LOXLEY, Alabama - Coach Phil Lazenby and the Bayside Academy Admirals are coming off a historic run last fall with a perfect 10-0 regular season record and a 3A Region 1 title.

Lazenby said graduation took its toll on many starters from his 13-1 squad from last year, especially the offensive line, with only one returning inside. But his players are used to picking up slack every year since they are one of the smaller 3A schools.

“We took the biggest hit on our O-Line,” he said. “Lost four out of the five interior starters. We always have limited numbers to start with so we rely on players to go both ways and cross-train positions. So we’ll have less experience across the front except for Michael Daves who we are moving to center. He’ll be a senior and will be a solid anchor for us. We all have extra duties, including coaches. I am the head coach, the defensive coordinator and I coach inside linebackers. So I may have a small staff, but it's an excellent one with Doug Leffard as offensive coordinator and assistant Michael Pierce and James Twilley.”

The Admirals’ region was also realigned with some former 4A schools dropping down to 3A like W.S. Neal and Straughn and Southside-Selma.

“Our schedule looks a lot different,” he said, “Not only because of the revamping, but because once you go 10-0, a lot of 2A and 3A schools don’t want to play you anymore. But we’ll adjust. We have been working bigger schools into our schedule year by year but this is a season full of tough competition. Just to start off with Charles Henderson out of Troy that was a 5A powerhouse for years will be quite a way to start the year, but it will tell us a lot about our team and where we are before our first region game with Excel. UMS-Wright is on our schedule. UMS is another powerhouse year-in-year-out. It’s going to be a challenge but I think our guys are up to it. We just have to work hard and stay healthy. Injuries really did a number on us last year, but we kept going and found ways to win. We love the challenge, I just hope we don't have to face another season with as many as we had last year. “

Hunter Slater will return as the Admirals’ quarterback, with Jonathan Walton at tailback and Joe Stassen as the complimentary back or as a tailback. Last year, Stassen racked up 1,500 yards as the primary carrier while Walton— an uncommitted Division I prospect— nursed a sprain but still played linebacker. Daves will also play defense while Jacob Graddick will continue to play both ways as a defensive back and a receiver-running back on offense.

When asked which side of the ball he enjoys the most, Graddick could not say.

“I don’t think of myself as offensive or defensive. I just go out there and just love to play. It’s all football to me.”

Walton has received offers from Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Penn State, the University of South Alabama and others.