Latest / The Gulf Coast Sports Pulse with Gulf Coast Media / Episode 4 - Foley's wild win over Baker and county wide playoff outlook

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Episode 4 - Foley's wild win over Baker and county wide playoff outlook · The Gulf Coast Sports Pulse with Gulf Coast Media

• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: Hello, welcome back to the Gulf Coast Sports Poll.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: So my name is Parker Gillum, as always, the sports editor here with Gulf Coast Media.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: And uh today I'm joined by uh local athletics guru John Mullen as we uh discuss all the recent happenings in uh Baldwin Hount County's high school football realm.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um and we've kind of hit that that midway point uh of the season, John, and so there's uh yeah, a lot kind of taking shape, um, you know, standings really taking form, um, and a lot of you know teams just kind of jocking for postseason positioning at this point.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so we'll we'll start uh kind of with uh what was probably the game of the week in the area, um, just it full of highlights, full of points, 93 combined points specifically between Foley and Baker on Friday night.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: And um I was there in person, but before I kind of jump into all that, um just kind of uh John from from afar, just what was it like kind of seeing this this final score after the game?
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, what were your what were your impressions when you were like, wow, that uh that was something.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: I actually got to watch the end of this game.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um watch foley come back.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: It was a lot of fun.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: Really good, really good job, really good job.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: And um good job by you for getting the the video of the winning touchdown.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: That was uh that was awesome.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, I was uh I was very fortunate.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: I was fortunate in a couple uh times during that game to be to be in some good spots.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I do not um you know, I'm I'm by no means a professional videographer, but I at least was able to get some some decent clips of yeah, the game winning touchdown, which uh yeah, I mean you kind of sum up the game briefly.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, most fans were you know probably well uh well read up on this by now.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, both teams entered at uh at 500 on the season, uh, both the district play and overall, making this kind of a massive swing game heading into a bye week.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I mean they they virtually scored at well throughout the night.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_01: It almost kind of led fans to wonder if they were watching a football game or a track meet.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and there were plenty of eye-popping statistics as a result.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, Judas Spencer, quarterback for Foley with 400 yards, five total touchdowns.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_01: Jackson Dixon had eight catches, over 100 yards, multiple touchdowns.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: Cameron Page as well for Foley, huge day.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but then in his own regard, uh Tay Graham for Baker, I mean, 372 yards and three touchdowns.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, their running back Gavin Wood also went for 100.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's just it was an incredible back and forth game.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Baker, you know, as you kind of mentioned, Baker was leading for most of that first half.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and really was was uh you wouldn't say in control, but they had the leg up, you know, when when the teams were trading essentially scoring drives at will throughout that first half.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: Well, Baker was the one team to get a stop, and that's why they were able to go uh into the half with the lead.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: But um it was Foley's defense in the second half, you know, letting up 45 points, they're probably not going to get pat on the back too much for that, but only allowed 10 points in that second half.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: And they really stood tall.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_01: And then Judah, as you said, kind of down the stretch, really clutch play after clutch play.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then the game-winning touchdown run, diving for the pylon with, you know, I believe it was under 30, 20 seconds left at that time.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then Baker's Hail Mary attempts kind of uh kind of fell short uh towards the end.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um and so obviously, I mean, as we mentioned, a huge result puts fully above 500 on head coach Brian Moore's first year, um, and gives them a ton of momentum to go into uh the rest of their schedule with uh in a very um, you know, kind of positive manager.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_01: And I think uh we've been talking about fully as that team that's better than the record is, lost a couple close ones.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and this is their chance, I feel like, at least to kind of take this momentum and run with it, especially when you look at this upcoming schedule.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_01: You got Davidson at home after the bye week, which is looking very winnable, and then a massive date uh rivalry game against Daphne will also be at home after that.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: And then following that, it's Robertsdale and Mary Montgomery, both very winnable games and uh season-ending game uh against St.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: Michael Catholic, but that'll be obviously non uh non-region impacted.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: So just kind of seeing that schedule real quick, and just John, your thoughts on how how Foley can kind of, you know, they they've uh endured through this kind of early stretch of a lot of tough games, and now they seem like they're coming on the the other side of it in a decent spot.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: So just kind of have what do you what do you expect from them uh the rest of the way?
