SPANISH FORT, Alabama - The Fairhope Pirates and the Spanish Fort Toros came into Friday night’s matchup undefeated and in the top 10 in their given classes. By game's end it would be the Toros who remained undefeated after they defeated the Pirates 31-21.

The game that featured two great programs from the eastern shore did not disappoint.

“We have to give Spanish Fort a lot of credit. They have a really good football team,” Fairhope head coach Adam Winegarden said. “I would be surprised if they don’t win the state title in 5A."

Toros head coach Mark Freeman returned the sentiment.

“Coach Winegarden and his staff do a great job over there; that’s a class bunch of guys and that was a good high school football game,” Freeman said.

The game was back-and-forth for the majority of the night. In the end the game was ultimately decided by big turnovers by the Pirates.

“We got some turnovers early and we were able to capitalize.” Freeman said. “The second half went back-and-forth. I thought both of the defenses played better in the second half."

Another big key to the game might have been the lack of an impact the Pirates got from their All-State player Nathan Andrews.

“They did a great job bottling Nate up. When that happens other guys have to get open and they have to capitalize,” Winegarden said.

Overall the Pirates were intercepted twice and they also lost two fumbles including one on the first play of scrimmage that led to an early 19-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Joel Poe to Samuel Harris.

“Overall our team fought hard tonight,” Winegarden said. “You can’t turn the ball over and make as many mistakes as we did and expect to beat a good team.”

The Pirates would answer right away and score the next 14 points on a 38-yard touchdown run by senior Devin Odom and then after a successful onside kick recovery Dave Kirksey was able to run the ball in from 8 yards out to give the Pirates a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.

From the then on the Toros offense would go to work and score 21 unanswered points after the Pirates turned it over twice and also went three-and-out twice.

The Toros scored the 21 points on touchdown passes from Poe to Devonte Patrick for 10 yards and Blaine Crain from 35 and 27 yards out.

The Three touchdown passes for Poe only slightly tells the story of how well he played against the Pirates Friday night. Overall he completed 21-of-29 for 296 yards and four touchdowns.

“Joel is so far under the radar,” Freeman said. “He can run this offense; he makes a lot of calls out there on his own. Somebody is missing on a great football player if they don’t get on Joel Poe.”

The Toros entered the locker room at halftime with a 28-7 lead over the Pirates.

The Toros would have their chance in the second half to extend their lead but a missed field goal and penalties halted two Toro drives in Pirate territory.

The Pirates would get within a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Gabe Phillips rushed it in from one yard out.

The Pirates would then come up huge on a late fourth and one play halting another drive in Pirate Territory. The Pirates would fail to capitalize on the defensive stand when Kylan Cotton intercepted Phillips that would eventually lead to a game clinching field goal by junior Alexander Theodore.

With the win the Spanish Fort Toros move to 5-0 and have beaten both of their 6A eastern Shore rivals.

“It’s a blessing. I told the kids tonight there are three great schools on the eastern shore. Anytime you play Daphne and Fairhope you want to represent yourself well,” Freeman said.

With the loss the Pirates go to 4-1. Both teams will be in action next Friday night when the Toros welcome Saint Paul’s. The Pirates will hit the road to play Robertsdale.