5 Coastal Alabama football games to watch in Week 6
The non-region week across the state presents some interesting matchups on the Gulf Coast.
Auburn WR commit Perry Thompson and Class 7A Foley travel to play Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams and Class 6A No. 1 Saraland, while Daphne hosts Eastern Shore rival Spanish Fort.
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The most interesting game may be in West Mobile where No. 9 Baker hosts No. 7 Dothan in a Class 7A top 10 battle.
Here are five games to watch this week involving Coastal Alabama teams along with the complete schedule.
DOTHAN (4-1) AT BAKER (5-0)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Hornet Stadium, Mobile
Last week: Dothan defeated Smiths Station 66-0; Baker defeated Daphne 33-20
The skinny: Dothan defeated Baker 43-15 a year ago in the first meeting between the two teams. … The Wolves are averaging 50.6 points a game and have scored 59 or more three different times. The Dothan offense is led by freshman AJ Alexander and senior Tamarion Peterson, who have combined for 995 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sophomore QB Sam Broadaway has 195 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns and is completing 49 percent of his passes for 333 yards and 4 TDs. Senior Markis Meyers leads the team in tackles with 40. Dothan’s only loss came in double overtime against Auburn (28-27). … Baker is averaging 43.8 points a game. The Hornets’ closest game was a 51-44 victory at Foley on Sept. 15. Mississippi State QB commit Josh Flowers is completing 71 percent of his passes for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted just once and also has rushed for 538 yards and 8 TDs. Senior Roderick Taylor has rushed for 521 yards and 7 TDs. The leading receivers are Auburn commit Bryce Cain (21 receptions, 554 yards, 9 TDs) and Troy commit Kevin Beckham Jr. (28 receptions, 459 yards, 2 TDs). Senior Leland Normand leads the team in tackles with 64. … Baker is off to its first 5-0 start since 1973.
Foley’s Perry Thompson runs for yardage during a preps football game, Friday, September 8, 2023, in Semmes, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
FOLEY (2-2) AT SARALAND (5-0)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Saraland
Last week: Foley was idle; Saraland defeated Robertsdale 66-0.
The skinny: Saraland won at Foley 49-21 a year ago in the first meeting between the two teams. … The Lions were idle last week after back-to-back losses to Class 7A, Region 1 frontrunners Mary G. Montgomery (28-7) and Baker (51-44). Senior RB Kolton Nero has rushed for 987 yards and 12 TDs on 92 carries – an average of 10.7 yards per carry and 246 yards per game. Auburn WR commit Perry Thompson has caught 21 passes for 211 yards and 2 TDs. He’s also thrown a TD pass and run for a touchdown. Foley has scored 133 points and given up 122. … Class 6A No. 1 Saraland has won 29 of its last 31 games overall. The Spartans are averaging 49.4 points per game and have outscored their last four opponents 216-16. Texas QB commit KJ Lacey is completing 66 percent of his passes for 961 yards and 13 TDs. Sophomore Deshawn Spencer (24 carries, 346 yards, 3 TDs) and junior Santae McWilliams (39 carries, 225 yards, 4 TDs) are the leading rushers. Alabama commit Ryan Williams (20 receptions, 413 yards, 6 TDs) is the leading receiver. Alabama commit Antonio Coleman has 25 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and a sack. Jeff Kelly is 123-35 in 13 years at Saraland and 170-69 in 20 years overall.
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Opelika quarterback Roman Gagliano participates in a 7-on-7 event at Saraland High School on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Saraland, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
OPELIKA (3-2) AT THEODORE (3-2)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, C.A. Douglas Field, Theodore
Last week: Opelika defeated Prattville 38-13; Theodore lost to Spanish Fort 8-3
The skinny: Theodore defeated Opelika 34-24 in the first meeting between the two schools a year ago. … The Bulldogs’ losses have come against Class 7A No. 1 Thompson (44-13) and No. 2 Central-Phenix City (28-18). Senior QB Roman Gagliano has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,111 yards and 8 TDs. He’s been intercepted twice. Calvin Hughley has rushed for 280 yards and 6 TDs. Jamari Miller (32 receptions, 361 yards, 3 TDs) and Jordan Tolbert (17 receptions, 335 yards, 3 TDs) are the leading receivers. The leaders on defense are Jamarvion Jenkins (33 tackles, 1 TFL) and Karson Moss (31 tackles, 3 TFL). Auburn DT commt Malik Autry has 27 tackles, 6 TFL and a sack. Culventae White has a pair of interceptions. … Theodore is coming off a last-minute loss to Spanish Fort. Senior QB Cameron Rigby left the game with an injury in the first half and didn’t return. Crishon Overton went 5-of-9 for 97 yards in his place. Braxton Clark has been the Bobcats’ most consistent offensive weapon. He ran for 40 yards on 18 carries last week. The defense is led by Miami LB commit Bobby Pruitt and South Alabama DL commit Kevin Norwood. … Theodore hasn’t lost consecutive games in a single season since losing to Fairhope and Davidson in 2017.
