The Baker football team became a legitimate title contender in 2024.

The Hornets went 9-3, fell four points short of a Region 1 championship and won a Class 7A playoff game for the first time in school history.

What’s next in 2025?

“Try to win another playoff game,” first-year coach Eric Scott said prior to Tuesday’s 7-on-7 event at Saraland. “I think the first thing we want to do is to continue to be competitive in our region and take that next step to a region championship. We’ve been No. 2 in the region the last three years. Then, ultimately, win in the playoffs and make our ascent toward a state championship.”

Scott, who was the team’s defensive coordinator in 2024, takes over as the head coach after the departure of Juan Johnson to James Clemens. He’s been on the Baker staff for the last four seasons.

“We’ve had a good summer, really getting after it,” he said this week. “We haven’t changed much so the teaching has been there. We have a lot of people to replace on defense, so we have definitely been working with them more this offseason. I would say our offense is definitely ahead of our defense, but we kind of knew that coming in. It’s been a good summer.”

A year ago, the Baker defense allowed an average of two touchdowns a game. Only region champ Mary G. Montgomery and second-round playoff opponent Enterprise scored 30 points or more on the Hornets. The offense averaged 26 points a game.

“We are doing the same things on defense just with new personnel,” Scott said. “Those guys are getting acclimated to being the man now. When you are just on the sidelines watching, it’s easy. Now they are in there and they are taking the butt chewings. They have to grow up quickly.”

Prior to coming to Baker, Scott also served as an assistant coach at Foley, Vigor and Saraland. His only previous head coaching stint came at B.C. Rain from 2008-2010.

“A lot has changed since then,” he said. “Now, you have 7-on-7 in the summer, you have OTAs. Also, when I was a head coach before, it was 4A ball. Now, I’m in 7A. There are a whole lot of logistics that are different in this situation. Coaching staff is bigger. Team is bigger. But at the end of the day, it’s still about motivating the kids to be the best and achieve their goals.”

Baker opens the season with a home game against rival Theodore on Aug. 22 before starting Region 1 play at Alma Bryant on Aug. 29. The Hornets host Scott’s twin brother Deric and Foley on Oct. 10.

“That’s going to be a good one,” Eric said, smiling. “I’m kind of not looking forward to it, but kind of am looking forward to it. It will be a competitive game. Foley is definitely one of our games that we have circled on the list every year. We know when it is happening, and we will definitely be prepared for it.”

Baker’s schedule also features an intriguing non-region game at reigning Class 4A champ Jackson on Sept. 12 and a home regular-season finale against Class 5A semifinalist Vigor on Oct. 30. Both of those games were extremely tight a year ago. The Hornets lost 20-13 at home to the Aggies and beat Vigor 10-9 on the road.

Scott said there are still some things his team needs to get done in practice before the season begins in six weeks.

“I need to see leadership and growth on the field,” he said. “I want to see us be more vocal leaders and compete at a high level every time out. We are starting to do that. We need to be consistently competitive every time we walk out on the field.”