Latest / The Gulf Coast Sports Pulse with Gulf Coast Media / Episode 2 - Football time on The Island

Transcript

Episode 2 - Football time on The Island · The Gulf Coast Sports Pulse with Gulf Coast Media

• 0:13
  SPEAKER_01: All Baldwin County athletics.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_01: All the county.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, welcome back to the Gulf Coast Sports Poll.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: So my name is Parker Gillen, the sports editor here with Gulf Coast Media.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: And uh joined as always for the second edition by uh local athletics guru John Mullen as we just kind of discuss all the recent happenings in Baldwin County High School Sports Um and specifically kind of the high school football season being the being the name of the game uh right now, especially in this area, uh considering a lot of uh notable results that that took place um over the weekend, uh specifically on uh on the uh the island beach schools as they're kind of known, which we will we will get into.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I'll I'll start off.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um each of us kind of have covered uh two two of those games, and so we'll have different perspectives.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: But um I was on site for Orange Beach's kind of just just monumental 21-19 upset win um over Viger on Friday, just a huge result uh in the 4A classification, um, first ever meeting between the schools uh due to uh recent classification movements uh and stuff along along those lines.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um and the Makos really came out as an underdog, you know, Viger being a historic power, a lot of SEC, you know, D1 caliber talent on that team.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um and they they took a haymaker early, Viger interception on the first play from scrimmage and scored quickly after, you know, and a lot of people think, you know, well, this you know might kind of go as expected, but to Orange Beach's credit, really hung in there, um, you know, whisted those early punches, and then just Tucker Wade, Vershawn Sims, um, I mean, Lee Steele.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, list goes on and on of guys that made big impacts that game were on, and they kind of dominated things for the final three quarters and held off a late rally uh to be able to get that win.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: So just a huge result for that team uh kind of moving forward against a traditional, you know, kind of a we talked about a little bit last week, how it was a new blood versus old blood kind of matchup of Viger being established in Orange Beach, kind of looking to establish themselves as a a next up and coming team.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: So um, yeah, John, I mean, I'll pose a question to you.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you you've been covering them uh, you know, throughout this year, and I've obviously been familiar with the area and that school for a while now.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: Just kind of what what does a result like this kind of do for Orange Beach in terms of just you know what's the perception of their program and kind of what what they're able to do going forward?
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_02: I think it makes them believe, you know, that's a big win.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_02: The person that lost in the state championship game last year.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_02: They come to your place, they're a favorite, and you beat them.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_02: You know, now they they know they they believe.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_02: You know, that was a measured state game, like Coach Waltrop said.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I think they they uh like what they saw when they when they were measured up against uh Weiger.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think it's it's interesting.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, in Orange Beach themselves, I mean, obviously everybody talks about um, you know, Viger's do you want talent, but Orange Beach now, I mean, Lee Steele is getting uh a lot of looks, um, specifically in the SEC, Florida, being one of the biggest ones.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but uh plenty of other guys.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um I mean, Tucker Wade, the quarterback's only a sophomore, and we'll probably get uh have his recruiting uh attention kind of pick up over the the coming years.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: And so it's you know, they've been building, it seems like, from everything I've gathered from Coach Waldrip and them, kind of as you touched on, toward towards this um, you know, for a while.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: And it seems like they're they're almost maybe even ahead of schedule with with Tucker being a sophomore and just kind of how this is going.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: But but they're gonna ride it out.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um we'll we'll talk a bit more about their upcoming matchup, but the the schedule doesn't get any easier.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so they're gonna have to keep kind of proving it week in, week out.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: But that is a result that sets you up very well in the standings moving forward um and you know, as a byproduct in terms of playoff positioning.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: So um definitely a massive result for Orange Beach over there.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um and kind of speaking of those island teams that we talked about, Gulf Shores going on the road last week, playing very similar storyline here, playing a traditional powerhouse, looking to kind of establish themselves in that same realm.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: And they travel up to Sarah Lan and snap a 41-game home winning streak.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: The first time, less mistaken, first time Sarah Land has lost at home since 2020, um, which is just, I mean, incredible for a variety of reasons.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I think first and foremost for Gulf Shores is just this this, you know, similar to Orange Beach, makes a statement that we are a state title contender.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I mean, it put the whole state on notice.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: I had the head coach from the team they played, uh Parkland Academy in Mississippi from week one.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: He was calling me that night saying, man, am I reading the score right?
