FOLEY, Alabama - The 2012 Baldwin County sports memorable moments include former Baldwin athletes making an impact in the NFL and college football, as well as state championships and an archery world championship.

BALDWIN PLAYERS MAKE AN IMPACT IN NFL:  Two football players from Baldwin County made an impact for their teams in the National Football League in 2012. Foley’s Julio Jones, who was a multi-sport standout for the Lions and was a part of the University of Alabama’s football team from 2008-10, recorded his best NFL season yet with the Atlanta Falcons. Jones had 123 catches for 2,030 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Falcons as of last week. He was selected to play in his first Pro-Bowl last week, and the Falcons clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC with a win this weekend.

Former BCHS standout Wallace Gilberry also made an impact in the NFL this season. After stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gilberry signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in September. In December he recovered a fumble and returned it for his first career touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. Gilberry has 58 tackles and 14 sacks in his NFL career.

YELDON MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT FOR CRIMSON TIDE: Former Daphne High School running back T.J. Yeldon made his presence felt early and often for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season. The freshman made a splash in the Tide’s spring “A-Day” game, winning the game’s MVP award after enrolling early in Tuscaloosa last January. Yeldon also impressed in his first college game against Michigan in September. He rushed for 1,000 yards on 154 carries and scored 11 touchdowns as a freshman and will play Jan. 7 in the BCS Championship Game against Notre Dame.

COUNTY’S TEAMS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Spanish Fort High School and Bayside Academy loaded up with championship trophies in 2012. Bayside Academy won a record eleventh straight state championship in volleyball as well as titles in girls cross country and girls track and field, while Spanish Fort won its third straight baseball state championship and its second football title in the last three seasons.

FAIRHOPE TEAM WINS DIXIE YOUTH STATE TITLE: The Fairhope AAA 9 & 10 team won the Dixie Youth State Championship in Auburn this summer. The team then traveled to Bartow, Fla. to compete in the national tournament. The District 7 champs won the state title with a 12-3 final over AUM Gold. Fairhope’s AL club went 6-1 overall in the tournament

FOLEY ARCHERY TEAM WINS WORLD TITLE: The Foley Intermediate School Archery Team was crowned World Champions at the NASP World Tournament in Orlando, Fla. on Oct. 6.

The team scored 3298 points to win the elementary division of the competition. The top twelve scorers were Shelby Anderson with 289 points, James Alexander with 282 points, Angela Ngyen with 280 points, Sandrae Jimmerson with 280 points, Skylar Maliska with 277 points, Maria Owen with 276 points, Reagan Lewanski with 272 points, Holden Shires with 272 points, Brandon Metz with 272 points, Michael Killian with 272 points, Annabelle Laurendine with 270 points, and Sara Beth Tibbs with 256 points. The team average was 274 points per shooter for the tournament.

Angela Ngyen won the World Championship for fifth grade girls. Shelby Anderson won the World Championship for sixth grade girls. Maria Owen won 5th place in the fifth grade girls division, and James Alexander placed 5th in the sixth grade boys division. The team received a Championship trophy, banner, medallions, and two trophy bows for their efforts.

TRAGEDIES STRIKE COUNTY: Two Baldwin County high school football teams had to deal with difficult issues in 2012.

Before the 2012 season began, Daphne assistant coach Jacy Todd was severely injured in a car accident near Malbis. He was life flighted to the hospital at South Alabama in Mobile, where doctors treated numerous injuries. The coach spent most of the football season in the hospital, then in a rehab unit in Atlanta.

Todd made an emotional return to the school in October for a pep rally, then was back on the sideline for the Trojans’ win over Enterprise.

In Foley, sophomore defensive back Chris Dillon missed most of the season after discovering he was suffering from leukemia in early October. Dillon was quickly sent to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis for treatment. As of a Dec. 18 post on caringbridge.org, Dillon was said to be in remission and was awaiting a bone marrow transplant set for later this month.

In both instances, the county showed that it cares about those in need. Members of the community held fund raising efforts all over the county for both Todd and Dillon.