The last undefeated team in Baldwin County will have its biggest test this weekend as the top-ranked Jackson Aggies are set for a Class 4A Region 1 clash in Fairhope against the St. Michael Cardinals.

St. Michael has gotten out to the best start in program history at 5-0 and will be coming off a bye week. The Cardinals were ranked No. 6 in last week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association state rankings which also registered the highest mark in program history.

Jackson opened its season with a 35-27 loss to Class 6A Saraland but won their next five games in a row having only failed to score more than 40 points against Class 7A Baker in Week 4. The Aggies have been the ASWA’s No. 1 team in Class 4A since the preseason poll.

Both squads are led by prolific quarterbacks who enter the game ranked in the top 10 of MaxPreps’ state passing leaderboards.

St. Michael sophomore Gunner Rivers checked in at No. 6 with 1,362 yards on 92-of-137 passing and 14 touchdowns against 1 interception. Jackson junior Landon Duckworth, a former South Carolina commit, was Alabama’s 10th-ranked thrower with 1,223 yards on 72-of-120 passing and 13 touchdowns against 6 interceptions.

Their top two receivers were also featured in the top 35 of MaxPreps’ statewide receiving leaders with Cardinal juniors Brody Jones (36 catches for 511 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns) at No. 12 and Tucker Tomlinson (23 catches for 421 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns) at No. 25.

For the Aggies, junior Keeyun Chapman (21 catches for 458 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns) was ranked No. 20 and senior Junior Payne (24 catches for 383 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns) sat at No. 35.

Jackson leads the all-time series 3-1 where St. Michael’s lone win came in Philip Rivers’ first year at the helm in 2021. The Aggies recorded a 42-21 win in last season’s matchup.

Foley Lions at Fairhope Pirates

The Pride of the Blue and Gold trophy will be on the line as Foley and Fairhope will square off the 102nd time according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society. The Lions have won the past two in a row, both by only one possession, but the Pirates won five straight before that. Foley owns the all-time lead at 54-43-4.

This year, the Lions enter 3-2 overall and on a two-game skid within Class 7A Region 1 for a 1-2 record with losses to Daphne and MGM as well as a win over Robertsdale. Foley was on a bye last week.

Fairhope will bring its 4-2 overall record to the table which includes a 3-0 mark in region play with wins over Alma-Bryant, Davidson and Robertsdale. The Pirates lost a four-game win streak last week with a 15-7 defeat to Theodore in non-region action.

Bayside Academy Admirals at Hillcrest Evergreen Jaguars

A major road test awaits the Bayside Academy Admirals fresh off a bye week at 4-1 overall. Hillcrest Evergreen will enter 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Class 3A Region 1 where the lone loss came to top-ranked T.R. Miller.

The Jaguars have scored at least 20 points in their last four games to average 29 points per game, but the Bayside Academy defense improved to an average of 10 points allowed per game with a pair of shutouts before the break.

While the teams haven’t met in three years, the previous two matchups needed extra time to find a winner. The Admirals secured a 24-21 victory in double overtime in 2020 before Hillcrest Evergreen won 34-28 in overtime in 2021.

Bayside Academy holds a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series, including a state semifinal shutout in 2015.

Other Week 7 matchups

Baldwin County Tigers at Saraland Spartans

Team records entering play: Baldwin County started 0-5 overall and 0-3 in 6A Region 1, Saraland opened 5-0 overall and 4-0 in region. Last year: Spartans won 56-7. All-time series: Saraland leads 9-1.

Davidson Warriors at Daphne Trojans

Team records entering play: Daphne started 3-3 overall and 1-2 in 7A Region 1, Davidson opened 1-4 overall and 0-3 in region. Last year: Trojans won 56-14. All-time series: Daphne leads 13-7.

Elberta Warriors at Vigor Wolves

Team records entering play: Elberta started 0-5 overall and 0-3 in 5A Region 1, Vigor opened 5-0 overall and 3-0 in region. Last year: Wolves won 46-7. All-time series: Vigor leads 2-0.

Escambia County Blue Devils at Orange Beach Makos

Team records entering play: Orange Beach started 4-2 overall and 2-0 in 4A Region 1, Escambia County opened 2-4 overall and 0-3 in region. Last year: Blue Devils won 28-15. All-time series: Tied 1-1.

Robertsdale Golden Bears at Baker Hornets

Team records entering play: Robertsdale started 2-4 overall and 0-3 in 7A Region 1, Baker opened 4-1 overall and 3-0 in region. Last meeting: Hornets won 33-10 in 2013. All-time series: Golden Bears lead 22-7-1.

Snook Christian Eagles at Lighthouse Christian Stingrays

Team records entering play: Snook started 0-5 overall and 0-3 in AISA’s 2A Region 1, Lighthouse opened 3-3 overall. All-time series: Teams’ first meeting

Spanish Fort Toros at Blount Leopards

Team records entering play: Spanish Fort started 5-1 overall and 3-1 in 6A Region 1, Blount opened 1-3 overall and 1-2 in region. Last year: Toros won 44-0. All-time series: Spanish Fort leads 9-2.

St. Paul’s Saints at Gulf Shores Dolphins

Team records entering play: Gulf Shores started 2-3 overall and 2-1 in 6A Region 1, St. Paul’s opened 5-0 overall and 3-0 in region. Last meeting: Saints won 51-13 in 2019. All-time series: St. Paul’s leads 8-2.

Washington County Bulldogs at Bayshore Christian Eagles

Team records entering play: Bayshore Christian started 1-3 overall and 0-2 in 2A Region 1, Washington County opened 4-2 overall and 3-0 in region. All-time series: Teams’ first meeting.