2017 FALL Gulf Coast Media SportsP R E V I E W BALDWIN COUNTY TIGERS ~ BAYSHORE CHRISTIAN EAGLES BAYSIDE ACADEMY ADMIRALS ~ CENTRAL CHRISTIAN SAINTS DAPHNE TROJANS ~ ELBERTA WARRIORS ~ FAIRHOPE PIRATES FOLEY LIONS ~ GULF SHORES DOLPHINS ROBERTSDALE GOLDEN BEARS ~ SNOOK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY SPANISH FORT TOROS ~ ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CARDINALS 2 • 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • August 11, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media 2017 FOLEY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 25 @Robertsdale AWAY Sept. 1 @Fairhope AWAY Sept. 8 Davidson HOME Sept. 15 @Alma Bryant AWAY Sept. 22 @McGill-Toolen AWAY Sept. 29 Open Oct. 6 Murphy HOME Oct. 13 Spanish Fort HOME Oct. 20 @MGM AWAY Keeping You in the Game! Oct. 27 Baker HOME Call 251-625-2663 Nov. 3 Theodore HOME www.baldwinboneandjoint.com 251-960-1152 DAYTON HART, DMD FAMILY DENTISTRY Supports 225 W. Laurel, Foley, AL • 251-943-2471 GOOD LUCK LIONS FFoley Lions For a Winning Season! Right on 1-10 But Far Off The Beaten Track! from Dr. Hart & Staff /RFDWHG,QVLGH7KH2DVLV7UDYHO&HQWHUQ,:HVW([LW :LOFR[([LW &RXQW\5RDG5REHUWVGDOH$/ ZZZIDFHERRNFRP'HUDLOHG'LQHUZZZ'HUDLOHG'LQHUFRP [email protected] Freeman Collision Center, LLC Gary Hellmich Complete Auto Body & Frame Repair {Foreign & Domestic} HELLMICH 24 Hr. Towing ELECTRIC, INC. 243 S. Greeno Road E. Laurel Ave., Foley Fairhope, AL 36532 903 West Laurel Ave., Foley, Al 36535 251-943-4011 251-943-2350 • 251-970-1826 Fax (251) 928-3909 [email protected] Patrick L. Garofano, P.T. Fax (251) 928-3984 “Good luck on a winning season” Hwy 59 1050 Hickory 251-943-1801 Foley, AL Loxley, AL Hood’s 251-943-5834 251-964-5834 Discount Home Center Service • Price • Selection 1918 N. McKenzie, Foley, AL Daphne: 626-1116 • www.jjfurn.com Rick Lowell, Owner www.hoodshomecenters.com “Discover the Difference” GOOD LUCK LIONS Parke Place ewelry We Buy Gold & Silver J John Wilson • 251.943.1699 Serving South Baldwin County Since 1916 UP TO 75% OFF STOREWIDE Tire Sales (New & Used) - Brakes - Steering 413 East Laurel Avenue 700 Whispering Pines Road 105 So. McKenzie • Foley • 251-943-7225 Foley, Alabama 36535 Daphne, Alabama 36526 www.parkeplacejewelry.com Suspension & Alignments - OE & Custom Exhaust 251-943-5001 251-626-5000 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm • Closed Saturday & Sunday Computer & Electrical Diagnostics Outage Reporting System Outage Reporting System AC Service & Repair 251-943-4999 251-625-4999 GOOD LUCK FOLEY LIONS! Gulf Coast Media • August 11, 2017 • 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 3 foley LIONS Chris Armstrong Garrett Mayo Jack Detombe Lions expecting resurgence after injury-hampered finish last year By PATRICK HERRING Chris Armstrong will be integral GCM Sports Correspondent The secondary is really going to be the in helping the offense succeed in strength of our defense. Last year we his senior season. Tad Niblett enters his third “ “You’ve gotta be a student of season as the head coach at Foley played too much defense; this year I see the game if you want to be suc- High School this fall, and the ex- us being able to get off the field more cessful,” Armstrong said. pectations are high. After a medio- often on third down. And successful he has been, as cre first year, the Lions regressed evidenced by the influx of schol- in his second outing, falling to 3-7 ” arship offers he’s received from due in part to some unlucky inju- D1 programs such as South Ala- ries. There will be no excuses in bama, Troy, Jacksonville State 2017. tad niblett and Louisiana-Lafayette. Under the prior regime, the FOLEY HEAD COACH “Chris is a really physical run- Lions made the playoffs in 10 con- ning back, and he gave us a shot secutive seasons. A playoff win will time, collectively as a team and tions,” Niblett said. in the arm when we ran him at quiet the doubters, but another as a program, that the kids have The Lion offense averaged fewer quarterback last year, so we feel one and done trip to the postseason understood the mindset we want as than 17 points per game in 2016, like he’ll be able to help us in the could signal the beginning of the far as the approach in practice, the that won’t cut it if the team hopes backfield this season,” Niblett said. end for Niblett. energy that it takes on a consistent to turn things around this year. “This past spring was the first basis and execution in game situa- All-around offensive playmaker SEE LIONS, PAGE 24 Goo d Luck Fol ey Lion s! 4 • 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • August 11, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media 2017 FAIRHOPE PIRATES 20172017 FAFAIRHOPEIRHOPE HIGH SCHOOLS FOOTBALLFOOTBALL SCHEDULESCHEDULLE Aug. 25 St. Pauls HOME Sept. 1 Foley HOME Sept. 8 @Mary G. Montgomery AWAY Sept. 15 @Theodore AWAY Oct. 6 @Baker AWAY Oct. 13 Davidson HOME Oct. 19 @Murphy AWAY B&B Pecan Co. Oct. 27 Alma Bryant HOME Pecans “Direct from the Farm” Nov. 3 McGill-Toolen HOME Fairhope, Alabama www.PecanGifts.com RETAIL SALES AND MAIL ORDER Pecans make great gifts for all occasions. Order pecans for your friends, family & business associates! 