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Spanish Fort’s Gabe Myers runs the ball against Theodore in the first half of a prep football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Theodore, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
SPANISH FORT (3-2) AT DAPHNE (3-2)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Jubilee Stadium, Daphne
Last week: Spanish Fort defeated Theodore 8-3; Daphne lost to Baker 33-20.
The skinny: Spanish Fort has won nine of the 11 meetings with Daphne, including the last two. The Toros won 18-15 a year ago. … Spanish Fort will be without Alabama LB commit Sterling Dixon, who injured his shoulder in the win against Theodore. Aaden Shamburger’s 14-yard TD pass to Nemo Hixon with 1:27 left gave the Toros the lead for good last week. Sawyer Wilson, Shamburger and Drew Williamson have combined to score seven rushing touchdowns. Louisville commit Cole McConathy (49 tackles, 15 TFL, 12 QB hurries, 9.5 sacks) leads a stingy Spanish Fort defense. Junior Bishop Burkhalter has 44 tackles. The Toros are 1-1 in the past two games despite scoring just 15 points combined. The defense has allowed 17 points or less in four of its five games. … Daphne is averaging 41.6 points in its last three games. The difference has been transfer QB Jamar Malone, who went 16-of-27 for 161 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss at Baker. Senior RB Nick Clark has rushed for 636 yards and 4 TDs on 83 carries. … Kenny King is 49-32 in his eighth year as head coach at his alma mater.
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St. Luke’s head coach Ronn Lee looks on during a prep football game, Thursday, September 1, 2022, in Chickasaw, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
ST. LUKE’S (5-0) AT LEROY (3-0)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Bobby Farish Field, Leroy
Last week: St. Luke’s defeated J.U. Blacksher 12-8; Leroy was idle.
The skinny: Leroy leads the overall series 5-2, including a 13-0 win last year. … The Wildcats are 5-0 for the first time in school history. They played their first varsity season in 2010. … QB Jeremy Menhennett scored on a 10-yard run last week and threw a 2-yard TD pass to Keelan Johnson. Turner Tillman was a key on offense and defense. He finished with 11 solo tackles, two assists, a sack and two tackles for a loss and also had 95 yards rushing. St. Luke’s coach Ronn Lee is 41-50 in his ninth year with the Wildcats and 137-169 in 29 years overall. … This is expected to be the final game of the season for Leroy coach Jason Massey, a member of the national guard who is being deployed in October. His Bears won the 1A state title a year ago and have been ranked No. 1 all season in the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings. They’ve won 16 of their last 17 games overall. In three games this year, Leroy has scored 115 points and allowed just 19.
WEEK 6 COASTAL ALABAMA SCHEDULE
Thursday’s Games
Gulf Shores at Murphy (Ladd) (Sunny 105.7 FM)
Millry at Clarke County
Friday’s Games
Alma Bryant at Robertsdale
Biloxi at LeFlore
Blount at Williamson (Ladd)
Central-Hayneville at Wilcox Central
Choctaw County at Woodlawn
Davidson at B.C. Rain
Dothan at Baker (MCPSS TV)
Faith Academy at St. Paul’s (WNSP-FM 105.5)
Foley at Saraland (The Crab 96.5 FM, WHEP 1310 AM)
Fruitdale at Washington County
J.F. Shields at Georgiana
J.U. Blacksher at Excel
Marengo at Southern Choctaw
McIntosh at Chickasaw
McGill-Toolen at St. Michael (Archangel Radio 1410 AM)
MGM at Baldwin County
Mobile Christian at Orange Beach
Monroe County at Escambia County
Northview, Fla., at Elberta
Opelika at Theodore
Spanish Fort at Daphne (WJTC/UTV 44)
St. Luke’s at Leroy