Baldwin football scrapbook

By DEREK BELT
Sports Reporter

It’s hard to believe the 2006 football season has come to a close in Baldwin County. Seems like just last week the area’s clubs were suiting up for the first official day of fall practice, eagerly awaiting the start of the new campaign.

But it wasn’t just last week — it was 16 weeks ago Monday that the Alabama High School Athletic Association opened practice across the state. Since then, local prep football fans have been treated to a slew of great games, many memorable moments and, of course, lots of surprises.

While none of Baldwin County’s teams went deep into the postseason this year, 2006 was definitely a season to remember.
From Daphne’s sixth region championship in the last seven years, to Gulf Shores’ incredible 5-5 finish in its first year in 5A, there were plenty of positives to point out all across the county this year.

Three Baldwin teams qualified for postseason play — Daphne, Foley and Fairhope. The Trojans and Lions were pegged as preseason top 10s in the 6A classification, and both lived up to the billing.

Daphne finished the year 9-3 after dropping a second-round playoff game to Sidney Lanier, 34-21. Foley reached the second round for the first time since 1995 but lost a 54-7 stunner to No. 2 Prattville to finish 10-2.

Fairhope, meanwhile, finished 3-8 after losing 49-0 to third-ranked Opelika in the opening round.

Foley quarterback Roosevelt Byrd threw for 2,531 yards and 28 touchdowns this year while running for 686 yards and 14 more scores. Wide receiver Julio Jones, a Mr. Football finalist, caught 75 passes for 1,299 yards and 15 TDs for the Lions.

Daphne running back Reggie Hunt ran for 1,009 yards and 12 scores despite missing about half the season due to injury and sitting out nearly every second half because of lopsided scores. Hunt averaged 14 yards per carry.

Daphne quarterback Chris Lambeth completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,653 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Richie Henderson and Le’Andre Walton both tallied more than 400 receiving yards for the Trojans.

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