A recently established rivalry series, Bayside Academy will welcome St. Michael Catholic for the schools’ seventh meeting on the gridiron Friday.

With the vast majority of public programs enjoying bye weeks and each team possessing plenty of star power, all eyes will be on this matchup between sides that have experienced very different starts to their seasons.

For the Admirals, it’s been smooth sailing on their way to a 4-0 record. All of Bayside’s victories have come by double digits, and the offense is scoring a whopping 51 points per game while its defense only allows just under eight per outing.

But the Cardinals will present easily the toughest test that Barrett Trotter’s team has faced thus far. Led by NFL legend Philip Rivers, St. Michael endured through an injury to starting quarterback Gunner Rivers in the opener and three tough losses before securing its first win of the season last week, a 39-35 result at St. Paul’s.

Therefore, Fairhope’s side is taking plenty of momentum into this one, and handing the home team its first defeat of the season would keep the good times rolling for Rivers and company.

Meanwhile, Bayside is eager to prove that its 4-0 record is no fluke, and a statement win over St. Michael would certainly accomplish that.

Here are the players to keep an eye on, keys to the game and other notes to know ahead of kickoff:

Players To Watch

Davis Barnett

Bayside Academy | Quarterback | Junior

Notable Stats: 1,095 passing yards (10th in state), 83% completion, 20 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Regardless of the competition, producing a statline like that as a quarterback is wildly impressive.

‘Flawless’ is the only term that seems fitting, as Barnett has peppered the ball to a variety of targets this season, rarely makes mistakes and possesses full command of Trotter’s offense at this stage in his career.

Still just a junior, Barnett can become a household name across the state with a standout performance this Friday.

Nygel Mitchell

St. Michael | Running Back | Junior

Notable Stats: 664 rushing yards, 7.0 yards per carry, 11 catches, 79 receiving yards, 7 total touchdowns

Mitchell established himself as one of the focal points within St. Michael’s offense right from the opening drive of the season, and he’s maintained that trend ever since.

A versatile back with true breakaway speed in the open field, Mitchell’s productivity has kept the Cardinal offense afloat while Rivers rehabs his injury, and he’ll look to frequently test a tough Admiral defense this weekend.

Braedyn Walton

St. Michael | Wide Receiver | Junior

Notable Stats: 28 catches, 386 receiving yards, 13.8 yards per catch, 5 receiving touchdowns

Walton has burst onto the scene as a breakout performer for St. Michael this season, with the 5-foot-11, 180-pound target leading the Cardinals in most receiving categories.

Elusive with the ball in his hands or while running routes, Walton has produced three 100-yard games already and will hope to make it four on Friday.

The X-Factors

1. How will the Cardinals attempt to throw Davis Barnett out of rhythm?

The first order of business for any team looking to take down Bayside this season has been to slow down its passing attack. But as mentioned above, none of the Admirals’ first four opponents have been successful in that endeavor.

Coming off a strong sophomore campaign, Barnett has managed to one-up himself through the early portion of this season. The chemistry the signal-caller has with the likes of Ladd Powers and Ward Hix combined with his experience within the program has created an offensive juggernaut.

After Battle Ground’s Bo Bryan found plenty of success against the St. Michael secondary in Week 1, that unit has rebounded nicely in recent weeks, and it’ll look to put that improvement on display this Friday.

2. Is Bayside’s defense ready to contain the caliber of athletes St. Michael possesses?

The Admirals’ defense has been stingy thus far, but none of Jackson, Bayshore Christian, St. Luke’s or Northside Methodist possess the offensive talent that St. Michael will field.

Thus, Bayside’s defensive leaders (Powers, Grant Yeager, Kellan Yamane, etc.) will need to be at their best throughout this game. The likes of Mitchell and Walton can find the end zone at a moment’s notice, meaning that breakdowns and miscommunications can’t be a concern for the Admirals this weekend.

3. How does Barrett Trotter’s team handle the pressure/expectations associated with this game?

As one of the final remaining unbeaten teams in Baldwin County, much has been said about Bayside Academy’s 2026 squad.

Some have applauded the Admirals’ dominant start, while others have doubted the team’s abilities due to its strength of schedule.

Trotter and his group likely won’t struggle to ignore the outside noise, but it’s human nature for them to realize that this is a prove-it game for their season. How Bayside handles the expectations and pressure associated with this marquee matchup will go a long way in determining if the home side can emerge with a win.

Notes To Know

• The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 4-2 in favor of Bayside. However, the Cardinals have won the past two meetings in the series, including a 41-10 victory to open the 2025 campaign.
• While Bayside’s aerial assault gets most of the attention, junior tailback Wells Smith (266 rushing yards, 7.8 yards per carry, 3 total TDs) has been quietly productive as well. And with St. Michael having just given up nearly 300 yards on the ground last week, perhaps the Admirals can find similar success.
• Gunner Rivers has been approaching a return to action from his lower-body injury, but his status for this Friday’s contest is still up in the air. In Rivers’ absence, junior Marshall Pitre has performed admirably, and he’s fresh off the first 200-yard game of his career.

Parker’s Perspective

With plenty at stake for both sides, Bayside and St. Michael should produce a tightly contested, back-and-forth game on Friday.

Barnett and the Admiral offense figure to trade punches with the likes of Mitchell and Walton all night, meaning that turnovers and red-zone success will likely determine the victor. Whichever defense can steal some possessions and force the opposition to kick field goals will give its team a leg-up.

This is a toss-up in my eyes, but I’m willing to pick the slight road underdog to take home the win here. I believe the Cardinals are riding high off plenty of confidence and momentum from their win last week, and even with Rivers’ status still up in the air, St. Michael can win this game.

Bayside’s offense should still find success, but not to the level it has in previous weeks. That, combined with explosive plays from the visitors and some crucial forced turnovers, will prove to be the difference.

The Admirals (4-0, 3-0) and Cardinals (1-3, 1-2) will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.