5 Coastal Alabama football games to watch in Week 11

5 Coastal Alabama football games to watch in Week 11

The AHSAA playoffs are less than two weeks away, but Week 11 in Coastal Alabama still includes some interesting – and meaningful – matchups.

The Class 5A, Region 1 playoff picture is not yet decided. This week’s key games include B.C. Rain at Gulf Shores and UMS-Wright at Williamson.

In Class 6A, Theodore and St. Paul’s will decide who the No. 3 seed is and who is relegated to No. 4 as former Saints coach Steve Mask returns to E.E. Delaney Stadium for the first since leaving two years ago.

Here are five games to watch involving Coastal Alabama teams this week:

Gulf Shores quarterback Judson Harris passes against Murphy in the first half of a prep football game Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])

B.C. RAIN (7-2) AT GULF SHORES (9-0)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium, Gulf Shores

Last week: B.C. Rain defeated Elberta 30-0; Gulf Shores defeated Vigor 42-12

Region records: B.C. Rain is 5-2 in Class 5A, Region 1 and currently tied for second place; Gulf Shores is 7-0 and has clinched the title and top seed in the playoffs.

The skinny: Gulf Shores has won seven of the nine games against B.C. Rain, including a 56-27 win a year ago. … B.C. Rain is having its best season since going 11-2 under Anthony Shamburger in 2003. The Red Raiders reached the quarterfinals of the playoffs in 2014 under Tellis Stone but finished with a losing record (6-7). … QB Amari Yelding has thrown for 1,603 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 530 yards and 6 TDs. RB Bryce Dowdlan has 985 yards and 14 TDs on 118 carries and 24 receptions for 385 yards and 4 TDs. The top receivers are Antonio Williams (32 receptions, 605 yards, 5 TDs) and Dillon Robinson (38 receptions, 683 yards, TDs). Defensive leaders are Khalil Perine (76 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 fumble recoveries) and Ricky Nichols (64 tackles, 12 TFL, 3 blocked punts). … Gulf Shores is trying to complete the first undefeated regular season in school history. The Dolphins also have clinched their first back-to-back playoff berths since 2008 and 2009. N.C. State commit Ronnie Royal continues to be a weapon on offense and defense. Offensively, he has rushed for 514 yards and 10 TDs, caught 25 passes for 394 yards and a TD and thrown a TD pass. On defense, he has 26 tackles, 6 TFL and 2 interceptions. Kolin Wilson has rushed for 1,123 yards and 15 TDs on 117 carries. Isaiah Hammac leads the defense in tackles with 62. Otto Brewer has 16 TFL and three sacks.

DJ Butler

Davidson’s DJ Butler runs the ball against Daphne on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (Brad McPherson | [email protected])

JACKSON (8-0) AT DAVIDSON (5-4)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Thursday, Warrior Stadium, Mobile

Last week: Jackson defeated Wilcox Central 45-0; Davidson defeated Alma Bryant 34-19

Region records: Non-region game

The skinny: Davidson won the first two games in the series (2016, 2017). Jackson won 44-14 last year. … Both teams have clinched playoff berths – Jackson is the No. 1 seed from Class 4A, Region 1. Davidson is the No. 4 seed from Class 7A, Region 1. … The Aggies are trying to complete their first perfect regular season since Danny Powell’s 2013 team went 10-0 and finished 12-1. South Carolina sophomore QB commit Landon Duckworth is completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,482 yards and 23 TDs. He’s been intercepted just 3 times. Freshman EJ Crowell has rushed for 1,056 yards and 16 TDs and is averaging 10.7 yards per carry. Senior Nasir Powell has 9 TD receptions, while sophomore Keeyun Chapman has 7. Sophomore Laquon Whisenhunt leads the defense with 51 tackles. … Davidson has won three straight games to earn a trip to the 7A playoffs next week. Coastal Carolina RB commit DJ Butler has excelled in the Warriors’ single-wing attack. The senior has rushed for 1,812 yards and 14 TDs on 170 carries and also passed for 209 yards and 5 TDs. Terrance Gray has added 751 yards and 5 TDs. Anthony Rabb has 3 TDs receiving and 3 rushing. Senior Chadwick Glover leads the team in tackles with 64.

Mary Montgomery vs Baker Football

Baker’s Kevin Beckham catches a pass for a touchdown during a preps football game, Friday, October 13, 2023, in Semmes, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com

BAKER (7-2) AT MOUNTAIN BROOK (7-2)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Thursday, Spartan Stadium, Mountain Brook

Last week: Baker defeated Fairhope 21-16; Mountain Brook defeated Gardendale 56-42.

Region records: Non-region game.

The skinny: Mountain Brook won 41-7 last year in the only previous meeting between the two schools. … Both teams are headed to the playoffs. Baker is the second seed from Class 7A, Region 1. Mountain Brook is the second seed from Class 6A, Region 5. … Mississippi State QB commit Josh Flowers has completed 68 percent of his passes for 1,765 yards and 18 TDs with 6 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 1,072 yards and 11 TDs on 125 carries. Senior Rod Taylor has rushed for 9-2 yards and 7 TDs on 104 carries. The leading receivers are Auburn commit Bryce Cain (37 receptions, 846 yards, 15 TDs) and Troy commit Kevin Beckham Jr. (46 receptions, 665 yards, 3 TDs). The defense is led by senior Leland Normand with 77 tackles. … The Spartans have scored 54 and 56 points in each of their last two games. Cole Gamble has rushed for 1,519 yards and 22 TDs on 194 carries – an average of 7.8 yards a game. In last year’s win over Baker, Gamble rushed for 126 yards and 3 TDs. He ran for 276 yards and 5 TDs in last week’s win over Gardendale, while QB John Cooper threw three TD passes. … Chris Yeager is 152-63 in 18 years as the Mountain Brook head coach.

