6A • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM
Bayside eyes set on 3A state title By ERIC MANN
emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com
Bayside Academy’s seniors are focused on correcting last season’s mental mistakes in order to reach the school’s first football state championship game. The Admirals finished 7-5 last season with all five losses coming by a combined 15 points, including a 22-21 loss to Leeds in the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs. At Baldwin high school football media day event in Robertsdale in July Bayside’s seniors said they believed the team is ready to correct the mistakes that caused those losses. “This year we want to make the plays to win those games and to advance to the state championship,” 6-4, 215-pound senior linebacker Garris Goe said. Goe has an offer from Jacksonville State and has received interest from Princeton and Harvard. Senior running back Tripp Puckett echoed Goe’s desire to correct last season’s mistakes. “This year we have our sights on playing in the state championship game,” Puckett said. “We lost so many games by close margins on a few bad plays last year. I think if we make those few plays we can get there this year.” “Last year we got down in some games early and couldn’t convert in the end,” senior wingback
Greg Wallace makes a leaping catch for Bayside during practice this summer.
Bayside quarterback Hunter Slater throws at summer practice.
TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports
Last 5 Class 3A State Champions: • 2012: Madison Academy • 2011: Handley • 2010: Leeds • 2009: Piedmont • 2008: Leeds
TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports
AdMIRAlS From page 5A
Bayside Academy in the playoffs: • 2008: First playoff appearance • Overall playoff record: 5-5 • First round: 4-1 • Second round: 1-3 • Third round: 0-1 • Finished last season with a 22-21 loss to Leeds in the second round Zack Dyass said. “The seniors are pumped up and ready to get out there again. We are ready to get out there and do better than we did last year.”
Senior quarterback Hunter Slater returns for the Admirals this season. He has committed to play college baseball at Southern Miss.
we work and work on it all year.” The Trojans are coached by former Fairhope player and coach Mike Dean who also coached at McGill-Toolen Catholic. The Admirals will also have some Pirate swagger onboard this year as former Fairhope head coach Mark Lasseter joins the Bayside coaching staff. The Trojans edged Bayside on their Daphne campus last year and the
Admirals are eager for a payback visit to Troy, Lazenby said. “They are excited and even though it’s not a region game, they know it’s a big game for us and (CHHS) will give us a good read on where we are as a football team. Charles Henderson always has talent and always has good depth. We have very good talent, but we don’t go very deep and that comes with the territory of being a small school. But these guys are scrappy and have a lot of heart. They will
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play to win, but no matter what, we will use that experience to get ready for the region games ahead. So, yes, it’s a tough opener, but a good test as well as good preparation.” Bayside will open their 3A Region 1 schedule Sept. 6 hosting Excel High at 7 p.m. The Admirals will play up in all three of their non-region contests playing against perennial 4A powerhouse UMSWright Sept. 27 in Mobile and hosting 5A Satsuma Nov. 1.