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Daphne’s Malone, Spanish Fort’s McConathy highlight Baldwin County Public Schools All-County football team

Toro head coach Smith named Coach of the Year after 9-3 season, 16th straight playoff berth

BY COLE McNANNA
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com

Posted 12/14/23

When the Baldwin County Public School football coaches constructed the All-County squad, 89 athletes were recognized across first and second teams as well as honorable mentions.

The Daphne …

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Daphne’s Malone, Spanish Fort’s McConathy highlight Baldwin County Public Schools All-County football team

Toro head coach Smith named Coach of the Year after 9-3 season, 16th straight playoff berth

Spanish Fort senior Cole McConathy pressures Daphne junior Jamar Malone during the non-region rivalry game between the Toros and Trojans at Jubilee Stadium on Sept. 29. The two teams led the way on the Baldwin County Public Schools All-County team where Daphne earned the most with 22 followed by 19 from Spanish Fort.

Spanish Fort senior Cole McConathy pressures Daphne junior Jamar Malone during the non-region rivalry game between the Toros and Trojans at Jubilee Stadium on Sept. 29. The two teams led the way on the Baldwin County Public Schools All-County team where Daphne earned the most with 22 followed by 19 from Spanish Fort.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Toro head football coach Chase Smith greets the team as they head back to the locker room before Sept. 29’s non-region contest against the Daphne Trojans on the road. After a 9-3 record and a 16th consecutive playoff berth, Smith was recognized as the Coach of the Year on the Baldwin County Public Schools All-County team.

Toro head football coach Chase Smith greets the team as they head back to the locker room before Sept. 29’s non-region contest against the Daphne Trojans on the road. After a 9-3 record and a 16th consecutive playoff berth, Smith was recognized as the Coach of the Year on the Baldwin County Public Schools All-County team.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Foley senior Dereon Autrey reaches out to corral Fairhope sophomore Bryon Martin during the Class 7A Region 1 game between the Lions and Pirates on Smith-Pigott Field at Ivan Jones Stadium on Oct. 5. Autrey was one of two first-team all-county selections from the Foley defense alongside defensive back Danarius Yearling.

Foley senior Dereon Autrey reaches out to corral Fairhope sophomore Bryon Martin during the Class 7A Region 1 game between the Lions and Pirates on Smith-Pigott Field at Ivan Jones Stadium on Oct. 5. Autrey was one of two first-team all-county selections from the Foley defense alongside defensive back Danarius Yearling.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Fairhope senior Ameyr Adams checks his positioning on the line of scrimmage during the Pirates’ home game against the Davidson Warriors within Class 7A Region 1 on Sept. 22. Adams was one of 12 all-county representatives from Fairhope where he earned a spot on the first-team defense.

Fairhope senior Ameyr Adams checks his positioning on the line of scrimmage during the Pirates’ home game against the Davidson Warriors within Class 7A Region 1 on Sept. 22. Adams was one of 12 all-county representatives from Fairhope where he earned a spot on the first-team defense.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Baldwin County junior Ti Mims bears down on a Spanish Fort defender after making a catch in the first half of Sept. 8’s Class 6A Region 1 battle between the Tigers and Toros at Lyle Underwood Stadium in Bay Minette. Mims was one of the lethal offensive weapons named first-team all-county by Baldwin County Public Schools coaches.

Baldwin County junior Ti Mims bears down on a Spanish Fort defender after making a catch in the first half of Sept. 8’s Class 6A Region 1 battle between the Tigers and Toros at Lyle Underwood Stadium in Bay Minette. Mims was one of the lethal offensive weapons named first-team all-county by Baldwin County Public Schools coaches.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Elberta senior captains Aiden Freemantle, Michael Baggett, Luke Newburn and Jaedon Hill walk out for the season-opening coin toss against the Bayside Academy Admirals at Freedom Field in Daphne on Aug. 25. Freemantle and Newburn represented Elberta as all-county honorable mentions and Hill was a first-team representative on the Baldwin County Public Schools All-County team.

Elberta senior captains Aiden Freemantle, Michael Baggett, Luke Newburn and Jaedon Hill walk out for the season-opening coin toss against the Bayside Academy Admirals at Freedom Field in Daphne on Aug. 25. Freemantle and Newburn represented Elberta as all-county honorable mentions and Hill was a first-team representative on the Baldwin County Public Schools All-County team.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Robertsdale senior Chris Weeks warms up for action in Spanish Fort before the Class 6A Region 1 tilt between the Golden Bears and Toros on Oct. 20. Weeks was named a second-team all-county selection on the defensive side of the ball by Baldwin County Public Schools coaches.

Robertsdale senior Chris Weeks warms up for action in Spanish Fort before the Class 6A Region 1 tilt between the Golden Bears and Toros on Oct. 20. Weeks was named a second-team all-county selection on the defensive side of the ball by Baldwin County Public Schools coaches.