Spanish Fort at McGill-Toolen football

McGill-Toolen readies to play Spanish Fort in a prep football game Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at Lipscomb Field in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])

SARALAND (9-0) AT MCGILL-TOOLEN (5-4)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Archbishop Lipscomb Stadium, Mobile

Last week: Saraland defeated Theodore 42-13; McGill-Toolen defeated Blount 42-24.

Region records: Saraland is 7-0 in Class 6A, Region 1 and has clinched the region title and top spot in the playoffs; McGill is 4-3 and will miss the playoffs.

The skinny: Saraland has won all three games in the brief series, including a 48-31 win last year. … The Spartans have won 15 straight games and are trying to secure their second perfect season in the last five years. Jeff Kelly’s team is 67-10 since 2017 with a pair of state final appearances and a state title. Junior QB KJ Lacey is completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,841 yards and 27 TDs. He’s been intercepted four times. WR Ryan Williams 18 total TDs (13 receiving, 5 rushing, 1 passing). Santae McWilliams has 11 rushing TDS. Alabama commit Antonio Coleman has 38 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and a sack. …. Since starting the season 0-2, McGill has won five of its last seven games under first-year coach David Faulkner. In last week’s win over Blount, QB Andrew Murchison passed for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns. LaDarien Miller rushed for 121 yards and 2 TDs. Roscoe Haywood had a pair of rushing scores and a receiving TD. Will Miles had six receptions for 96 yards and a score.

Theodore vs Blount Football

Theodore head coach Steve Mask looks on from the sidelines during a preps football game, Thursday, October 12, 2023, in Theodore, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com

THEODORE (6-3) AT ST PAUL’S (7-2)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, E.E. Delaney Stadium Mobile

Last week: Theodore lost to Saraland 42-13; St. Paul’s defeated Baldwin County 44-25.

Region records: Both teams are 5-2 in Class 6A, Region 1. Winner of this game will be the No. 3 seed. Loser will be the No. 4.

The skinny: Theodore beat St. Paul’s twice a year ago – 16-3 in the regular season and 28-0 in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Both of those games were at Theodore. … The game marks the return of Theodore coach Steve Mask to St. Paul’s. Mask was the Saints’ head coach from 2012-2021, winning 110 games and four state titles. Current St. Paul’s head coach Ham Barnett was elevated from defensive coordinator when Mask left following the 2021 season. … Theodore is scoring 26.3 points a game, while allowing 14.9. Braxton Clark has rushed for 900 yards and 9 TDs on 130 carries. Navontay Richardson has rushed for 410 yards and 6 TDs on 39 carries. Sophomore Crishon Overton has taken over at QB. He is completing 55 percent of his passes for 416 yards and 4 TDs. … St. Paul’s is averaging 24.4 points a game, while giving up 16.6. The Saints have won three straight and five of the last six games overall. Barnett is 14-8 in two seasons as the head coach. QB Braxton Byrd has thrown for 670 yards and 7 TDs. QB/WR Tate Johnston has 200 yards passing, 270 yards rushing and 2 TDs, 8 receptions for 128 yards and 4 KO returns for 80 yards. Cooper Estes has 3 receiving TDs. Anthony Frasier has rushed for 809 yards and 7 TDs on 136 carries. Anthony “Tank” Jones is the defensive leader with 70 tackles, 17 assists, 6 TFL, 6 sacks and 4 pass breakups. He also has 7 rushing TDs.

THIS WEEK’S COASTAL SCHEDULE

Thursday’s Games

Baker at Mountain Brook

Clarke County at Thomasville

Excel at Southern Choctaw

Jackson at Davidson

Marengo at Flomaton

Sidney Lanier at Vigor (MCPSS TV)

St. Luke’s at Cottage Hill

UMS-Wright at Williamson (Ladd) (Sports Talk 99.5 FM)

Washington County at Leroy

Friday’s Games

Baldwin County at Robertsdale

Bayside Academy at Alabama Christian

B.C. Rain at Gulf Shores (Sunny 105.7 FM)

Blount at Murphy (Ladd)

Briarwood Christian at Fairhope

Chickasaw at Satsuma

Choctaw County at University Charter

Daphne at Hillcrest-Evergreen

Elberta at Citronelle

Faith Academy at LeFlore

Foley at Jackson-Olin (WHEP-AM 1310)

J.U. Blacksher at Jay, Fla.

Northridge at Alma Bryant

Prattville Christian at Monroe County

Saraland at McGill-Toolen (WJTC-UTV 44, Archangel Radio 1410 AM)

Theodore at St. Paul’s (WNSP-FM 105.5)

T.R. Miller at W.S. Neal

Wilcox Central at J.F. Shields