Saraland coach Jeff Kelly knows the Spanish Fort defense will be coming after star quarterback KJ Lacey on Friday.

“Honestly, the thing we haven’t done well against them in the past is protect and pick up the blitz,” Kelly said this week ahead of Friday’s 6A, Region 1 showdown between the top-ranked Spartans and the Toros.

“Traditionally, they’ve run some elaborate zone blitz stuff against us and not against anyone else. We see it every year. We know they are coming. We have to do a good job of executing in the face of pressure.”

The high-scoring Spartans, who have scored 132 points in three games, likely will face their toughest test so far in trying to crack the Spanish Fort defense. The Toros, who have allowed just 30 points this year, are led by Louisville commit Cole McConathy on the EDGE along with Alabama commit Sterling Dixon and Bishop Burkhalter at linebacker.

McConathy has seven sacks already. Dixon, who moves up to the edge during obvious passing situations, has three.

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“The defensive end (McConathy) is one of the best players we’ve seen on tape,” Kelly said. “He plays every play extremely hard. He’s very explosive. I’m shocked some bigger schools aren’t recruiting him. They are very good up front.

“The linebacker corps with the addition of Sterling Dixon is extremely good. I think they will be one of the best defenses we will play all year. They present challenges for any offense. We’ve got to go out there and be sound and get a hat on a hat, play football and execute.”

Saraland (3-0) comes into this game at Spanish Fort having won 17 of their last 18 games overall. Lacey is committed to Texas. Reigning Alabama Mr. Football Ryan Williams is committed to Alabama. The Spartans also have talented receivers in Dillon Alfred and C.D. Gill and a breakaway tailback tandem of DeShawn Spencer and Santae McWilliams.

“Offensively, we pride ourselves in having balance – being able to run and throw the ball,” Kelly said. “We’ve got total confidence in KJ to put us in the right situations. We feel like if we put the game in his hands, he’ll be able to get us in the right situations.”

Spanish Fort coach Chase Smith knows his team has a challenge ahead, but he also doesn’t seem deterred.

“We’ve got to see what they do well, what they lean on and what their identity is and try to do some things to disrupt that and to get them out of rhythm,” Smith said. “I want consistent drives, control the football, protect the football. Our goal each week is not to hurt ourselves, win the turnover margin, produce in special teams. In a close game, I think you can really help yourself on special teams.”

Traditionally, Spanish Fort has had success against Saraland. The two relatively young programs have played 12 times with the Toros winning eight. However, Saraland has won the last two meetings — 28-16 in 2021 and 35-24 in 2022.

“I know they are a good football team, a good program, and we are, too,” Smith said. “This is the next region game. It’s a home game. We are going to have a great crowd. Our kids are excited about playing. We are excited about getting them ready. It goes back to the vision of being 1-0 each week.”

Friday’s game On the Hill is the first of a tough four-game stretch for Spanish Fort (2-1). After this week, the Toros travel to reigning region champ Theodore on Sept. 22, play at rival Daphne on Sept 29 and host St. Paul’s on Oct. 6.

During that run, Smith is likely hoping for a little more from his offense. Other than a Week 2 44-0 win over Blount, Spanish Fort has scored just two touchdowns in each of its two other games (a loss to Fairhope and a win against Baldwin County.) Drew Williamson (3), Anthony Shamburger (2) and Sawyer Wilson (2) have combined for seven rushing scores.

“I wouldn’t say we are struggling to find an identity on offense,” Smith said. “We knew we had some guys who are going to step up. We have some young guys filling holes. We just have to keep working on clicking and executing the game plan each week, and that’s what it is all about.”

It won’t be an easy challenge this week to execute against a Saraland defense led by recent Alabama commit Antonio Coleman up front.

“It’s basically the same group from last year,” Kelly said of his defense. “There are probably a lot of people who thought we won in spite of our defense last year. This year, we are winning because of our defense. Those guys have made their mind up to want to be a good unit. We just have to maintain that and be consistent.”

SARALAND (3-0) AT SPANISH FORT (2-1)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Toro Stadium, Spanish Fort

Last week: Saraland defeated St. Paul’s 47-3. Spanish Fort defeated Baldwin County 14-13.

Region records: Both teams are 2-0 in Class 6A, Region 1.

The skinny: Spanish Fort leads the overall series 8-4, but Saraland has won the last two games between the teams – 28-16 in 2021 and 35-24 in 2022. … The Spartans have outscored their three opponents 132-39, including 101-9 in their first two region games against Murphy and St. Paul’s. Jeff Kelly’s team has won 17 of the last 18 games overall with the only loss coming at Theodore in the regular season a year ago. The Spartans have averaged 43 points a game during that span and been held to less than 30 points just twice, both times against Theodore (21, 26). Junior KJ Lacey is completing 62 percent of his passes for 576 yards and 5 TDs. The leading rushers are Deshawn Spencer (14 carries, 243 yards, 2 TDs) and Santae McWilliams (30 carries, 171 yards, 1 TD). Reigning Mr. Football Ryan Williams has 10 receptions for 224 yards and 3 TDs. He also has a rushing score. … Spanish Fort has won two straight games since opening the season with a 17-14 loss to Fairhope. The Toros defeated Blount 44-0 on Sept. 1 before edging Baldwin County last week. Drew Williamson (3), Anthony Shamburger (2) and Sawyer Wilson (2) have combined for seven rushing scores. Shamburger has thrown just one TD pass and been intercepted twice. The defense, which is allowing just 10 points a game, is led by linebackers Bishop Burkhalter (32 tackles), Cole McConathy (31 tackles) and Sterling Dixon (32 tackles). McConathy, a Louisville commit, has seven sacks. Dixon has three.