FAIRHOPE, Alabama — The tenth-ranked Fairhope Pirates came into the week four matchup with the opportunity of stretching their undefeated record to 4-0 before they reach their tough stretch of the season. They did just that in a 41-0 victory over the Baldwin County Tigers Friday night.

The Pirates, who entered the game Friday night ranked in the top ten for the first time this season, outplayed the visiting Tigers for the majority of the game.

“We started the game slow and didn’t start the way we wanted,” Pirate head coach Adam Winegarden said. “The kids corrected things and started executing and making plays.”

The Pirates, who have spread the ball around the field in the first few weeks, continued Friday night and it continued well after the game had been decided.

“We have a lot of people on this football team. It’s a team effort,” Winegarden said. “A lot of people on Friday nights only see the starting team play. It takes everybody on that sideline for us to be successful. I was so pleased that those guys that have worked could show their skills.”

Big turnovers hurt the Tigers on Friday night.

“It’s been that way for the last couple of weeks,” Baldwin County head coach Bobby Moore said. “We still don’t play discipline football for 48 minutes that’s what we have to do in this region. That’s what it’s going to take for us to get better."

Moore credited Winegarden for leading the Pirates to a 4-0 start in his first season.

“They are playing really good right now,” Moore said. “Coach Winegarden has done a good job those guys are playing good. Our guys kept playing we just didn’t make the plays.”

The Pirates started the game off slowly. Their opening drive stalled when they failed to convert on their fourth and two play inside Tiger territory.

After forcing their second straight three and out to start the game senior Nate Andrews muffed the punt giving the Tigers good field position.

From then on the Pirates turned on the gas and scored their first six points of the game. Junior kicker John Baxter missed the extra points and the Pirates had the 6-0 lead.

The Pirates went on to score on three of their next four possessions including a 79 yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Gabe Phillips to senior receiver Nathan Andrews, a 2-yard run from sophomore running back David Kirksey, and a 5-yard run by senior running back Bryan Bell.

Fairhope took a 27-0 lead into halftime.

Senior tight end Rushing Watson gave the Pirates another touchdown coming out of the locker room on a 34-yard pass from Phillips giving them a 34-0 lead.

The Pirates would close out their scoring with a 41-yard touchdown by junior Ernest Andrews.

From then on the Pirates would empty their bench and finish off the game giving them a 41-0 victory.

The Pirate passing attach was one of the reasons why the Pirates were so successful Friday night. Starting quarterback Phillips was 13-16 for 251 yards. He also threw two touchdown passes.

Bell led the way in rushing yards with 32 on six carries.

The Tigers had a slow night offensively. Starting quarterback Nate Jones was 13-26 for just over 60 yards. He also threw two interceptions.

With the win the Pirates move to 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in region play. They play on the road next week against Spanish Fort. With the loss the Tigers move to 0-4. The Tigers will be in action next week when they hit the road to play Gulf Shores.