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe they've made a turn, you know, it was gonna be either them or Baker that's one and two in the region now.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: And they stepped up and got that win.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um Daphne game should be a lot of fun.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um but after that, like you say, that the rest of the schedule, they should be all right um and and have a pretty good playoff seed, you know, through the region.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: I, you know, the only one I think they might lose now would be that Daphne game.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: And that's gonna be a really good game.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_01: That should be atmosphere, should be should be great for that one.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: Daphne obviously um tied with Fair Hope atop the uh standings both at 3-0.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they have yet to play each other this year, obviously.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um district standings, I mean there.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: And then you've got Mary Montgomery uh tied with Foley at 2-1.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_01: So that'll be another big game on that when that happens.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but then um beyond that, yeah, you really have to like how Foley is is standing after kind of you know Rocky started the season, especially defensively, and not everything's figured out on that side of the ball yet, clearly, but um I think they showed against a really quality offense, they showed um, you know, the signs of improvement moving forward.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um but uh speaking of kind of another game in that in that same region um that took place on Friday, and just there was a lot going on, you know, or surrounding this game between uh Robertsdale hosting uh Fair Hope um on Friday night and uh to kind of set the scene.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_01: Uh yeah, so the Golden Bears uh leading up to this game, um, you know, it'd been a lot kind of came up during the week of, you know, oh uh head coach Justin Jones and 10 of the his players uh would be suspended by the AHSAA uh to for that Friday's game uh due to as they kind of termed it, uh, you know, recruiting uh violations, activities, uh suspicion of recruiting is is really probably the best term for it.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um and so I I I ended up going to the uh the hearing that Friday morning um over at the uh the Baldwin County satellite courthouse.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_01: And uh Coach Jones was granted his TRO.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the players were granted one in Montgomery County the the previous night, and so they were all able to play.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um long story short, though, it did not mean too much for Robert Still.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_01: They still ended up losing 32 to 6 um against Fairhope, uh a Faroe team that we we've talked plenty about on this show uh throughout the year, and they continue to seem like they're really hitting their stride.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, I mean John, I'll just ask, just your A, your takeaways from kind of the whole socket during the week leading up to this game, and then also just kind of how how things played out.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_01: Was it kind of as expected once once every all the dust settled?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the the all the drama for this game was before the game.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um I'm not real well versed in what actually happened, but I'm I'm imagining that it's probably something that's pretty common nowadays, and maybe they step too close to the line, you know.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: You never know.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: But um the game ended up being kind of a ho-hum, another Fair Hope win, you know, over Robersdale.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure they've probably beaten them a lot in the last, you know, in the history.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: But I still think Robersdale's got a little fire.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: And they may end up uh um you know messing up and getting a big win before it's over.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: That's what they need.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: They're playing hard, they believe, they just need to get a big win.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I think um, yeah, I think that is that's the goal.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_01: And so you're looking at, you know, you they have, for instance, back-to-back home games later this season against Alma Bryan and Foley.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_01: I think those are you know really prime opportunities to be able to do that.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um they do get they have to go visit Daphne coming out of this bye week, which will be very difficult for them.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but but we'll see.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_01: Upsets have certainly happened this season.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, definitely um yeah, for and for a bit of context uh to provide um you know some some background on that.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um also as a quick aside, uh yeah, Robert Stale's not beaten Fairhouse since 2001, as far as I can see.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: So it is uh it has been a while.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um but yes, more context on that.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so uh HSA, I'll try to sum it up as best as I can, long story short.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they they um a couple months prior, um Robert Stale had taken um some kids from Pensacola, some transfers in.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and originally it was just three players that they were focusing on.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: And AHSA just reached out wanting um more information on their residency, how they're paying rent, um, some contact information, all that kind of stuff.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_01: Robert Stale shared it.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_01: Apparently it went all through and everything was fine.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_01: And then um, I believe it was late August, uh, I believe August 28th, I want to say was the date when they officially kind of made this a reality, I guess.