The offensive and defensive stars for Spanish Fort eventually emerged as the Toros rolled to a 41-19 win over McGill-Toolen on Thursday night in a key Class 6A, Region 1 game.

But before they did, the difference was special teams.

The Toros scored on an 88-yard blocked field-goal return and a 42-yard punt return, both by junior linebacker Bishop Burkhalter, to establish a 13-0 lead that was never overcome.

Spanish Fort improves to 5-1 in region play with games against Robertsdale and Murphy remaining. Unless there is a major upset, the Toros will be the No. 2 playoff seed and host a playoff game. McGill-Toolen fell to 3-2 in the region and is still in playoff contention.

The two special teams returns were the first touchdowns of Burkhalter’s Spanish Fort career. The first came after Cole McConathy blocked a short field goal. The second came at the end of a strange set of circumstances.

McGill-Toolen was set to punt from its 26 early in the second quarter. But punter Henry Green had blood below his knee, so officials made him leave the game for a play. With Green on the sideline, the punt traveled only 16 yards. All the Yellow Jackets overran the short punt. Burkhalter alertly picked it up on a bounce and raced untouched for the score.

“I was manifesting that play all week,” Burkhalter said of the punt return. “I knew if they punted it short, I was going to pick it up and run it. When I got the ball in my hands I kicked in my inner Bobby Boucher and took off. I knew if I fumbled or I didn’t score I was going to get chewed out.”

Spanish Fort led 20-0 before McGill-Toolen scored twice in the final 2:02 of the first half to close the gap to 20-13. But the Toros pulled away in the second half, scoring seven in the third and 14 more in the fourth for the win.

By The Numbers: The stars for Spanish Fort were many. Running back Nehemiah Hixon carried the ball 13 times for 125 yards. In the third quarter, his carries covered 15, 13, 12, 42 and 11 yards. Drew Williamson scored three rushing touchdowns on only four carries. Quarterback Aaden Shamburger had an unusual stat line. The sophomore rushed for 92 yards, had 30 yards receiving but passed for only 3 yards.

Game ball: McConathy and Sterling Dixon were in the middle of almost every big play. The Louisville commit McConathy had the blocked field goal that led to a score and a batted pass that was intercepted by Dixon, an Alabama commit. Both were constantly in the backfield causing havoc.

Coachspeak: “We just made too many critical mistakes too early in the game to have a chance to beat a good team like Spanish Fort,” said McGill-Toolen coach David Faulkner. “They’re a good football team, they’re a hard-nosed, physical football team and you have to come out and match their physicality and then you have to play well on top of that. We had too many unforced errors early in the game and that was difficult to overcome. Then they dominated the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter on offense.”

They said it: “Our defense bowed up and made some plays,” said Spanish Fort coach Chase Smith. “We found a way to execute in all three phases of the game.”

They said it: “It’s definitely fun playing with a guy like Cole who has a lot of experience and is a smart player,” Dixon said. “Louisville’s getting an animal, I can’t lie. It’s fun.”

Next week: Both teams return to Class 6A, Region 1 play next Friday. Spanish Fort hosts Robertsdale, while McGill-Toolen will visit Theodore.