16151 Greeno Road (HWY 98), Fairhope, AL 36532 1-800-732-6812 or (251) 928-9031 Proud of our Pirates! Supports Keeping You in the Game! FaiFairhoper Pirates Michelle Sulcer, store owner Call 251-625-2663 1201 HWY 98 Daphne, AL 36532 251-626-2377 • www.badcock.com www.baldwinboneandjoint.com 243 S. Greeno Road hughesfh.com Fairhope, AL 36532 251.621.5890 (251) 928-3909 Patrick L. Garofano, P.T. Fax (251) 928-3984 Daphne AL Buy any regular footlong and a OLD TYME 21 oz. drink and receive a regular FEED & GARDEN SUPPLY footlong FREE. Lawn care, garden needs, pet supplies & plants OLD FASHION VALUES Daphne: 626-1116 • www.jjfurn.com & FRIENDLY SERVICE “Discover the Difference” 19580 Greeno Rd., Fairhope, AL • 928-1156 Valid at: Serving South Baldwin County Since 1916 Fairhope 413 East Laurel Avenue 700 Whispering Pines Road 251-928-0603 Foley, Alabama 36535 Daphne, Alabama 36526 • 251-943-5001 251-626-5000 Lake Forest Outage Reporting System Outage Reporting System 251-943-4999 251-625-4999 251-626-2082 Gulf Coast Media • August 11, 2017 • 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 5 fairhope PIRATES Noah May, Brett Howell and Hunter Griffin Fairhope Pirates ready to bounce back from injury-bug last year By PATRICK HERRING GCM Sports FAIRHOPE — Year three appears to be the magic number for Fairhope head coach Tim Carter. After going 8-12 in his first two seasons as the man in charge, 2017 is shaping up to be a banner year for the program. No head coach likes to make excuses, but if one ever had the allowance to do so, it would be Tim Carter. Last season the Pirates lost eight starters over the course of just the first half of the season. The injury bug bit them down the stretch in 2015 as well. However, the team appears to be fully healthy right now, which is bad news for the rest of the region. The roster boasts 23 seniors, with five starters returning on defense. Three of those returning starters are in the secondary, which excites Carter. “The secondary is really going to be the strength of our defense,” Carter said. “Last year we played too much defense; this year I see us being able to get off the field more often on third down.” Senior safety Brett Howell is one of those returning starters, and he sees big things coming for the defense. “Last year we were a little flat- footed,” Howell said. “This year I The Pirates and Lions renew their long Blue and Gold rivalry Sept. 1 at Fairhope. see a lot more speed getting to the ball. We’re not going to let the big on the road. The slate includes play beat us.” The secondary is really going to be the trips to Mary Montgomery, The- odore, Daphne and Baker. Speed wasn’t the only thing strength of our defense. Last year we “ “You just have to be ready to lacking on the team last season played too much defense; this year I see according to fellow senior play when you get there,” Carter defensive back Noah May. us being able to get off the field more said. “It takes senior leadership. “We didn’t have great senior often on third down. You can’t let a bus ride distract leadership last year,” May said. you.” “So as a senior class, we want to ” After the road stand, the make sure that the conflict from a Pirates finish out the schedule year ago isn’t there.” with home games in three of Sounds like Carter has more of tim carter the last four matches. They’ll the team buying into his process FAIRHOPE HEAD COACH host Davidson before taking to in his third year. the road one final time to play On the offensive side of the and he’s just as excited as Coach he’s been heavily recruited by D-1 at Murphy. The regular season ball is where the excitement Carter. programs. will end with home games against is brewing. At quarterback, “I’m expecting big things from If the team even stays half as Alma Bryant and Class 7A state the team returns junior the offense this year,” Griffin said. healthy as they were in 2016, a champion runner-up McGill- Devin Mitchell who took over “I feel like the defense won’t have significant improvement is on Toolen. midway through the season a to carry us as much as they did the horizon.