Teams around the state kick off region play tonight, and none of those games will be as big as the rivalry showdown on The Hill at Spanish Fort.

The 5A defending champion Toros (0-1) host rival Gulf Shores (1-0) in what should be a highly emotional, hard fought game. 6A’s defending champion Daphne (1-0) hosts Baldwin County (0-1), Robertsdale (0-1) hosts rival Foley (1-0), while Fairhope (1-0) travels to Mobile to face coach Bart Sessions and the 1-0 McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets and Bayside Academy visits T.R. Miller in a battle of 3A top 10 teams.

Gulf Shores at Spanish Fort: These 5A Region 1 rivals played an overtime doozy the last time Gulf Shores visited Spanish Fort two seasons ago. The Toros were victorious, as they were in last year’s game, but Gulf Shores has a lot riding on this one. Toros coach Mark Freeman left the Dolphins at the end of last season, and rest assured Gulf Shores would love to show him what it thinks of the move. Still, Spanish Fort is tough to beat at home and this is its first home game since winning the 5A championship in December. Expect a loud, intimidating home crowd. Prediction: Spanish Fort 28, Gulf Shores 24.

Baldwin County at Daphne:  Baldwin County struggled to find offense in a 21-0 loss at home to Theodore last week. Tonight they face a loaded Daphne defense that won’t make things any easier for the Tigers. 6A No. 1 Daphne beat Bryant 41-14 last week and topped BCHS 42-0 last season. The Trojans have defeated Baldwin County six straight times, and tonight should make seven. Prediction: Daphne 35, BCHS 10.

Foley at Robertsdale: Class 6A Region 2 rivals Foley and Robertsdale square off tonight at J.D. Sellars Stadium in a game that could put the loser on the outside looking in at the region race early on. Foley topped Murphy 21-19 last week, while Robertsdale fell to Gulf Shores 9-6. The Lions used the one-two punch of running backs Joseph Brister and Kalif Koen to beat Murphy. Quarterback Maison Taylor played well as a first time starter in the win. Robertsdale’s only score last week came on a pick-six by Demetrius McKinney. Prediction: Foley 28, Robertsdale 14.

Fairhope at McGill-Toolen: The Fairhope Pirates visit McGill-Toolen tonight in a battle of two 1-0 6A Region 2 foes. The Pirates beat Spanish Fort 35-21 on Friday, while McGill shut out UMS-Wright 31-0 in head coach Bart Sessions’ debut. Sessions is known as a defensive mastermind, and he will have his hands full with the powerful Fairhope offense. Senior quarterback Chase Domino accounted for four of Fairhope’s touchdowns last week with two touchdown passes and two scores on the ground. His main target last week, Nate Andrews, caught six passes for 122 yards and two scores. Fairhope beat the Yellow Jackets 24-18 last year. Prediction: Fairhope 17, McGill-Toolen 13.

Bayside Academy at T.R. Miller: Bayside Academy moved up three spots in the 3A poll this week to No. 7 after last week’s thrilling come-from-behind win at Millry. T.R. Miller is one notch higher in the poll at No. 6. Washington County, another 3A Region 1 team, is ranked No. 5. The winner of the Bayside-T.R. Miller game will have an early jump in the region race, while the loser will have an uphill climb the rest of the way. Bayside Academy’s offense is superb, knocking off Millry 43-32 last week, but can its defense stop a T.R. Miller team that scored 37 on 4A Escambia County last week? Prediction: Bayside Academy 35, T.R. Miller 31.