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, that makes me puck my chest out a little bit more when they uh when they're able to do stuff like that, and we lost to them.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: So um yeah, a big time, big time game.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: John obviously kind of watched it and covered it.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um I've and got a couple quotes from from Coach Hudsmith after the game as well.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: So just it speak of it on your takeaways from it and then also kind of what what you heard from Coach Hudsmith in terms of what what he brought uh from that game.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, he was um quite excited, obviously.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_02: Um the the big thing I think was they're down 17 to 7 at like halftime, almost halftime.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_02: And you and everybody's thinking, well, here we go again.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_02: It's Sarah Land.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_02: They got them down 17 to 7, they're gonna lose.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_02: And then they outscore them the rest of the way, you know.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_02: Get 34 points and hold them to seven the rest of the game.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_02: Um you know, they might have been down and out, but uh they fought, kept getting big plays, kept getting big um big touchdowns.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_02: There was a lot of big big plays in that game.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_02: And uh Gov Schorz ended up making the the last two.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean that's and specifically, I mean that's I mean, Elijah Malone was one of the stars of the show, um, current Jacksonville State committed, who's who's was originally listed as a cornerback wide receiver enter in the year.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_00: I think they're just kind of having him do anything he can because he he ran the ball six times for 133 yards.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, he he blocked the field goal late in the game, which ended up being the pivotal play.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Jock Prince ends up returning it for a touchdown.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and that that that's really, I mean, one of many things that Malone did to kind of seal that game.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: But I mean, yeah, I mean, Carter Davis, Major Hudsfifth, um, Gabriel Irvin.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you got a lot of guys now that I think people, you know, not just in this area, maybe, maybe just in this area, knew about preseason, but I think statewide, I think a lot of people are starting to see these names and realize that that Gulf Schwartz has some real top-level talent.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: And so, again, similar to Orange Beach, we'll have to see if they can they can maintain this.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: They return home to play blunt this week, um, but they've got you know a couple other really, really difficult matchups kind of on their schedule as they look to uh remain undefeated.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, both both them and um and Orange Beach sitting at 3-0 following the first couple of weeks of action.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I just from what I've gathered, uh just bigger picture.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, looking at did you ever expect to kind of see something like this where Gold Shores and Orange Beach are top in the standings?
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I've been hearing from a lot of people this is not expected historically.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_02: Not at all, not at all.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_02: I was I knew those were big games last week, and uh for both of them to play as well as they did and everything, it um it's ratcheted things up, you know, uh on the island.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_02: There's a lot more people paying attention to football down here right now than there have been at certain times.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_02: You know, of course Gulf Shores won it in 23, but they've been kind of um 500 since then.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_02: But they're they're both making a lot of noise, and a lot of people are watching them.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: I was gonna say uh right at right as the vacation season is kind of ending up.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's uh this is this will be perfect timing for people to be able to be entertained by something else uh for the rest of the fall with uh with their teams being uh being great and definitely must watch uh watch TV as they as they continue the rest of the season.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um last game we kind of wanted to touch on in our uh little kind of three-game wrap-up that we'll do each week um was uh an intra-county uh kind of contest uh between Fairhope and Foley.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: Fairhope's um, well, both of their second straight kind of inter Baldwin County game, but uh Fairhope's second straight at home.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, uh Pirates are coming off a big win, comeback win over Baldwin County the week prior.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um meanwhile, Foley um won a just kind of back and forth, really kind of uh you know, heartbreaking game for Spanish Fort uh 28-25 the the week prior.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: So again, both teams at one and one, big swing game.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it it was a similar, we had some people on site that were covering it, very similar to how Fairhope beat Baldwin County.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they got down 7-0 early.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: It was pretty back and forth through much of the first half, uh, both offenses making plays.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then Fairhope's offense.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, specifically, you're looking at quarterback Trey Garner and especially running back uh Nick Ronsisval.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um Ronsensvalley, excuse me, um, he just wore the team down.