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_01: But um the number got bumped up to 10 players.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and apparently an anonymous letter had been sent to the HSAA.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, some claim that it was written by AI on the on the defense side, but um, regardless, it was essentially claiming that they had, you know, some violations, you know, with recruiting and with these transfers and you know stuff to look into, which, you know, is happening at college and high school level across the country right now.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, um, pretty much every high school organization is dealing with this.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, the HSA already has a massive case that that might get federal involvement um with the uh with Mary Montgomery as well ongoing.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: And so that was another case that was kind of brought up during this.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but regardless, um the HSA wanted phone records dating back seven months from the coaches to see who they were contacting, if they were contacting these players and their families.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_01: And they also wanted the this the students' phone numbers themselves, not their phone records, but the numbers themselves.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_01: And um it came out hey, the players' families were not too, you know, thrilled with that.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_01: And so I think only they said only one of them ended up sharing their contact information.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: And um secondly, and probably even bigger of a deal was that um apparently a lot of the Robert Sales head coaches had cricket wireless, and uh cricket is not without a court subpoena, they can't give you phone records longer than a month in the past, you know, for customers.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: And so that was uh that was another big talking point.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_01: And so push came to shove, uh TROs dealt out.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's still, you know, the status of that is still ongoing.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: It does seem like the AHSA um is uh they were grasping at some straws.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: It seemed like in that hearing they were they were looking for a venue change, um, because as they said, AHSA, every kind of appeal or you know, filing with them has to go through Montgomery uh county court.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but of course, head coach Austin Jones is not, you know, coaches aren't listening to that handbook.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, they aren't really held technically to the same rights as the schools and the HSA because um, you know, as as it kind of came out, you know, the HSA apparently sends all of its communications for suspensions, et cetera, directly to the schools and principals.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: The coaches, players never were contacted, you know, according to to what they were saying.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: And so a whole lot going on there.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, long story short, Robert Stale at least has their full team as of right now, and we will see how it is uh kind of ongoing, especially coming out of this bye week for them.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: But um, yes, so a lot leading into that game for a game that, you know, kind of ended up being, as you said, ho-hum, if you will.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and speaking of ho-hum, um, unfortunately, I had to uh assign John a pretty boring game uh this this past weekend.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we didn't we didn't expect it to be by any means, but um, and it was it was a Spanish Four win, so a local team came out on top.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, 19-0, unless I'm mistaken, over Blunt.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you you watch most of that game.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_01: Just kind of give me give me your perspective.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_01: I know it was kind of a grudge match that you know not not a whole lot happened, but a big road win for Spanish Fort regardless.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was um they they fought hard.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: It was a slug fest, but I mean there was a penalty every other play.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um it took um they had two penalties on Blunt just to get off uh a free kick after they gave up a safety.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: It was it was it was wild.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: But um it was like I say, Spanish Fort came up with the plays they needed uh to get a win, and it was a region game as ugly as it was.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um you know they got scores, um, they took advantage of you know penalties uh against Blunt and uh like the two on the the free kick and got uh got points with all they needed.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um I don't know what happened to Blunt's running game.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: They had a really good running game against Gulf Shores, but they um they had one drive where that um Johnson um uh Kevon Johnson had some really good runs, and I think they ended up you know ending it with an unsportsman-like penalty or something.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: And um what yeah, yeah, it was uh it was tough to watch.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_01: And so and I guess coming out of that, just to kind of look ahead, give you something else to to think about.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_01: But just you know, now you you blacked back weeks, watch Golf Shores play blunt and then Spanish Fort played blunt.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, at different venues, um, and you know, games progress in very different ways.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_01: But just um your thoughts now that those two teams kind of have a another common opponent and just kind of how they stack up for each against each other when they've got you know a big Gulf Shores will pay a visit to Spanish Fort later, um, later in October for for a massive matchup.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_01: So just kind of what what are your takeaways having watched both of them back to back play the same team?
