There is one undeniable truth about football: it is an unpredictable sport, and it is most unpredictable at the high school level. Last week’s season opening games were no exception.

One of the biggest surprises last week was Baldwin County High School’s victory over the Baker Hornets in Bay Minette on Friday night. The surprise at Simmons Field wasn’t that the Tigers beat Baker, it was how they beat the Hornets.

The Tigers, who struggled to do much of anything on offense last season, rolled up 551 yards and 55 points in the win. The main reason for the outburst was a 327-yard, six touchdown outburst by senior running back Charleston Gandy.

Gandy piled up the yardage on just 20 carries for an average of 16.35 yards per rush.

Gandy wasn’t the only Tiger eating up yardage, though. Andrew King carried the ball eight times for 129 yards, an average of just over 15.6 yards per rush. King scored once on a 41-yard run.

Baldwin County’s offensive explosion doesn’t bode well for the Foley Lions, who visit Bay Minette this Friday night. The Lions gave up 448 yards of offense in a loss to Murphy last Thursday.

Foley’s visit to Bay Minette, which originally looked like it might be a cake walk for the Lions, could be harder than previously thought.

While Foley managed to keep Murphy’s standout wide receiver Solomon Patton quiet for most of the second half, they were hurt by the Panthers’ two other stars: speedy receiver Harlos Brand and tough running back Jarvis Boone.

Baldwin County’s three-headed backfield monster of Gandy, King and Chris Bush could give the Lions fits this week, too.

Eric Mann is the Sports Coordinator for GCN.