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, another, I believe it was another three touchdown performance after we scored a trio the week prior.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um and just it seems like this Faroe team under first year head coach Caleb Ross, they're they're developing an identity, you know, physical grinded team out, fourth quarter.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see if you're still with us because they're gonna keep coming at you with that punishing ground attack.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: The defense is very physical and tough, and that's what they were able to do.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: Ended up beating fully 42 to 28.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_00: Puts them at 2-1 after they started out 0-1 with a shutout loss at pace uh over in Florida.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and now, I mean, your your things are really looking up after you were a little maybe concerned early on.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I remember at halftime that Bowman County game, you know, I think you could feel kind of the concern in the stadium when you're down and potentially looking to go 0-2.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: And now you're sitting here at 2-1 with kind of everything in front of you.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: So um, yeah, I mean, just kind of your your takeaway from you know, not just that game, but kind of the the start for both teams.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, two first year head coaches, um, you know, two and one, one and two, still everything you want in front of you, but it it's been some ups and downs for both teams, I think it's safe to say.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Holly seems to be just missing.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_02: They're almost there, they're almost there, they seem to just miss.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_02: And um, Fairhope seems like they have they've taken up made opportunities to make things go their way.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_02: You know how they turned around that Balling County game late, and then they took charge late in this game.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_02: And um, and they were both at home, that helps.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_02: But um so it they'll have a good test this week.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_02: Um both big both of them good games.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_02: And Folley's got to win one because they're 0-1 the region already.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean that that's the big thing is they're kind of starting behind the A-ball.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: And then when you look down fully schedule, I mean, even when you know you're looking at a season closing uh date with with St.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_00: Michael, I mean, their schedule is very difficult in in this first year for Brian Moore, I think, is another kind of thing to point out.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: But uh yes, to your point, they are gonna need um, and I mean, starting out the season, I believe they were at uh at McGill Toulin, I believe.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: So I mean, just stuff like that.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, very difficult starting out to the season for them, but um definitely have the talent and the offense as we've seen so far to kind of kind of turn things around.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: So um kind of another, just two more of those things we talked a lot about last week about just um a lot of teams and kind of a log jam in the middle of the standings.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: And I think those are two of them that are kind of this this September, by the end of September, I can imagine we will have some separation in terms of, you know, we're not gonna have six teams tied in the middle of the standings.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think we're gonna have a pretty clear top third, middle third, bottom third when we get to that that playoff push time um in October.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: But um also kind of like as we like to do each week, uh kind of give out one of our major takeaways or just things that we we were noticing that really stood out to us um from this latest week in the coverage.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_00: Um and so for mine, I really last week I talked a lot about just um you know the the overall depth of of the teams in this county, you know, how many um, you know, yes, Gold Shores and Orange Beach on the feedback, but there were so many teams with one loss, sitting at one and one or two and one or what have you, um, that you know, everything's still in front of you, but you're kind of at a fork in the road with your season.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so this week I kind of wanted similar fashion, but talk about how the the individual stars have really been showing up thus far this season.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: I think, you know, that we came into this year, definitely had a decent amount of kind of division one caliber talent, and just, you know, really quality players uh in the Baldwin County area.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't, I think you look around the area and you can't say that any of them hasn't met or some of them even exceeded expectations so far.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I think whether it's Carter Davis and Elijah Malone at Gulf Shores, Christian Seeger at Daphne, uh Amari Trammell and Rashawn Sims at Orange Beach, or just kind of a host of other guys, um, you know, everybody's kind of performing up to expectations.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: And it's made, you know, as a byproduct, as we talked about, a lot of very competitive games, um, a lot of players worth just kind of following and watching.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you're seeing, you know, not even in just local player of the week polls, you're seeing a lot of guys from down here get statewide recognition in terms of their performances on Friday nights.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: And so um I think it goes along with um, as I've talked to so many people, the the trend of this area growing so much.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: And as a byproduct, the uh level of athlete is just you know getting better overall, for lack of a better term.