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's how well Gulf Shores can stand up to uh Spanish Fort's running game.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: Can they stand up to um uh they have a really good offensive line, but and Gulf Shores has a good defensive lineman as well.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: Um, because I think Gulf Shores will be able to score.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um and and if they can't stop Spanish Fort from running, you know, they're gonna be able to, you know, there'll be a lot of scoring on that side as well.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_00: But that's where it's gonna be one at.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: If Spanish Fort can run at will, um be a long night, you know.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, then Gulf Shores may score with them because uh they got the passing game, Spanish Fort's more of the rushing game.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: So uh it's gonna it'll be a fun game.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, definitely uh definitely will likely be a contrast to styles, uh, I think for sure, which um kind of is what you want in games of of you know that kind of that kind of caliber and those uh those implications, I guess if you will, one uh it could could potentially be a region title on the line by that uh point of the season or at least kind of a leg up in in that realm.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_01: So um yeah, it should be interesting.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, as we as we kind of said, that's um you know, last weekend, I mean, almost almost every local team that could win won.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's got we now have three undefeated with Bayside Orange Beach Gulf Shores, and then we have three more at four and one between Daphne, Fairhope, and Spanish Fort.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then you've also got Foley lurking right behind at three and two.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_01: So a lot of uh a lot of big-time Pussy's contenders.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and that's not even to mention St.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_01: Michael getting their first win uh over St.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_01: Paul's over the weekend, Marshall Petrie leading them to that one with Gunnar Rivers still out.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um they end up winning 39-35 thanks to a huge game from Braden Walton and running back Nigel Mitchell.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: And so now they have a massive game this week that we will we will touch on uh a little bit later that I'll be there uh in person for as well.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: But before we jump into all that, um we'll just uh as we kind of do here, uh give our give our major takeaways from this latest slate of games.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um and for me, I just kind of wanted to want to talk about momentum, especially with um us being in the midst of a bye week for most teams right now, and um just how how teams can kind of take positive results from from ahead of the bye week and and maintain them through the bye all the way to their next game.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: And just you talk to a lot of coaches about how they handle bye weeks and how they do that kind of um, you know, handle that with their players and keeping them focused while also giving them some space.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_01: And so um I just think that, you know, the likes of Daphne Farrow, Spanish Forward, Foley, they're all riding high amidst some some winning streaks.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then obviously that's not to mention three teams are still uh blemished on the year.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, yeah, momentum is one of the most kind of overused, hard to quantify aspects of sports, and yet it seemingly does impact every outcome, whether you like it or not.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and in the case of some of these local teams, it just seems like it's gonna take a pretty strong counterforce or simply one of you know the other Baldwin County teams, I guess, uh to kind of halt their momentum at this stage.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, dare I say as well, St.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_01: Michael's getting their first win could kind of springboard them into a strong finish this season, considering they had a a lighter schedule, they have lighter scheduled down the stretch, started out with a very tough uh slate of games.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_01: And so um, yeah, momentum is it's something to monitor as we cross the halfway point and begin focusing on which teams are going to be playing their best ball heading into this postseason.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, on from your perspective, John, just kind of what are you what are you taking away from this uh now that we're halfway through the year?
