Mobile Area High School Football Week 5 Preview

Week 5 brings another full slate of high school football across the Mobile area, with teams in Classes 4A, 5A, 6A and AHSAA’s private-school classifications looking to build momentum as the season reaches its midpoint.

Several area teams enter Friday night’s games with winning records, while others are looking to turn early-season results around. From unbeaten teams trying to maintain their momentum to teams searching for their first victories, there will be plenty at stake across the area.

Here is a look at Friday night’s games:

Mary G. Montgomery (1-3) at Alma Bryant (1-3)

Two Mobile County rivals meet Friday night as Mary G. Montgomery visits Alma Bryant in a matchup featuring a pair of 1-3 teams.

MGM enters with a 1-3 overall record and a 1-1 mark in Class 6A play. The Vikings are coming off a 35-14 loss to Fairhope after opening the season with losses to Saraland and Vigor before defeating Robertsdale.

MGM has scored 59 points through four games while allowing 118. Kamron “Kam” Smith remains one of the Vikings’ leading offensive weapons. Smith, who received a scholarship offer from North Alabama during the offseason, gives MGM another option in the ground game.

Alma Bryant also enters at 1-3 and is coming off a narrow 28-26 loss to Foley. The Hurricanes ran for 328 yards in that game and have relied heavily on their rushing attack throughout the season.

Sophomore running back Anthony Sturgis leads Bryant with 391 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while senior Jayden James has added 371 rushing yards. Quarterback Makai Vongsengphachanh has also contributed five rushing touchdowns.

Both teams will look to establish the run Friday night. The team that controls the line of scrimmage and protects the football could have the advantage in this Mobile County matchup.

Spanish Fort (3-1) at Blount (2-2)

Spanish Fort travels to Blount on Friday night with the Toros looking to continue their strong start to the season.

Spanish Fort is 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Class 5A play after opening its area schedule with victories over Elberta and Baldwin County. The Toros have scored 106 points while allowing 49.

Quarterback J. Thibodeaux leads the offense with 686 total yards, while sophomore running back Ford Turner is averaging 80.3 rushing yards per game. Devin McKenzie has emerged as the team’s leading receiver, averaging 37 yards per game.

The Toros have also received consistent production on defense. Sophomore linebacker/defensive end Terry “TJ” Causey is averaging 6.3 tackles per game, while senior defensive end Sam Wilder is averaging two sacks per game. Safety Noah Stone has recorded two interceptions.

Blount enters at 2-2 and 1-1 in Class 5A play. The Leopards opened the season with a 28-7 loss to Vigor before answering with a 44-43 triple-overtime victory over B.C. Rain and a 43-0 win over Murphy.

Blount then suffered a 30-29 overtime loss to Gulf Shores last week. The Leopards have scored 123 points through four games and have shown the ability to create big plays offensively.

Spanish Fort will try to keep that offense in check while continuing its own strong start. Blount, meanwhile, will look to use its home-field advantage to hand the Toros their first loss since Week 1.

Williamson (3-0) at Satsuma (3-1)

Williamson takes its unbeaten record on the road Friday night when the Lions visit Satsuma.

The Lions are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in Class 4A play after opening the season with victories over Baker, B.C. Rain and Pine Forest, Florida. Williamson has outscored its opponents 108-18 through three games.

The Lions opened area play with a dominant 56-0 victory over B.C. Rain, and their defense has been the defining story of the season.

Satsuma enters at 3-1 overall and 1-1 in Class 4A play. The Gators have scored 123 points this season while allowing 78, an average of 30.8 points per game.

Satsuma opened its area schedule with a 38-0 loss to LeFlore before responding with a 21-20 victory over B.C. Rain last week.

The Gators will face a major test against a Williamson defense that has consistently limited opposing offenses. For the Lions, Friday provides another opportunity to maintain their unbeaten start and strengthen their standing among the area’s top Class 4A teams.