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I think it's just gonna keep kind of trending in that direction.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: As we get more people and there's more focus and investment in the sports down here, um, this is what's gonna be.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna have a lot of star power, you're gonna have a lot of uh, you know, powerful college coaches wanting to come down here and visit and scout some guys.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: So um, yeah, I think we will uh we as fans and as media will we'll all be the benefactor.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: I can uh I can imagine.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, I mean any any other thoughts on that, John, but then also just kind of your your your most recent takeaway and just kind of what what you're noticing uh from from your coverage.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_02: Uh well um I think that Vershawn Sims and Elijah Malone are really up in their stock.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_02: They've had monster beginning of the season.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_02: And and I was looking at some services right before we came on and and um neither one of them even have a I couldn't find any of them being rated at all.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_02: They have pages for them, but they don't have any ratings, you know.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_02: This is a a two or a one or anything like that.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that's gonna change you know from their performances so far.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_02: And uh another thing I'm keeping an eye on is um uh I'd really like to see Robertsdale in uh Alberta somehow squeeze out a win this year.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_02: And so I'm kind of keeping an eye on that and pulling for those guys.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_02: So and this may be a good week for Alberta to get a shot at one.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: But uh Yeah, I was gonna I was gonna say they are playing um, I believe similarly winless.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I believe it's Murphy this week that they have.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_00: So that's a potential because they started out this season.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: I think it was this will be their third or fourth straight home game, I think fourth straight home game to start the year.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_00: So that'll be interesting.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think in Robertsdale's case, similar to Alberta too, but they're just both in very difficult districts, I think, starting off.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think for for Robertsdale, I think the issue is you probably um would have liked to get one of these um, you know, non-region wins uh early in the season.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: And now that you're kind of entering that that district slate, um, it'll be tough.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: But um I think there's opportunities.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: They host Alma Bryant later in the year.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think it'd definitely be a good one.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think uh it's it's an it's an age-old cliche.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_00: It came up a lot last week when UMass beat Rutgers, where you know, no matter what level or who you are, you know, there's so much investment and time and effort that goes into any football season.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: And so it it it every team I believe deserves to celebrate at least one win a year.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: And so I'm with you on on kind of rooting for those.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: And uh yeah, hopefully uh, hopefully they will they will be able to make that happen.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um and on a similar note as well, I mean, Baldwin County is a team we've talked about a lot.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um they're now sitting at one and two, but I mean, I think they're I'm gonna go on a limb and say they might end up being the best like three and seven, four and six team in the state.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, because they're just playing an absolute gauntlet of a schedule.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: I'll pull it up real quick.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's just but they're but they're competitive.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they're they're playing, I mean, they had the Fair Hope game.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they went on the road, I believe it was at Theodore last week and played them to a really tough game.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they're gonna be at Spanish Fort this week.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: They haven't played a home game since week one, um, and they still have games.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, Saraland, Gulf Shores, UMS Wright, Blunt.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's it's it's brutal.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: It's really brutal for for, and I've heard that that's been Baldwin County's kind of kind of thing for a while, is having very difficult schedules.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I'm interested to see their final record is not going to tell the full story, as was a lot of these teams.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: But um we'll we'll definitely be interested to follow that as well.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: But um, and speaking of that, just kind of um, you know, now shifting our attention to the the upcoming slate of games, um, we'll kind of start with uh an important regional clash uh between Daphne actually hosting Baker with both teams entering this matchup at two and one and looking to kind of make an early leap in the uh the district standings.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Daphne obviously has you know suffered that kind of early heartbreaking loss um to Spanish Fort on the road uh early on that Thursday night opener, uh, but have since bounced back, uh ripping off wins uh over Carver Montgomery.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um and just this last week, I forget who they they ended up taking down.