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I hope we have as uh many good games in the second half as we did the first half.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, you just finished that great Foley game, and we you talked about Guff Shores and Blunt and Orange Beach had that, you know, knock down the two-point conversion play, which incidentally you got a video of that as well, I believe.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: And um, you know, those were some really good games.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I just hope some of these which I think we will have some some really good games uh coming up, especially when these the top of the region teams start playing each other, you know, as we go down the you know, uh get into the schedule.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that starts like on October 2nd with um Orange Beaches at Williams.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_00: And then they should both still be undefeated when that happens.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um that's gonna be a really big game.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is uh to your point, yeah, definitely shaping up to be a a massive second half of the season.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's like, yeah, you're looking at you know, Foley hasn't played um, you know, Daphne, uh Daphne yet.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: I think you've got Daphne who still has to play Foley and Fairhope.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and just a lot, a lot of games like that that'd be going on that are going to be uh really entertaining um and impact the standings a lot.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um but now we've touched on this kind of being a bye week for for a lot of teams, and um there is still a handful of games being being played.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, most of the area teams enjoying those midseason buys.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um three games kind of poppling the slate with Baldwin County teams, and I'll kind of start where with where I'll be at, uh, which is gonna be kind of the game of the week, um, you know, potentially in the region, or at least for a lot of people, there will be a lot of eyes on this one, and that's gonna be uh Bayside Academy uh playing their fifth straight home game to open the season, fifth and final of this homestand.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they're gonna be welcoming St.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_01: Michael Catholic, as we mentioned, fresh off their first one of the season.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I was hearing rumors and mumblings um last Friday night that this could be the game that Gunnar Rivers is at least aiming to come back for.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_01: I have heard nothing to confirm that since then.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so we will see Friday night.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_01: I'll be there uh in person to kind of document that.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_01: But um still, regardless, it'll be an interesting game.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_01: You know, Bayside undefeated has largely walked through uh a schedule that has featured teams that they frankly are a lot better than and should have been able to beat, you know, by 30, 40 plus points like they have.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_01: This is the toughest test so far.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_01: I think a lot of people are still saying, hey, is Bayside really legit, or have they just benefited from this lighter slate of games?
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_01: St.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_01: Michael comes in, yes, one in three, but you look at A, the talent level on this team, and B, how how the season has progressed for them.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, the injury to Rivers is well documented, but a handful of really just close losses.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_01: Their record could be very uh different, you know, even without Rivers.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: And so you've got two teams that are really looking to prove something.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_01: Bayside looking to prove that they are legit and that they're you know one of the the top contenders of the private school level, and St.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_01: Michael looking to show that, hey, we're we're riding the ship right now and we're ready to make a second half run.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_01: So it makes for a really interesting game on this, as well as St.
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_01: Michael, they haven't uh they haven't been home since September 4th.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_01: And so this is their final home game of Big Roads or road game of a big road stand.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_01: So um a lot of a lot of storylines to follow.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, Davis Barnett for Bayside as well has had a phenomenal season, but I think a lot of people are interested to see him go up against the St.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_01: Michael defense.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_01: And so um, yeah, John, just kind of with me having set the stage there, just kind of your thoughts on how you think this one might play out on the seventh meeting between these two, uh, with St.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_01: Michael having won the last two, Bayside being winners of the first four.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's good to see St.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: Michael scoring again.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: It seemed like those those two games they lost other than the season opener, they didn't score a lot of points.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: And that's just not the way they play football.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_00: They have to score a lot of points to be successful.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_00: It's good to see them getting some points.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think they'll be able to play with Bayside, and I and I think you're right about the level of competition.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_00: I think um St.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_00: Michael's will have better defensive players than probably Bayside has seen up to this point.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_00: And and you know, it'll be I think it'll be an interesting game.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_00: And uh it's good to see that quarterback um what'd you say?
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: His name was Hype.
• 20:13
  unknown: Uh uh.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_01: There's David Davis Barnett was Bayside's quarterback.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but for St.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_01: Michael's it was Petrie, I think.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: Marshall Petrie, yeah, yeah.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_01: Had a great guy, it was over 200 yards, two touchdowns.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah, had a uh had a really great game, and he's got some great weapons to get the ball to as well, so that definitely helps.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think it'd be a great game to watch.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um and it could signal a lot of things.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think so.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, again, Bayside is looking to earn the school's first state title after being so close last year.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, beating an opponent like St.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_01: Michael could really prove that you're capable of that.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so yeah, I think a lot to watch.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_01: I think most people in the area will be uh, and this is also from what I can tell, obviously, I'm new to the area, but I've heard it is a um, you know, kind of a growing rivalry between the two schools, obviously being kind of the biggest private schools in Daphne and Pharaoh perspectively.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, as I said, this is the seventh meeting uh between these schools.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_01: St.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_01: Michael has really taken control of the series in the past two years, and so we'll see if uh Barrett Trotter squad can uh can even things out this time around.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but also taking place Friday um will be um Orange Beach hosting 1A Marion.