B.C. Rain (0-4) at Orange Beach (4-0)

Orange Beach will try to remain unbeaten Friday night when the Makos host B.C. Rain.

The Makos enter at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Class 4A play after opening the season with victories over T.R. Miller, Monroe County, Vigor and LeFlore.

Orange Beach has scored 128 points through four games while allowing only 40. The Makos have already picked up two area victories, including a 21-19 win over Vigor and a 27-7 victory over LeFlore.

The offense has also produced some of the program’s biggest numbers this season. Orange Beach set school records with 56 points and a 56-point margin of victory against Monroe County.

B.C. Rain is still searching for its first victory. The Red Raiders are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in Class 4A play after losses to Baldwin County, Blount, Williamson and Satsuma.

B.C. Rain has scored 85 points while allowing 161. Its closest game came last week, when the Red Raiders fell 21-20 to Satsuma.

Orange Beach enters Friday’s matchup as one of the area’s unbeaten teams, while B.C. Rain will look to put together four quarters of football and earn its first victory of the season.

LeFlore (3-1) at Citronelle (2-1)

LeFlore travels to Citronelle on Friday night in a matchup between two Class 4A teams with winning records.

The Rattlers enter at 3-1 overall and 1-1 in Class 4A play. LeFlore opened the season with victories over Robertsdale, Davidson and Satsuma before falling 27-7 to Orange Beach last week.

LeFlore has scored 95 points through four games while allowing 70. Its strongest defensive performance came in a 38-0 shutout of Satsuma in its first area game.

Citronelle is 2-1 overall and 0-1 in Class 4A play. The Wildcats opened the season with victories over Jackson and Washington County before losing 42-8 to Vigor in their area opener.

Citronelle has scored 86 points while allowing 74 and returns home looking to bounce back from that loss.

LeFlore will look to regain the momentum it had during its 3-0 start, while Citronelle will try to use its home field to get back on track. With both teams having demonstrated the ability to score, Friday’s matchup could come down to which defense can make the biggest plays.

McGill-Toolen (3-1) at Faith Academy (1-2)

McGill-Toolen travels to Faith Academy on Friday night in a matchup between two Mobile-area programs.

The Yellow Jackets enter at 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Class AA play. McGill-Toolen opened the season with a 52-35 victory over Foley before losing 16-0 to Jackson Academy.

Since then, the Yellow Jackets have responded with two consecutive victories, defeating St. Paul’s 34-24 and St. Michael Catholic 20-17.

McGill-Toolen has scored 106 points through four games and is averaging 26.5 points per game. The Yellow Jackets also produced 267 rushing yards in their season-opening victory over Foley.

Faith Academy enters at 1-2 overall and 0-2 in Class AA play. The Rams opened the season with a 35-7 victory over Bay Middle before falling to Montgomery Catholic 38-7 and UMS-Wright 35-10.

Faith has scored 52 points while allowing 80.

The Rams will look to slow down a McGill-Toolen offense that has found its rhythm during its three-game winning streak. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, will try to continue their strong stretch and remain unbeaten in Class AA play.

Snook Christian Academy (1-2) at Mobile Christian (3-1)

Mobile Christian returns home Friday night to host Snook Christian Academy.

The Leopards enter at 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Class A play. Mobile Christian has won three of its last four games, defeating McIntosh 36-0, Cottage Hill Christian 12-7 and Northside Methodist Academy 63-0.

The lone loss came against Presbyterian Christian of Mississippi, 31-13.

Mobile Christian has scored 124 points through four games while allowing only 38. The Leopards have been particularly effective defensively in area play, allowing just seven points in their two victories.

Snook Christian enters at 1-2 overall and 0-2 in Class A play. The Eagles opened the season with a 23-6 victory over Christian Collegiate Middle before dropping consecutive games to St. Luke’s and Cottage Hill Christian by identical 42-0 scores.

Mobile Christian will try to continue its recent offensive and defensive success, while Snook will look to slow down the Leopards and put together a complete performance on the road.

