Cardinals have already taken down the Gators once this season, as they earned a 48-27 victory back on Oct. 16.
Despite all of the outside noise, St. Michael still possesses a star-studded coaching staff and roster, and the program has been to back-to-back semifinals.
So while tougher tests lie ahead, the Cardinals should stall the Rivers-to-NCSU news for at least another week as they make it two wins over the Gators behind a balanced offensive performance.
The Gators and Cardinals will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Dolphins capped their second-ever undefeated regular season last Friday, and they now begin their run in the 5A playoffs as one of the favorites to take home a state title..
Carter Davis
Gulf Shores | Wide Receiver | Senior
Notable Stats: 54 catches, 778 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns
“The fastest man in Alabama” has more than lived up to that moniker this season, as he’s been a major reason why the Dolphins have been able to enjoy such a dominant campaign.
The West Virginia commit can find the end zone of a screen pass just as easily as he can on a go-route, and he will likely be atop the scouting report for every one of Gulf Shores’ postseason opponents.
How does Gulf Shores handle life as the hunted?
The Dolphins have taken plenty of teams’ best shots this season and still remain unblemished, but the playoffs bring with them a different level of intensity.
And with there being an underlying expectation that this team can make another state-title run, it will be up to Mark Hudspeth and the Gulf Shores veterans to keep the group level-headed this week and beyond.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 1-0 in favor of Gulf Shores. The only meeting between these programs occurred in the 2023 AHSAA 5A State Title Game, which resulted in a 21-14 victory for the Dolphins.
Ramsay presents a stiff opening-round challenge for top-seeded Gulf Shores, but assuming Hudspeth and company can maintain their usual focus, they should have little issue in keeping their season alive.
The Rams and Dolphins will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Toros bounced back from a two-game skid by cruising past St. Pauls’ in their season-finale, and Chase Smith’s team will now hit the road to battle a Helena squad that boasts a mirroring record.
Brandon Marinho
Spanish Fort | Defensive Lineman | Senior
Notable Stats: 47 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
The Toros defense has propelled its team to such a strong season, and Marinho acts as the heart and soul of that unit.
The senior constantly creates havoc in the backfield while also acting as a vocal leader for his squad, and his ability to completely wreck offensive game plans could prove pivotal this weekend.
Can Spanish Fort’s offense build off a strong finish?
After being largely bottled up during losses to Gulf Shores and Saraland, the Spanish Fort offense regained its rhythm during a 35-14 win over St. Paul’s last week.
Now the Toros will hope to maintain that momentum, and if electric receiver Devin McKenzie can replicate the 166-yard, three-touchdown performance he produced in the finale, then the visitors will have a solid shot at returning to “The Hill” victorious.
The all-time record for these schools currently stands at 1-0 in favor of Spanish Fort. The lone meeting between the programs occurred in the 2020 AHSAA 6A Second Round, a game that resulted in a 40-7 Toros win.
Despite dropping games to Gulf Shores and Saraland down the stretch, Spanish Fort still has its sights set on another deep playoff run.
Its defense figures to travel well, but Jaylyn “JJ” Thibodeaux and the offense will also need to hold up their end of the bargain.
The Toros and Huskies will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Golden Bears are making their first playoff appearance since 2004, and they will venture up to Montgomery for their second straight game at the Cramton Bowl this Friday.
Kyron Williams
Robertsdale | Defensive Back | Senior
Notable Stats: 5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, 1 interception in last game
Williams has been a consistently productive member of the Golden Bears’ defense this season, and he’s fresh off a standout performance during his team’s 29-10 win over Park Crossing last week.
Can Robertsdale force Carver into a defensive battle?
The visiting Golden Bears have kept themselves in games this season largely thanks to their defense, while Carver’s offense averages exactly 30 points per outing.
If Robertsdale can keep this game in the teens and make it a one-possession contest in the fourth quarter, then it will have a shot at springing the road upset.
This will be the first-ever meeting between these schools on the gridiron.
Robertsdale has had to battle through various off-field dealings while still making a playoff push this fall, and it would be fitting if the program is rewarded with its first postseason victory since 2001.
Accomplishing that will be a tall order against a tough Carver program, which is searching for its first playoff win since 2017.
The Golden Bears and Wolverines will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
Having come oh-so-close to claiming the school’s first state title last season, Bayside is looking to finish the job this year, and it all starts Friday in Daphne.
Davis Barnett
Bayside | Quarterback | Junior
Notable Stats: 2,700 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Barnett has followed up a stellar sophomore campaign with a somehow even more impressive 2026 season, as he’s cut down on his turnovers while being on pace to eclipse his touchdown mark from a year ago.
The ball leaves Barnett’s hand like it’s got a homing beacon attached to it, and the signal-caller’s ability to be incredibly efficient while rarely throwing to the other team has made him one of the top quarterbacks in the state.
Can the Bayside offense regain its swagger?
The Admiral offense enjoyed a prolific 2026 campaign up until last week, when the unit was shut out by Gulf Shores’ imposing defense.
Still, Bayside averages just under 40 points per game, and the offense is fully capable of lighting up the scoreboard on its way to another championship appearance.
Against an opponent that the Admirals should be able to move the ball well against, this opening matchup should provide Barrett Trotter’s team with a great chance to regain its confidence.
The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 2-2. The Admirals beat the Trojans in 2017 and 2018, with those being sandwiched by victories for St. James.
Trotter and company should begin another memorable playoff run this week, and Bayside fans can expect plenty of high-flying offense and gaudy statistics to result from this one.
The Trojans and Admirals will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