Cole McNanna / Gulf Coast Media

Posted Thursday, December 14, 2023 4:46 pm

BY COLE McNANNA
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com

When the Baldwin County Public School football coaches constructed the All-County squad, 89 athletes were recognized across first and second teams as well as honorable mentions.

The Daphne Trojans led the way with 22 total selections and were followed closely by the Spanish Fort Toros (19). They were followed by 12 Fairhope Pirates, 12 Baldwin County Tigers, 10 Foley Lions, 10 Elberta Warriors and 4 Robertsdale Golden Bears.

Spanish Fort head coach Chase Smith was named the Coach of the Year in his second year at the helm of the Toro program. Spanish Fort logged a 9-3 overall record with a 7-1 mark in Class 6A Region 1 for a 16th consecutive playoff berth. The Toros improved to 15-1 all-time in the first round of the state playoffs with a 28-0 shutout of the Bessemer City Purple Tigers.

Three members from that Spanish Fort defense that allowed an average of 14.5 points per game were recognized on a ferocious first-team all-county including defensive end and Miami commit Cole McConathy, linebacker and Alabama signee Sterling Dixon and junior linebacker Bishop Burkhalter.

With Daphne defensive linemen Marquaes Lambert and Talib Graham as well as Elberta linebacker Corbitt Williams helping fill out the front seven, defensive backs the likes of Danarius Yearling from Foley and North Alabama commit Ameyr Adams from Fairhope provide protection in the backend.

An offensive unit comprised of the first-team all-county honorees looks similarly lethal with Daphne quarterback Jamar Malone running the show. With offensive line protection from Fairhope’s Barrett Cain and Elberta’s Jaedon Hill, Malone would have plenty of time to find weapons with a receiving core featuring the likes of Foley’s Perry Thompson, Baldwin County’s Ti Mims and Spanish Fort’s Nehemiah Hixon.

The ground attack will rely on the legs of running backs Nick Clark from Daphne and Kolton Nero from Foley who will actually share the same backfield on Friday at the AHSAA North-South All-Star Football Classic.

Below is the full list of all-county honorees broken down by school as voted on by Baldwin County Public School representatives.

2023 All-BCPS Teams – Coach of the Year: Spanish Fort’s Chase Smith

Daphne Trojans

First-team selections: OL Tyler Sasser; OL Embree Stevens; WR John Davis; RB Nick Clark; ATH Jaecyn Myles; QB Jamar Malone; DL Marquaes Lambert; DL Talib Graham; LB Andre Houston; DB Al Woodard; P Hayden McLaurin

Second-team selections: ATH RJ Dailey; DL Tyler Durant; LB Kamarion Peete; DB Jaiden Lee

Honorable mentions: OL Hayden LaFroscia; OL Jacob Luna; OL Jai’Vale Fredericks; WR CJ Gardner; LB Cayden Williams; LB Maddox Balius; DB EJ Williams

Spanish Fort Toros

First-team selections: TE Chandler Wilson; ATH Nehemiah Hixon; DL Cole McConathy; DL Sterling Dixon; LB Bishop Burkhalter; P Newton Gardner

Second-team selections: OL Blake Smith; OL Bree Blackmon; WR Justin Bonner; WR Gabe Myers; RB Sawyer Wilson; QB Aaden Shamburger; LB Drew Williamson; DB Javontae Walton; DB Landon York; K Cam Lytle

Honorable mentions: DL Grey Freeman; DB Josh Powell; DB Markell Kyer

Fairhope Pirates

First-team selections: OL Barrett Cain; LB PJ Harbin; DB Ameyr Adams; K Campbell MacKellar

Second-team selections: OL Clayton Noblitt; TE Sanders Daniell; DL Rock Gearhart; LB Dallas Boothe; DB Nolan Phillips; P Clayton Noblitt

Honorable mentions: DL Deshaun Williams; DB Dixon Davis

Baldwin County Tigers

First-team selections: WR Ti Mims; WR Damorien Andrews; DL EJ Jones; DB Lakobe Johnson

Second-team selections: OL Anthony Evans; WR LeJames Daniel; RB Jamarion Marshall; ATH Tre French; DL Jay Bolar; DL Kendreas Nelson; P Preston Kiper

Honorable mention: LB Camo Benitez

Foley Lions

First-team selections: OL Logan Joellenbeck; WR Perry Thompson; RB Kolton Nero; DB Danarius Yearling; LB De’reon Autrey

Second-team selections: OL Arnez Jones; WR Shaborn Oakes; DL Sam McClellan; DB Jaylon Dominque

Honorable mention: OL Edmond Thomas

Elberta Warriors

First-team selections: OL Jaedon Hill; LB Corbitt Williams; DB Cole Ulrich

Second-team selection: LB Noah Garcie

Honorable mentions: OL Justin Welch; TE Luke Newburn; DL Austin Craig; DL Aiden Freemantle; LB Brice Brooks; DB Landon Achorn

Robertsdale Golden Bears

Second-team selection: DB Chris Weeks

Honorable mentions: P Marty Kennard; WR Bryson Gier; LB Todderick Thompson