Saraland (2-1) at Baldwin County (1-3)

Saraland travels to Bay Minette on Friday night to face Baldwin County in a Class 5A matchup.

The Spartans enter at 2-1 overall and 1-1 in Class 5A play. Saraland opened the season with a 33-14 victory over Mary G. Montgomery before falling 34-24 to Gulf Shores.

The Spartans responded in a big way last week, defeating Theodore 59-9.

Saraland has scored 116 points through three games, averaging 38.7 points per game, while allowing 57. The Spartans’ offense produced one of its strongest performances of the season against Theodore, scoring 59 points.

Baldwin County enters at 1-3 overall and 0-2 in Class 5A play. The Tigers opened the season with a 40-22 victory over B.C. Rain before losing to Fairhope, Theodore and Spanish Fort.

Baldwin County was shut out 28-0 by Spanish Fort last week and has scored 89 points while allowing 114 this season.

Saraland will look to carry the momentum from last week’s offensive outburst into Bay Minette, while Baldwin County will try to respond at home and get back on track.

Baker (2-2) at Foley (2-2)

Baker and Foley meet Friday night in a matchup of two 2-2 teams in Class 6A.

The Hornets enter at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in Class 6A play. Baker opened the season with a 33-0 loss to Williamson before responding with victories over Theodore and Davidson.

The Hornets then suffered a 22-19 loss to Daphne last week. Baker has scored 78 points while allowing 82 through four games.

Foley also enters at 2-2 and 1-1 in Class 6A play. The Lions opened the season with a 52-35 loss to McGill-Toolen, defeated Spanish Fort 28-25 and then fell to Fairhope 42-28.

Foley bounced back last week with a 28-26 victory over Alma Bryant and has scored 119 points while allowing 145 this season.

Both teams have shown the ability to put points on the board, setting up a matchup between two evenly matched teams looking to gain momentum as the season moves deeper into September.

St. Michael Catholic (0-3) at St. Paul’s Episcopal (2-2)

St. Michael Catholic travels to St. Paul’s Episcopal on Friday night for another Mobile-area matchup between Class AA programs.

St. Paul’s enters at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in Class AA play. The Saints opened the season with a 58-28 victory over Alma Bryant before losing 34-10 to Gulf Shores and 34-24 to McGill-Toolen.

St. Paul’s returned to the win column last week with a 38-33 victory over Glenwood.

The Saints have scored 130 points through four games, an average of 32.5 points per game, while allowing 129.

St. Michael is still looking for its first victory. The Cardinals are 0-3 overall and 0-2 in Class AA play after losses to Catholic Montgomery, UMS-Wright and McGill-Toolen.

St. Michael came close last week, falling 20-17 to McGill-Toolen after taking the Yellow Jackets into the final minutes.

The Cardinals have scored 48 points while allowing 78 this season. St. Paul’s will look to keep its offense moving, while St. Michael will try to turn another competitive game into its first victory.

Davidson (0-4) at Daphne (3-1)

Daphne hosts Davidson on Friday night as the Trojans look to continue their strong start in Class 6A.

Daphne enters at 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Class 6A play. After opening the season with an 18-15 loss to Spanish Fort, the Trojans have won three consecutive games.

Daphne has defeated Carver-Montgomery 21-7, Alma Bryant 42-21 and Baker 22-19 during that stretch.

The Trojans have scored 100 points through four games while allowing 65. Their two Class 6A victories have come by a combined seven points, giving Daphne experience in close games early in the season. Davidson enters at 0-4 overall and 0-2 in Class 6A play. The Warriors have lost to LeFlore, Baker, Foley and Robertsdale while scoring 74 points and allowing 128.

Davidson will be looking for its first victory of the season, while Daphne will try to extend its winning streak to four games.

The Trojans have already demonstrated they can win close games, and they will look to carry that momentum into Friday night’s matchup at home.