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um that's partially mostly because they were supposed to be playing uh Pasely out of Georgia this week, and uh that uh uh Georgia team had to uh back out of that matchup.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_01: And so um kind of a fill-in game, essentially.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, almost again, it's a 1A opponent, and so you kind of draw the the um inferences you will from that, if you will.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_01: Marion enters that one and three on the season, you know, Orange Beach should be able to, in the trenches and on the perimeter, really dominate this game, and it should be another comfortable win.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um and kind of a nice tune up, you know, ahead of that Williamsome game you were talking about.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_01: So just you know, again, and you you're gonna be kind of covering it, and you know, we we expect it to be one of those that by halftime third quarter, it's the second, third strings getting in.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_01: Just kind of what what do you think uh Coach Walger wants to see out of Orange Beach this Friday ahead of that big game against Williams.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I think they they won't they're obviously um aware of you know Francis Marion.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_00: I think they gave up 62 points last week and I don't even know who they played.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_00: But um and he was he's been talking about how um you know get a lot of players to play, do the right things, um, you know, treat the other team with dignity, he's talking about things like that.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_00: And so, you know, that's kind of I wish they were playing basketball because uh Francis Marion is like one of the top three or four successful basketball programs in in the state.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: They play basketball really well, but I've they don't do a lot in football, I guess because they're so small.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, I would I hope Coach Lash will uh schedule them in basketball.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_00: That would be a lot of fun.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that definitely would be.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_01: That would be see if they can uh yeah, maybe they can get a get a bit of revenge for what might happen on on Friday.
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, should be, as I said, kind of a good tune-up game for Orange Beach.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_01: I think the the main goal will probably be uh for the Makos to stay healthy, I would imagine, from the coaching staff.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, again, as that that Williamson matchup looms as you know, two undefeated is more than likely going head to head.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_01: You've got first place in the region, you've got playoff positioning.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_01: So next week that will be a massive game.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_01: We will we will talk plenty more about that as well.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um but uh last thing we kind of want to do in wrapping up this uh this episode, with it being a lighter week of games, is just kind of uh make some make some selections, make some throw our opinions out there in terms of you know, halfway point of the season.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_01: Who do we think is shaping up, you know, not just record-wise, but you know, team, eye test-wise, just who who can make the deepest playoff run?
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_01: What what team is built to be able to last in the postseason this year?
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I'll I'll start by throwing it to you before before I throw my uh my name in the hat.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_01: Just kind of who who do who are you liking uh to make to make some deep postseason runs this year?
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it it there's a lot of them.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of teams that we cover in Baldwin County could be could do this, could make those uh long runs.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um I would Orange Beach and um Gulf Shores, um, according to what they you know what games they get in that second round, you know, first I'm I believe they'll make a first round home game.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um far as Daphne and Fairhope and Foley, that's um you know, either one of them I think could um you know could make a deep run playoffs.
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you get the right breaks, the right luck.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_00: They've got talent to play, talent enough players to play at that level.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_00: And um Spanish Fort, you know, you know, they're always hanging around.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh get the right break.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they got that tough kid at quarterback, Tibet O.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_00: He seems like late in the game he just starts, all right, I'm running the ball now, guys.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_00: Let's see what we can do, you know.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_00: And he's a good player and uh they got a tough defense.
