SPANISH FORT— The Spanish Fort Toros wrap up their preseason fine-tuning this week in preparation for a high-profile opener at McGill-Toolen Catholic in Mobile. The Class 6A defending state champs crossing the bay to play at the Class 7A defending champs’ home field should produce a packed house, but the Battle of the Bay showdown at Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb Field will be televised on WJTC-UTV44’s High School Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Both teams are ranked No. 1 in their classifications by the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason poll. The Toros lost nearly two dozen seniors to graduation including 2015 Mr. Football, quarterback Tyler Johnston now at UAB. But SFHS head coach Ben Blackmon is upbeat about his 2016 team overall.

“We have had a good summer camp, but our kids are ready to play somebody else and looking forward to it,” he said. “They are tired of hitting on each other and we're all excited to play a team as good as McGill. (McGill-Toolen) Coach Caleb Ross does a great job and we know they will be really prepared so we're working hard to prepare ourselves.”

Blackmon added that opening against a defending 7A champion is a good way to assess where his team stands going into 6A Region 1 play next week.

“We have a tough season ahead of us, so it's great to have an opportunity to face a top team. For us, it’s about getting better each week, so when we get to December we are hitting our stride. No one rises to low expectations so we expect to be ready to play the best football we can bring on day one, and then build on that.”

He acknowledged that the recent graduation attrition took its toll, but several returning starters and experienced underclassmen will help lead the way.

“Anytime you lose 23 seniors to graduation, you will face some challenges, but we have a good core group coming back. On defense Thomas Johnston and Justin Thomas are back to lead us along with Colt Steiner and Zach Miller. We also have two starters returning on the offensive line and that experience will be big for us.”

The Toros have won three state titles in the last four seasons. They finished as the only undefeated team in the Alabama High School Athletic Association last year.