Here’s a look at five key games to watch in Coastal Alabama as the 2022 high school football season kicks off.
The full coastal schedule follows. Jamboree games not included.
GOLF CUSHION AT ST. MICHAEL
Time/location: 7pm, Thursday, Fairhope Municipal Stadium
Last year’s records: Gulf Shores (6-4 overall, 3-4 in Class 6A, Region 1); St. Michael (6-3 overall, 3-3 in Class 4A, Region 1)
In the air: Radio – WNSP-FM 105.5
The skinny: Year 2 for both Mark Hudspeth and Gulf Shores’ head coach and Philip Rivers in St. Michael. Both won six games in 2021, but neither made the playoffs. … Hudspeth’s dolphins drop from 6A to 5A this season. Gulf Shores will have a new quarterback in senior Brendon Byrd, who switched from Spanish Fort after starting 27 consecutive games for the Toros. The Dolphins return for all intents and purposes and DB Ronnie Royal III, who is still ranked among the best junior prospects in the state. The offense will also include senior RB JR Gardner. Senior DL Caiden Clark will help anchor the defense. … St. Michael got a necessary practice match last week in Athens, Rivers’ alma mater. The Cardinals will try to build on a season in which they won more games than the program had won in previous years combined. QB Josh Murphy returns along with all-state back Ezra Sexton and senior linebacker Clay Barr. St. Michael’s Defense Front Seven has a lot of experience, including 3 out of 4 LBs returning.
Baker quarterback Josh Flowers has quickly become one of the top recruits of 2024. (Tom Deck | preps@al.com)
BAKER AT THEODORE
Time/location: 7pm, Friday, CA Douglas Field, Theodore
Last year’s records: Baker (7-4, 6-2 in Class 7A, Region 1. Lost at Auburn in first round of playoffs); Theodore (10-2, 7-1 in Class 7A, Region 1. Lost to Central-Phenix City in second round of 7A playoffs).
In the air: AFTER
The skinny: The first time these two teams played a non-region game against each other since 1993. Theodore dropped to Class 6A this year, while Baker remained in Class 7A. In a regional game a year ago, Theodore recovered from a 14-0 deficit and beat the Hornets 36-31. The Bobcats have had five consecutive wins in the series, leading 47-8-1. … Baker’s attack this year will revolve around junior quarterback Josh Flowers, the AL.com Coastal Newcomer of the Year in 2021. Flowers started the final nine games of his sophomore season. He completed 108-of-159 passes for 1,992 yards and 20 TDs. He was intercepted only twice. He also rushed for 859 yards and 12 TDs on 115 carries. He is listed as the No. 10 junior prospect in the state, according to the 247 composite rankings, and already has an offer in Alabama. … Theodore will again count on a strong running game and a stingy defense. Since 2016, Eric Collier’s team has allowed an average of only 13.4 points per game. The star on both sides of the ball this year is likely to be senior Southern Miss commit Will James.
Daphne senior wide receiver Stacey Boykins and head coach Kenny King respond to a comment during Baldwin County Media Day on July 13, 2022 in Daphne, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com)
SARALAND IN DAPHNE
Time/location: 7 p.m., Friday, Jubilee Stadium, Daphne
Last year’s records: Saraland (10-3, 7-0 in Class 6A, Region 1. Lost to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in Class 6A Quarter Finals); Daphne (5-5, 5-3 in Class 7A, Region 1. Lost in Central-Phenix City in Round 1 of Class 7A Playoffs)
In the air: TV – WJTC-UTV 44/WPMI NBC 15
The skinny: Saraland leads the short series 4-2. The two teams last met in 2019 and the Spartans won 49-13. … In a rare twist, the two 2021 quarterbacks switched teams in this off-season rivalry. KJ Lacey, who started most of his first season for the Trojans a year ago, is now in Saraland. Gabe Reynolds, the Spartans’ 2021 starter, is now with Daphne. … Jeff Kelly is 104–34 in 11 years as head coach at Saraland. The Spartans have won at least 10 games in each of the last four seasons and have made it to the 6A quarterfinals two years in a row. They lost a few stars from 2021 in WR Jarel Williams (West Virginia) and DT Trevon McAlpine (Texas Tech), but this year’s roster includes three highly regarded sophomores in Lacey, RB Santae McWilliams and WR Ryan Williams. …Former NFL standout Kenny King is 42-24, entering Year No. 7 with Daphne, his alma mater. The Trojans have made the playoffs in five of his previous six seasons. His team returns six starters on offense and seven on defense. WR Stacey Boykins could be a playmaker on the offensive side while senior DL Johnnie Perdue will anchor the defence.
