Bayside Academy was great on special teams all night, which is what allowed the Admirals to rally for a lead late in the third quarter against Orange Beach.

Then they made the mistake of kicking deep to Chris Pearson. Game over.

Pearson, the UAB commit, returned the kick 93 yards for the go-ahead touchdown that led to a 35-29 Makos win.

“That play was the difference in the whole game,” said Orange Beach coach Jamey Dubose. “If he gets one-on-one, he’s tough. Chris is as good a kick returner as I’ve ever seen, and that includes Class 7A, Georgia, Alabama or anywhere.”

The kickoff return with 16 seconds left in the third quarter proved to be the final score of the game.

Bayside did have one final chance to score and secure the win. The Admirals took over on their 37 with 6:44 remaining in the game. They drove to the Orange Beach 30, but the Makos defense stiffened. Pearson had the big defensive play when he recorded a sack to force a fourth-and-14 from the 39. The final desperation pass was incomplete, and the Makos were able to run out the clock.

Orange Beach improves to 5-2 on the season, while Bayside Academy falls to 4-3. The win was key for Orange Beach in the Class 4A, Region 1 race. Orange Beach is now tied with Jackson for third place in the region, while Bayside is one game behind those two teams for the final playoff spot.

Star of the game: In addition to starring on special teams and defense, Pearson ran the ball seven times for 69 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown run. He also caught one pass for six yards.

They said it: “I was proud of how we finished the game. Our defense stuck their necks in there and made some plays. And I was proud of the offense for being able to run the clock out at the end of the game.” — Orange Beach coach Jamey DuBose

They said it: “We had a hard time covering their wide receivers. And No. 7 (Pearson) is a difference maker. But we’re getting better. Hopefully, as the years go on, we’ll learn how to win these kinds of games.” — Bayside coach Phil Lazenby

Stat of the Game: Bayside Academy led for a total of 16 seconds. That’s how long it took Pearson to run 93 yards with the kickoff return immediately after the Admirals went in front.

Did you know? This was the first meeting ever between Orange Beach and Bayside Academy.

By the numbers: Bayside ran 62 plays for 257 yards, including 219 yards on the ground. Brennen Yamane led the way with 111 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. Orange Beach ran 50 plays, split equally between runs and passes. The Makos ran for 199 yards on 25 carries. They also passed for 168 yards. That’s an average of 7.3 yards per play.

What’s next? Orange Beach returns home to face Wilcox Central, while Bayside Academy will visit Escambia County. Both games are Region 1 contests.