As temperatures have been dropping, playoff races have been heating up and Week 9 of the high school football season brings some big games for the local region standings.

Five Baldwin County teams host games in the antepenultimate week of the regular season with many looking to solidify their status in the playoff picture.

Stay tuned to our social media channels (@GCMSportsAL) for more coverage from the sidelines, but until then, here are a few of the biggest games on this week’s docket.

Jackson Aggies at St. Michael Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.

In what will be a rubber match to break a 1-1 tie in the all-time series, St. Michael’s Thursday kickoff against Jackson is one with major impacts atop the Class 4A Region 1 standings.

The Cardinals bring their 4-1 record to Fairhope Municipal Stadium after last week’s 49-6 win over Wilcox Central while the Aggies bring their 3-2 mark fresh off a 55-0 win over Satsuma last week.

St. Michael won last year’s meeting 24-21 to open region play in Week 3 but the Cardinals have now scored 49 points in their last two wins to set a new school record for most points in a single game.

However, Jackson has only allowed 94 points against six region opponents so far this season, including less than 35 points to No. 7 T.R. Miller (32) and Orange Beach (31).

With a win, St. Michael would match last year’s win total that set a school record for most wins in a season.

Alma-Bryant Hurricanes at No. 5 Fairhope Pirates, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Coming off a bounce-back, rivalry win over Daphne, No. 5 Fairhope returns home to host Alma-Bryant for the teams’ ninth region meeting. The Pirates have won the previous eight meetings by a combined score of 290-108.

The Hurricanes dropped their second region game in as many weeks last Friday, 55-32 to Foley, and have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs with an 0-4 mark in the group.

Davidson Warriors at Foley Lions, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Foley is fresh off its first 50-point performance since the 65-34 win over Northview, Oct. 18, 2013. The win moved the Lions to the top of the Class 7A Region 1 standings with an identical 3-1 record to the Daphne Trojans and Fairhope Pirates.

With a win over Fairhope already under Foley’s belt, its game against Daphne will come next week. This week, the Lions will face Davidson which is coming off its second non-region win of the season over Park Crossing 28-14.

However, with an 0-4 region record, the Warriors have also been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and can only hope to play spoiler against the Foley offense that has scored at least 21 points in each of its last five games.

Spanish Fort Toros at Robertsdale Golden Bears, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

The Toros will be searching for their fourth straight win this season and ninth win over the Golden Bears in as many meetings dating back to 2014. Spanish Fort has scored at least 30 points in each of its last two region wins to help improve to 4-2 in Class 6A Region 1 for third place.

Robertsdale has scored at least 14 points in its last three games but has yet to crack the win column in seven contests and has also been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs with an 0-4 region record.

Wilcox Central Jaguars at Orange Beach Makos, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Similarly, Wilcox Central has yet to register a win in six games so far this season but has scored at least six points in its last three contests after being shut out for the first three.

Orange Beach got back in the win column in a big way last week with a 32-29 decision over Bayside Academy to lock in a 3-1 record on the road this season. The Makos’ 3-2 mark in Class 4A Region 1 has them tied for third with Jackson entering play Friday.

Orange Beach has scored at least 35 points in each of its last three games and has only allowed more than 30 points in its two region losses to T.R. Miller (37-12) and St. Michael Catholic (49-41).

Baldwin County Tigers at Murphy Panthers, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Originally a Thursday away contest, Baldwin County’s game against Murphy was moved to Friday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

All-time series: Panthers lead 16-10.

Trend: Teams have split last two meetings; Baldwin County won 23-7 in 2018 and Murphy won 19-7 in 2019.

Up next: Tigers host St. Paul’s Episcopal.

Bayside Academy Admirals at Escambia County Blue Devils, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

All-time series: Bayside Academy leads 2-0 having outscored Escambia County 61-6.

Trend: Admirals have lost last three, Blue Devils have lost two in a row and were shut out last week.

Up next: Bayside Academy hosts Satsuma.

Daphne Trojans at MGM Vikings, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

All-time series: Daphne leads 7-0 having outscored MGM 247-77.

Other meetings: First round of the 2002 playoffs, Trojans won 35-20.

Up next: Daphne travels to face Foley.

Elberta Warriors at Vigor Wolves, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

All-time series: 0-0, teams’ first meeting.

Trend: Elberta has lost last three, Vigor is 1-1 since Sept. 23 bye week.

Up next: Warriors host B.C. Rain.

Snook Christian Eagles at Wilcox Academy Wildcats, Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

All-time series: Wilcox Academy leads 3-0.

Last week: Snook fell to 0-7, 0-2 in region, with 58-7 loss to Jackson Academy; Wilcox Academy fell to 3-4, 1-1 in region for third place, with 22-14 loss to South Choctaw Academy.

Next week: Snook Christian hosts Sparta Academy.