With both teams sitting at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in district play, Foley and Baker are essentially mirror images of each other at this stage in the still-young season.

As a result, their meeting this Friday figures to be intense and hard-fought, as the Lions will welcome the Hornets for a pivotal matchup under the lights.

The difference between a win or a loss in this game is immense, as falling below .500 heading into a bye week would put a damper on the mood surrounding either program. But taking a 3-2 mark into the break would provide each program with a much-needed boost heading into the second half of the campaign.

With all of that rolled into one and this being Foley’s first home game in three weeks, the environment at Ivan Jones Stadium projects to be raucous for this district contest.

First-year head coach Bryan Moore knows this could be a crucial result for his Lions as they look to return to their winning ways this fall, while Baker is set on bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss to Daphne last Friday.

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

Players To Watch

Jaxson Dixon

Foley | Wide Receiver | Senior

Notable Stats: 11 catches, 252 receiving yards, 260 rushing yards, 7 total touchdowns

One of the most dynamic skill-position players in the county, Dixon has been a focal point of the Foley offense throughout this season.

Moore and his staff made it a mission to get Dixon the ball from the jump–as evidenced by his three touchdowns in the opener–while keeping defenses guessing as to where the senior may line up on the field.

Against a talented defense from Baker, Dixon will be counted upon to continue creating explosive plays for the Lions.

Jatavius Jacobs

Foley | Defensive Back | Senior

Notable Stats: 44 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, 2 blocked field goals

On the other side of the ball, Jacobs has similarly been a do-it-all star for Foley, as the veteran defensive back has been a tackling machine in addition to his lockdown abilities in coverage.

But perhaps what’s most impressive about Jacobs’ season thus far is that he’s already managed to block a pair of field goals, proving that he’ll do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Gavin Wood

Baker | Running Back | Senior

Notable Stats: 62 carries, 303 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry, 5 touchdowns

For the Hornets, their running back certainly brings “the wood.”

At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Gavin Wood is a force to be reckoned with when he tots the rock. He’s already ran for over 100 yards in two separate games and found the end zone three times during his team’s win over Davidson two weeks ago.

If the Lions are to emerge victorious, they will need to at least slow down Wood’s momentum on the ground.

The X-Factors

1. Has the Lions’ defense found its footing?

Foley’s wins and losses are fairly similar in makeup.

In defeats against McGill-Toolen and Fairhope, the Lions gave up 42-plus points.

In victories over Spanish Fort and Alma Bryant, the opposition scored 26 or less.

All four of those contests saw Foley score between 28 and 35 points, meaning that the offense has been consistent and, in turn, the difference between a win or loss has come down to the Lions’ defense.

Jacobs and the rest of his unit will be hoping to maintain the level of play they found during last week’s 28-26 win over Alma Bryant, because holding a team below 28 points appears to be enough for Foley to emerge with a victory this season.

2. Who handles the pressure of the moment better?

As was mentioned earlier, there are plenty of implications accompanying this game.

With each team facing a fork in the road and the atmosphere figuring to be electric, Ivan Jones Stadium will resemble a pressure-cooker Friday night.

Thus, the team that takes home the win may simply be the one that better handles the nerves and intensity that will surround this clash.

Fortunately for the home side, it has experience in winning close games already:

3. Can Foley contain Wood and the Baker ground game?

The Lions’ defensive capabilities and Wood’s rushing productivity have been well-documented, and the battle in the trenches will be key to the outcome in more ways than one.

Baker would obviously love to get Wood going because that would lead to more points, but the visitors will likely also strive to dominate the ball and prevent quarterback Judah Spencer and the Foley offense from spending much time on the field.

Notes To Know

• The all-time record between the schools currently stands at 17-12 in favor of Baker. The Hornets have won the last eight in the series, with the Lions having last come out on top in 2017. Ironically enough, Foley did win the first 14 games over Baker, a streak spanning from 1954-2001.

• The Lions and Hornets are two of four teams that currently stand at 1-1 in 6A Region 1 play. Daphne and Fairhope are the only sides to have started at 2-0.
• Foley begins a three-game homestand with this contest. Following a bye, Davidson and Daphne will visit in successive weeks.

Parker’s Perspective

Predicting this game could come down to a coin flip, because there is little separating these two teams and plenty for each side to gain or lose.

As mentioned above, Baker’s ability to get its rushing attack going will be a key factor in this one, because Foley’s defense will wear down as the night goes on if Wood keeps churning out 3/4-yard gains.

But, I do believe that home-field advantage will play a factor here. The Lion faithful will be excited to welcome their team back to friendly confines following two weeks away, and the added boost from that reality should keep Foley above water.

In the end, Spencer will need to produce one of the best performances of his career to give his team a chance, and like most of their games this season, the Lions will likely find themselves in a fourth-quarter battle.

Just like its last home contest, Foley should be able to pull out a close win in the final moments.

The Lions (2-2, 1-1) and Hornets (2-2, 1-1) will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.