• 16:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um, right?
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: They end up rallying for that one as well.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: So um taking some momentum into this game for Daphne, and I think, you know, after how that opener went, and uh, you know, especially in a rivalry game, I think a lot of people are gonna you know talk and rumors and say, you know, oh, is this Daphne team not gonna you know end up being what we thought they might be preseason?
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: Well, they've kind of righted the ship for sure.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so now you're looking at a Baker team also at two and one coming in, where um, again, we've talked a lot about swing games.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_00: You know, this is kind of one of them where, you know, fork in the road, I think you win this game and you're saying, all right, we've got, you know, first place in the district is up for grabs.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: I think everything we want to do preseason, and you know, you lose it and you're you're fighting an uphill battle probably the rest of the way.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: So um it'll be an interesting one.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_00: Just kind of your your expectations.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_00: It seems like Christian Seeger and the offense have really settled back in.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um the defense has you know been playing well after giving up some early points last week.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_00: So just your your expectations for them as they kind of start off a home stand here.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_02: Uh yeah, I think that's gonna help them a lot to be at home.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_02: Um you know, they're like say they lost that tough game on the road to the Spanish fort, and maybe it's their turn to get one at home.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_02: Um and Baker's um obviously playing pretty well to be standing there with them.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_02: Um seems like all the teams that won in this region are playing another team that won.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_02: And all the teams that lost are playing the team that lost.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_02: But uh so that's gonna separate a lot, you know, do a lot of separation there at the top of that.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_02: Because at least two of those guys are gonna have a loss.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and I think that's um yeah, that's kind of the kind of in the name of the game so far.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_00: Is a lot of the uh it's almost like it's been a tournament style, this how the schedule's kind of worked out.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_00: But uh yeah, to the to that point I made, yeah, this is the first of three home games, Davidson up next for Daphne, uh, and then a bye week, and then Robertsdale, who you talked about earlier, uh, will also visit.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_00: So um they will they will definitely uh be enjoying their time um at home for a couple of weeks um with a big game coming up this this Friday night.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um second game we kind of kind of wanted to touch on uh for a bit as well.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um and I'm I'm kind of gonna go ahead and cheat here.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um I'm actually gonna combine both Gulf Shore's home day with Blunt and Orange Beach's trip to La Flore in one section, just because we we've been talking about the the island teams.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_00: Now they're both 3-0, and they've kind of you know taken the region by storm in some uh forms thus far this season.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: And so both teams are gonna be again test this week.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, Gulf Shores, I mean, at the end of the day, it's you can't really get tougher than a road trip to Sarah Land.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: But Blunt is gonna be uh a tough team coming into town as well.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: And it's also gonna be homecoming.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_00: So I think you know, Hudson and the team, obviously you've got to deal with everything um, you know, distracting-wise that that may come uh with that.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_00: Uh meanwhile, Orange Beach, um, you know, I mean, Viger, very tough, but LaFleur is having um, you know, three and oh from from what I've heard, one of their best seasons in recent history.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so they're they're gonna be another tough test, especially on the road this time for Orange Beach.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: So um here's the question I kind of want to pose to you at this point.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, feel free to take a second to pull the schedules if you need.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: But if both are at 3-0, who do you think is gonna be the first team, Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, to drop a game this year?
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_02: That that's a tough one to call.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um it is.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: I I think I mean Orange Beach's road trip this week is is I think it's the first opportunity or at least glaring opportunity, but Gulf Shore's schedule is is not easy either.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I I'm pretty torn out too.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_00: I think I'm willing to say Gulf Shores will probably stick it out for longer.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_00: Uh um, but I I think you know, either way, I I can see both of these teams finishing with uh two or three losses tops.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_00: I think it would be tough to to see anymore unless something injury-wise or uh other really really occurs.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_02: But um you know, William Williamson is very good too, and they've still got to play those guys.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_02: And um and La Flore, like you said, they're undefeated, and um they've and it's a long way from Orange Beach to La Flore in a lot of ways.