Cole Blaylock of UMS-Wright gives the defender a stiff arm during the UMS vs Helena football game, Friday, October 29, 2021, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
UMS-WRIGHT AT ST. PAUL’S
Time/location: 7pm, Friday, EE Delaney Stadium, Mobile
Last year’s records: UMS-Wright (11-2, 6-0 Class 5A, Region 1. Lost to Andalusia in Quarter Finals Class 5A); St. Paul’s (8-4, 5-1 Class 5A, Region 1. Lost on Pike Road in Class 5A Second Round).
In the air: Radio – Sports Talk 99.5 FM, WNSP-FM 105.5
The skinny: This isn’t a region game this year with St. Paul’s going back to Class 6A through competitive equilibrium, but that probably won’t take away from the intensity of the “Battle of Old Shell Road”. … UMS coach Terry Curtis enters Year No. 24 as the state’s active leader in career wins with 336 wins. He follows overall leader Buddy Anderson with 10 wins. Senior All-State RB Cole Blaylock returns for his senior year. He rushed for 1,398 yards and 19 touchdowns on 241 in 2021. He also caught 12 passes for 106 yards, returned 17 kicks for 511 yards and a TD, and returned 29 punts for 406 yards. … St. Paul’s begins a new era with defensive coordinator Ham Barnett taking over longtime coach Steve Mask. The Saints will rely heavily on UAB deploying Chris Bracy on the run back and in the defensive backfield. Sophomore Braxton Byrd is expected to replace John Wallace Holladay at QB after Holladay moves to Orange Beach for the off-season. … The series has been hotly contested since its inception in 1978. UMS leads 22-21. The Bulldogs have scored a total of 783 runs. St. Paul’s has scored 718. UMS has won three of its last four, including a 24-13 win a year ago.
Blount’s Deshune Williams runs the ball during the McGill vs Blount football game, Friday, October 15, 2021, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
POWER AT BLOUNT
Time/location: Friday 7pm, Harris-Terry Stadium, Eight Mile
Last year’s records: Vigor (14-1, 6-0 Class 4A, Region 1. Won the Class 4A state title); Blount (3-7, 2-5 Class 6A, Region 1).
In the air: TV – MCPSS TV
The skinny: The “Battle of Prichard” will probably have the biggest crowd of the week in the mobile area. This year it has two new head coaches – Markus Cook takes over at Vigor for John McKenzie. Josh Harris is the new head coach at Blount. …The Wolves have risen to 5A after winning the 4A crown a year ago. They return nine of 11 starters on a defense that allowed just 12.1 points per game a year ago and held 11 opponents to 14 points or less. Reigning Class 4A Lineman of the Year and UAB commit Michael Towner Jr. will anchor the unit up front with Brandon Purifoy at LB and Alcorn State commit Jermaine Holcomb Jr. in the secondary. … Harris will try to get the Leopards back on track after missing the playoffs for the second time since 2006. Deshune Williams returns as running back and will be joined by Chickasaw transfer Jarius Houston. They will both be chasing South Alabama OL Willis Anderson. … Vigor collected a 22-13 win at Ladd-Peebles Stadium a year ago and leads the overall series 36-14.
WEEK 1 COASTAL ALABAMA SCHEDULE
Thursday’s Games
Gulf Shores at St. Michael
JU Blacksher at JF Shields
Linden in Choctaw County
Friday Play
Baker at Theodore
Bayside Academy in Elberta
BC Rain at Excel
Citronelle at Millry
Cottage Hill in Escambia County
Foley in Prattville
JU Blacksher at JF Shields
LeFlore at Chickasaw
Marengo in Washington County
McGill-Toolen at Montgomery Catholic
Monroe Academy at Jackson Academy
Pike Liberal Arts at Mobile Christian
Saraland at Daphne
Snook Christian at Cornerstone Christian
Spanish Fort in Fairhope
St. Luke’s in Flomaton
Sumter Central at Wilcox Central
TR Miller at Hillcrest-Evergreen
UMS-Wright at St. Paul’s
Power at Blount
Williamson at Mary G. Montgomery
WS Neal in Georgiana
MORE HIGH SCHOOL COVERAGE
AL.com Preseason Power 25 Ranking
22 games to watch in 2022
What’s the best rivalry in the state?
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