First-year Bayside Academy coach Barrett Trotter’s message to his team was clear late Thursday night.

“The only way to go undefeated is to start 3-0,” he said.

That’s exactly where the Admirals find themselves after three weeks.

Teague Broadhead’s 12-yard run in overtime capped a run of 20 unanswered points and Bayside Academy stormed back to beat St. Michael 27-21 in the Class 4A, Region 1 opener for both teams in Fairhope.

“I’m proud of our kids and the way they fought,” Trotter said. “Down 21-7 didn’t feel good especially that play right before half. Out of position, tipped ball, they made a heck of a play. Thankfully, it didn’t break us, man. We stayed strong and kept fighting our way back. I’m proud of our team, really proud of our team.”

St. Michael (1-2, 0-1) scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 20 seconds of the first half to take control of the game. Brady Zdyb scored on a 3-yard run and, following a successful onsides kick, Gunner Rivers threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Tomlinson with just 11.8 seconds left before intermission. Tomlinson caught the pass at the goal line off a Bayside deflection.

The Cardinals made it 21-7 on their first possession of the second half, moving 45 yards in six plays. Zdyb again capped the match with a 1-yard run with 7:10 left in the third quarter.

“I wish I had some calls back to give our guys a better chance up 21-7 to help finish the game,” St. Michael coach Philip Rivers said. “I got a little conservative because you didn’t want to do anything to jack it up right there.”

St. Michael started the final quarter still leading by a pair of touchdowns but backed up to its 1-yard line after a stellar Bayside punt. The Cardinals couldn’t make a first down and had to punt to the Admirals, who took over at the St. Michael 33. Two plays later, Sammy Dunn hit a shovel pass to Tait Moore for a 33-yard score. Suddenly, it was a 21-14 game with 8:57 left.

Bayside (3-0, 1-0) tied it on its next possession after the Admiral defense stuffed Nick Russo on a fourth-and-2 play from the St. Michael 39. On first-and-goal from the 7, Dunn stepped up in the pocket and hit Bo Anderson in the back of the end zone. The extra point tied the game at 21-21 with 2:20 left in regulation.

St. Michael moved from its 35 to the Bayside 25 in the final seconds, but Russo was hit hard and fumbled on a third-and-10 play as he tried to get the first down with 20 seconds left.

“We scored 21 unanswered and just fizzled out offensively until the last drive,” Rivers said “Then we are down there, and I don’t know if he had the first down or not but close to it, and we are going to be center of the field with a play or two to win it. But it doesn’t come down to that one play, and that’s what I told the guys.”

The Cardinals got the ball first in overtime. Facing a fourth-and-goal at the 6, Rivers decided to go for the touchdown. Gunner Rivers’ pass in the end zone was incomplete.

“In overtime, I probably should have kicked the field goal there,” Rivers said. “It turns out they scored on the third down, but I felt like we needed seven there. It was a bad possession for us.”

Bayside was penalized for delay of game before its OT possession. Dunn gained two yards on a scramble and Broadhead gained one more. On third-and-goal from the 12, Broadhead got the ball again around the right side for the winning score.

“It was counter right,” Broadhead said. “I saw our guard block 10 and Damien, our wide receiver, kicked him out. I was going outside and just cut in. I kind of did a little jump. I was really happy.”

Play of the Game: Trailing 21-7 and facing second-and-10, the Admirals came up with a crucial play. With three wide receivers wide left, Dunn hit a quick shovel pass to Tait Moore, who took it 33 yards for the touchdown.

–By The Numbers: Bayside – Dunn was 9-of-13 passing for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Damien Tate ran for 77 yards on 11 carries. He scored Bayside’s first TD on a 15-yard run in the first quarter. Broadhead had 59 yards on six carries. St Michael – Gunner Rivers was 18-of-29 for 175 yards and a TD. Russo rushed for 157 yards on 27 carries. Martin Corte had 30 yards on six carries before leaving with an injury in the first half. Tomlinson caught 10 passes for 96 yards and the deflected TD pass.

— Game ball: Thomas Cunningham’s punt to the St. Michael 1 on the last play of the third quarter put the Cardinals in a tough spot and ultimately helped turn the game around.

— Did you know? Bayside is 4-0 in the short rivalry with St. Michael.

— They Said It:

“He’s a strong, powerful kid. We didn’t want to throw the football because we didn’t have to. I felt like we had a kicker who could make it no questions asked. We wanted to protect the ball and go for the field goal but thankfully Teague just took it with his big body and said, ‘No thanks, we’ll just go ahead and run it in.’” – Trotter on Teague Broadhead’s winning score in OT.

“There were a handful of things we could have done – muffed field goal, 5-yard punt — but give them credit because they stayed with it. There was a time when they were tired and not in a good place. You could feel it and see it, but they hung in there and came back and won the game.” – Philip Rivers.

— Next up: Bayside returns home to host Wilcox Central next Friday, while St. Michael hosts Escambia County.