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, you know, that's a long road trip.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, that that Williamson matchup, that's another one.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um, yeah, I think uh a lot of people coming out of the Viger game start looking forward to to that one too, with the with how strong Williamson has been so far.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but uh looking at Gulf Shores here real quick as well.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they they have a date.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um unless I'm mistaken, they will play Bayside Academy uh later this season um as well.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: But they they they've kind of I mean to Gulf Shore's credit, they've kind of passed.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they passed an out-of-state test in week one and and then Sarah Land right after.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: And so they have um they've kind of done done as expected.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, Blunt this week, and then they're at Murphy, which would be a very winnable game for them, as they kind of move deeper into September.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: And then yeah, they're gonna get some other games with Baldwin County, Spanish Fort.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they're gonna have to go play at Spanish Fort, host Theodore, host Bayside Academy.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_00: So tough opponents, but it's a little bit more backloaded.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: This middle slate is is a little bit lighter for them.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_00: Even at Baldwin County won't be easy though.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um so yeah, so I'm willing to go with you, probably Orange Beach um falling first this year, but uh we'll see.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they uh barely anybody picked him to beat Viker last week and they pulled it off, so we'll we'll just have to see.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: They might just keep on uh keep on surprising us.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um that was one thing I gathered from last week, and you probably gather the same is they they believe that team, that that coaching staff.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: Those players, they they they have belief and they they they were not phased last week in any form, even when they went down 7-0 early after kind of a you know as bad of a start as you can imagine.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_00: Credit to those kids and that staff for uh for really rallying from that and being able to you know kind of kind of take control of that game for the most part.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: So um lastly, kind of our our lone intra-county matchup, um, you know, as we get into district play, I think there's gonna be more of these kind of each week, but uh just just the one for this week.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but it's definitely an important one as they all kind of seem to be this year.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um but Baldwin County will be making the trip.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, again, because they just you know keep playing tough matchups on the road because um, you know, they're just getting thrown into the fire.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_00: Visiting Spanish Fort this Friday.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, Tigers continuing their grueling slid games.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_00: Toros are looking to build off a commanding win over Alberta last week.
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they're standing at two and one, as we talked about.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: They beat Daphne week one.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_00: Um, then that heartbreak and loss to Foley in week two, uh, where they got held up at the goal line in the closing moments.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_00: So again, I mean, I feel like broken records saying it, but yes, big swing game.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_00: Both teams really need this one.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_00: I think Spanish for it, you know.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, getting the three and one obviously would be a big deal, but I think returning home after uh two weeks away um will be big for them.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_00: And just, you know, I they've I feel like from my perspective, at least, it's I'm willing to say that they have exceeded, I think, what the expectations seem to be, um, at least publicly, um, coming into the year.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_00: And so this could really continue that.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: But if you're Baldwin County, this is a very winnable game.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_00: You've shown that you can go on the road and compete with pretty much some of the best teams in in the state, regardless of classification, as impressive as that kind of sounds.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: And so, um, but but the point that this coaching staff at Baldwin County, uh Andrew Davis in his third year, um, they're getting to the point now where you've got to win one of these.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_00: You gotta be able to find a way to win a close one and be able to pull this out and pull that upset.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_00: So um just kind of your early thoughts.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_00: If you got a pick or a lean, uh, who who you're thinking will come out on top in in this kind of uh little Baldwin County matchup?
