Pressuring the quarterback is nothing new for Spanish Fort EDGE Cole McConathy.

The Louisville commit had 14.5 sacks as a sophomore and 22.5 a year ago.

He enters Friday’s 11th annual California Dreaming Bowl against Class 6A, Region 1 rival St. Paul’s with 13.5 sacks as a senior.

“When he comes off the edge, he is hard to stop,” St. Paul’s coach Ham Barnett said of McConathy. “He’s long, and he plays with a high motor. I don’t really know how to stop him other than put (South Alabama commit) Asher (Hale) wherever his side is. He is going to make plays. Football players are going to make plays. You just have to try to limit how many plays they make.”

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The matchup between McConathy and Hale — when they are on the same side of the line of scrimmage –could go a long way to determining Friday’s winner.

Hale is listed at 6-foot-5, 296 pounds. McConathy is 6-foot-5, 225.

“This will probably be our biggest test,” Hale said of the Toros.

Hale was the first player to commit to Kane Wommack’s 2024 recruiting class in June. His play – coupled with the play of junior Taylor O’Dell – has helped Anthony Frasier, Tate Johnston and Will Abrams find a groove in the ground game in the last couple of weeks.

“He’s the leader on that offensive line,” Barnett said of Hale. “He’s nasty and he’s mean, and he’s a big boy obviously. We run behind him a good bit.”

Meanwhile, McConathy has dominated opposing offenses for the Toros. In addition to his 13.5 sacks this year, he also has 57 total tackles, 19 tackles for a loss and 14 quarterback hurries.

“A lot of success came his way because of who he is and what he does,” Spanish Fort coach Chase Smith said of McConathy. “He has the size, the explosiveness, the athletic ability but just the mindset of being a leader is key. He’s a great teammate, a great leader for us and he’s a very smart football player. You combine all those things, and I feel like that’s the reason he’s having the success he’s having.”

McConathy, the No. 44 senior recruit in the state according to the 247 composite rankings, committed to Louisville in July. His other offers include Virginia, Colorado, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Memphis, Missouri and South Alabama.

Noticeably absent on that list? Instate powers Auburn and Alabama.

“I’m committed 100 percent,” he said this week. “They (Louisville) believed in me early on when a lot of people didn’t. Schools in my home state didn’t believe in me. But Louisville was a program that did, and that goes a long way with me.”

Smith said the Cardinals have done an impressive job recruiting McConathy.

“A lot of really good programs will recruit him as well and the ones that don’t are missing out on a really great player,” he said. “They have their reasons, and those are their reasons I guess.”

McConathy and Hale both said they are looking forward to their individual matchup on Friday.

Said Hale, “I just have to do my best. I know he will play to his best. He’s long, he has a high motor and he’s nasty as well. We’ll have to get after it.”

McConathy added, “He’s a big offensive lineman, a good offensive lineman. I need to work my technique and be fluid with my movements and make sure I’m not getting blocked.”

GAME NOTES

Surging: Both teams come into this game having won two straight. St. Paul’s (4-1, 2-1) has defeated Murphy (24-8) and Faith Academy (40-7) since its only loss of the season against top-ranked Saraland. Spanish Fort (4-2, 3-1) has responded from its loss to the Spartans with comeback wins of Theodore (8-3) and rival Daphne (35-27).

“I think we match up well against each other,” Smith said. “I think it’s two really good programs. The characteristics are almost like looking in the mirror at certain positions. The kids are playing really well. They have a lot of confidence and momentum, and we expect a great 6A, Region 1 matchup.”

Family ties: Sophomore Tate Johnston has been a key to helping St. Paul’s create more big plays on offense in recent weeks. He is splitting time at quarterback with junior Braxton Byrd. Johnston is pretty familiar with Toro Stadium. His older brothers, Tyler and Thomas, were Spanish Fort stars when he was younger.

Rally time: Spanish Fort’s rally from 20 points down at Daphne last week has seemingly energized the Toros.

“I just saw a totally different team in the second half, and that’s what I told them,” Smith said. “I just didn’t recognize the team that played that first half. I don’t think they did either, and they just made a conscious decision as a team that they were going to come out and get it done. It was a totally different mindset, a total team effort. I’m really proud of how they responded.”

One of the keys to the rally was the play of sophomore QB Aaden Shamburger, who threw three touchdown passes in the win.

“He’s growing. His maturity as a teammate, his approach to game week development and getting ready for each game – he is the first one there, last one to leave,” Smith said of Shamburger. “As young, sophomore quarterback, I couldn’t ask more from his development week in and week out.”

Still Dreaming: The first California Dreaming Bowl took place in 2013 when Spanish Fort hosted McGill-Toolen in a preseason game. The coaches in that game were Spanish Fort’s Mark Freeman (now at Thompson) and McGill-Toolen’s Bart Sessions (now head coach at Alma Bryant).

The game has been played every year since with multiple opponents for the Toros.

“California Dreaming is such a great supporter of, not just Toro football, but Toro athletics and Spanish Fort High School in general and gives back to the community,” Smith said. “We are blessed to have a business like this that takes care of us and makes it a great thing for our players and kids.”