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_00: So there's a lot of teams, you know.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, St.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_00: Michael's in um Bayside are gonna make the playoffs no matter what, because all the teams in that division make the playoffs.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I know, and then we we we've talked about it before, but I mean when you're looking at St.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_01: Michael, and you know, I mean maybe they do end up just going on a massive winning streak and end up getting a higher seed, but they're gonna be a lower seed in these playoffs, and some poor higher seed in the in the private school ranks is gonna see them first round and not be very happy at all.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_01: And uh that's that's sometimes just how it works out.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_01: So um, but yeah, I I'm kind of with you.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I do there's there's a lot of options at this point now, which is a great problem to have.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_01: It's fun, you know.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_01: I think playoff time will be uh will be very busy in Baldwin County.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, I think I think the one thing that stands out to me first is just, you know, with so many of these teams, it's it's veteran quarterbacks leading them, you know, with with the Daphne, Farhoe, Foley, Spanish Ford, I believe, unless I'm mistaken, all are seniors, or at least all have started before this year um leaving their teams.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_01: But I think we'll really pay dividends um when uh playoff time comes around.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_01: Uh conversely, I think you look at the likes of Gold Shores Orange Beach, where again, unless I'm mistaken, both our sophomore quarterbacks, yes, have plenty of experience and have, you know, played very well throughout this season.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_01: So you wouldn't expect them to do anything uh otherwise.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, when playoff time comes around, lights get brighter, weather's a little cooler, you know, we'll we'll see how they perform.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_01: So I think that's the only slight question marks I would have for those two teams.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think Tucker Wade and Major Odd Smith have done nothing to suggest that they won't be able to handle the moment in the spotlight like that.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they definitely seem mature beyond their years, but just something to monitor, I think, going forward.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, if I'm picking some teams, I mean, I we've talked a lot about Fair Hope, and I they're they're kind of the safe pick, I think, in my eyes, but some part of me really likes the ceiling that Daphne has in terms of just their talent, but also their balance.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I just think they they're probably playing their A plus game.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_01: I think Daphne has less weaknesses than almost any other team in the county.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_01: I just I think their defense is really, they've been consistently really strong.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_01: And it's been up to the offense each week, um, which has a ton of talent.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, Christian Seeger, South Alabama commit.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, you got guys like Tay Young, Chris Ridington that are that are studs uh at the skill position spots.
• 26:43
  SPEAKER_01: And so it's just been about them kind of finding their rhythm.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_01: And so that's why I'm interested to see the second half of the season, you know, does is Daphne's offense really able to put it all together?
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: Because if they are, I don't know many teams in the area that could beat them.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_01: And so they'll they'll be tested plenty down the stretch, and so we'll see.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_01: But Daphne might be my my tentative pick um as of right now.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_01: Again, I mean, I don't think you can go wrong with probably about top six or seven teams, though, could easily you know make a run.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_01: And so I think that that's what is gonna make this fun.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_01: So um, yeah, I guess yeah, if you if you uh kind of your your closing thoughts on the on the playoff push, though, as we get uh get into the second half of the season.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, um it's gonna be a lot of fun to watch.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_00: I'm looking forward to to covering the games and uh and seeing them play.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, in the back of my mind, I keep thinking about Sarah Land.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they're not in the county, but they're in that division, you know, they've made the state championship for the last four years.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so you know, you gotta throw them in there as it mentioned.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and especially if they if they were to meet Gulf Shores in the playoff game, the revenge factor, that would be there would be a lot going on there.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_01: And so that would uh that would be interesting.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_00: One thing I like about Daphne and and going on is like you said, about their balance.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they they can beat somebody 21 to 7 and it feels like they won 42 to so by the way they played, you know, so that because they're so good fundamentally, and and and now that was it, and they're so balanced.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, Daphne could be.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it's just three had three points.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, 18-15 was that that final score.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_01: So um, yeah, should be interesting and plenty to look forward to throughout the rest of the season.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, that's that's about all we have for you guys today.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh again, if you enjoyed what you heard, be sure to share the episode on social media platforms and just tell family, friends, or whoever you think may be interested.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_01: Sports podcast at the Baldwin County Twist.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and as we said, we'll be back for another episode at the same time next week, uh, previewing the back half of the season in another full slate of game.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_01: So enjoy this weekend and we'll catch up with you guys then.