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_02: Uh well, um I think Baldwin County is up and coming and they've they're playing well, and I think they've got good attitude.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_02: Um they've got that outstanding receiver and all that stuff.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um and I think they're better, and I think they're uh want to be a lot better, but I'm not sure if they're to the point yet where they're gonna go to Spanish Fort and win a game.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_02: They may not be quite that, but if they go and win, you know, that would be pretty that it would be big.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_02: That would be a big step for them.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I could I could I could I could sense a buck coming in there when as you were talking.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: But uh yeah, I mean that's that is the thing though.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I to your point, I mean, last week I don't think we expected Gulf Shores going up there, Orange Beach taking on Weiger, and and that happened.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I think this this season's been full of just kind of kind of surprises.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and you know, when you uh look at the overall standings kind of at this juncture, um, you know, as I talked about earlier, um, just to update y'all uh uh from from last week, it's it's it's a log jam.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's it's Gulf Shore's Orange Beach 3-0 at the top, Bayside 2-0, as there are three undefeated.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but then you got three teams at 2-1, Daphne Farrow, Spanish Fort, you got Snook Krishna at 1-1, and then three teams at 1-2 with Baldwin County, Fayshore, Bayshore, and Foley.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, you look at St.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_00: Michael at 0-2 and say, well, they're a lot better than than 0-2.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they've had a bye week and obviously two very tough opponents to start the year, um, you know, not to mention Gunner Rivers obviously being injured.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so, you know, you're looking at 11 teams that are all really quality in this region.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_00: We talked about, you know, um, I think Alberta and Robert Stale are better than the record shows.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_00: They just they're gonna need to they're gonna need to steal one and kind of break through with one win.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_00: And then I think some more can come for them, especially with how their schedule is kind of set up.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_00: But those top 11, I mean, all I would say from having seen most of them in person so far.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, all, you know, playoff caliber for the most part, I think, within within their respective classifications and uh and regions.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so just kind of yeah, let's um I'll wrap up with this, kind of asking you, you know, I take away Gulf Shores and Orange Beach from the conversation for a little bit.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then we'll take out St.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_00: Michael, obviously, with Gunnar Rivers kind of being a variable there.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_00: But just who do you like as as your next best team or two kind of in Baldwin County?
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_02: It's a pretty good toss-up there, you know, between Daphne and um Fairhope and uh Spanish Fort.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_02: Either one of those would be would be right there probably next.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_02: And Fairhope's probably playing better than those uh than those two.
• 26:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um but uh you know it would be one of those, one of those guys.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_00: Right now anyway.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_00: The uh yeah, the Eastern Shore definitely uh definitely is having a strong year as well.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I think uh Daphne's Fairhope, obviously, um with Spanish Ford having played for uh Daphne to open the season, uh they will they've now that matchup is now a mid to late season.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Daphne vs.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: Fairhope is um traditionally played the first week of the season, they switched that up this year.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_00: So um things a little bit different in terms of how that game will play out.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um Foley also has a date with Daphne later in the year.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, St.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_00: Michael's playing a couple of these teams, so a lot of uh a lot will be determined um kind of over these final couple weeks.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_00: But uh yeah, definitely a great slate of games uh kind of for us this weekend.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um it should be another good one and uh will give us plenty of stuff to talk about on the other side as we kind of follow how a lot of these teams do is we enter kind of that that grind of September where where teams, you know, injuries start setting in, you know, this is where you start really getting separation and the standings, and you know, it just this is when you start um you know, you start kind of figuring out who's legit and who isn't.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um so it'll it'll definitely be interesting to follow.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_00: Uh John and I will be kind of keeping y'all posted week to week on this uh podcast.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_00: Appreciate um, you know, as always, anybody uh that took the time to kind of listen today.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um but uh yeah, that's all we have.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh if you guys enjoyed we'd heard, as always, uh be sure to kind of share the episode on social media platforms until family, friends, or just kind of whoever you think would be interesting in a sports podcast, Baldwin County Twist.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then if y'all have you know any suggestions for uh you know conversation topics or guests to bring on or just anything along those lines, uh feel free to you know share them on social media or email.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um I'll get email parker at golfcoastmedia.com if y'all uh got any suggestions or stuff to do.
• 28:15
  SPEAKER_00: We're kind of pretty open uh to to things as we kind of uh look to get this set up.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_00: But um other than that, we will uh we'll be back for another episode the same time next week.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_00: So enjoy this weekend, Slay the Games.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_00: We'll catch up with you guys then.