Seven Baldwin County football teams punch tickets to state playoffs

Foley, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Bayside Academy, Snook set to open playoffs Nov. 4

By Cole McNanna
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 10/25/22

Out of Baldwin County’s 12 high school football teams, seven have qualified for the 2022 state playoffs as top-four teams in their regions entering the final week of the regular season.

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Seven Baldwin County football teams punch tickets to state playoffs

Foley, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Bayside Academy, Snook set to open playoffs Nov. 4

Posted

Out of Baldwin County’s 12 high school football teams, seven have qualified for the 2022 state playoffs as top-four teams in their regions entering the final week of the regular season.

On the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) circuit, Class 7A (first-place Foley and third-place Fairhope) and Class 4A (second-place Orange Beach and fourth-place Bayside Academy) will have two county representatives while only third-place Spanish Fort and second-place Gulf Shores will represent Class 6A and 5A, respectively.

In the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) realm, Snook Christian secured a fourth-place finish in Class 1A Region 2 with its first win of the season last week to qualify for the program’s second postseason.

As top-two teams, Foley, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will be set to host playoff games in the first round.

It will serve as the Lions’ first home playoff game since the 2014 state semifinal against Prattville and it will mark the second consecutive season the Makos have hosted a postseason game although both teams will look to avenge losses their last time out at home in the playoffs.

In a year of firsts for the Dolphins, who have been ranked for the first time in program history and have been off to their best start in team history, the Gulf Shores squad earned its first home playoff game as well.

Meanwhile, Fairhope, Spanish Fort and Bayside Academy will hit the road for its first playoff games after extending postseason streaks of their own.

The Pirates are in the playoffs for the sixth straight season and the Admirals punched their fourth straight playoff ticket while the Toros are gearing up for their 15th consecutive postseason in their 17th season of varsity play.

For updates throughout the postseason, stay tuned to gulfcoastmedia.com/sports and follow on social media @GCMSportsAL. Until then, here are the local playoff pairings that have already been solidified entering Week 11.

Class 6A

Spanish Fort Toros at Pike Road Patriots, Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

Entering the Nov. 4 first-round matchup, Spanish Fort will open their 15th straight postseason with a 45-10 overall record in the playoffs searching for their 15th straight first-round win.

Pike Road is no stranger either, however, and is coming off a Class 5A state championship into its fifth straight postseason.

Class 5A

Carroll Eagles at Gulf Shores Dolphins, Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

Gulf Shores is postseason-bound for the first time since 2013 and only the fourth time in program history. The Dolphins had one more region game remaining this week against B.C. Rain on the road.

Carroll is entering its third straight postseason but searching for its first playoff win since 2017.

Class 4A

B.T. Washington Golden Eagles at Orange Beach Makos, Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

Orange Beach won the right to host its second straight playoff game behind a high-scoring offense that has already set program records for points in a single game (55 last week) and a whole season (330 points through nine regular season games).

Booker T. Washington is also making its second postseason appearance in program history and first since 2016.

Bayside Academy Admirals at Montgomery Catholic Knights, Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

While these other first-round matchups will be the teams’ first meetings, Bayside Academy has run into Montgomery Catholic the last two playoffs. The Admirals had both postseasons ended by the Knights but the squad from Daphne won both games when the teams were region foes in 2010 and 2011.

This year, Montgomery Catholic has been the top-ranked team in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A state poll all season with an undefeated record. The Knights were also ranked No. 1 in the final three polls from last season and have now run their top-ranked streak to 14 consecutive polls.

AISA Class 1A

Snook Christian Eagles at Lowndes Academy Rebels, Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

The previous postseason trip for Snook came in its second varsity season in 2018 when the Eagles went 2-3 in a six-team region. This season, Snook picked up its most important win last week over Sparta Academy, 46-32, which secured fourth place in the five-team region to extend the Eagles’ season.

Snook Christian will draw the No. 1 seed in Region 1, the defending state champion Lowndes Academy Rebels, in the opening round of the playoffs.