MOBILE, Ala. — Class 5A No. 8 St. Paul’s took a 30-0 Region 1 home win over ninth-ranked defending 5A champion Spanish Fort at E.E. Delaney Stadium in Mobile Friday night.

Down nearly a platoon (minus 10 players) for Alabama High School Athletic Association infractions last week, the eligible Spanish Fort Toros did their best to hold back a high-powered St. Paul’s offense, but had equal difficulties moving the ball against the Saints defenders.

Spanish Fort head coach Mark Freeman said with or without some of his best players St.Paul’s is always tough.

“We just got beat by a good football team,” he said. “They are solid in everything. Our guys played hard but you can’t take anything from St. Paul’s.”

Freeman made no excuses, but the Toros lost another key player — running back Edward Autry — to injury early in the first half to add to their lack of effectiveness on the ground.

“The defense played hard, but offensively we were down to our second running back and we lost him. That is my fault for not having us prepared. A blocked punt hurt us, that swing in momentum. That is one of the things you have to work on,” he added.

Spanish Fort quarterback Joel Poe completed several passes to Blain Crain and Deon Johnson in spite of intense pressure from the Saints rush.

Saints running back Jordan Huff scored once in the first half and twice in the second and allowed St. Paul’s to keep it simple the entire game. Xavier Carmichael blocked a punt and scored the other St. Paul’s touchdown while Yannick Wildraut hit a 35-yard field goal for the Saints who led 17-0 at the half. The Toro secondary broke up several pass attempts and the defense forced a fumble recovered by Chase Holliman. SFHS penetrated the redzone twice in the fourth quarter but were unable to score.

Saints coach Jimmy Perry acknowleded the personnel advantage and was impressed with the Toros efforts which made his staff adjust some things at the half.

“They came into this thing short-handed. (But) I thought they played us very hard. I thought our offensive coaches made a great adjustment at halftime to what they were doing. We ran a lot of bounce plays and, of course, Jordan was just magnificent tonight. I thought our guys did a good job.”

Nine of the 10 Spanish Fort players suspended for leaving the bench and engaging in an altercation with Gulf Shores players last week are expected to be elegible next week. All should be back for their next Region 1 game against Faith Academy on The Hill Sept. 30.

The Toros (1-2, 1-1) will visit Mary Montgomery Friday and host Baldwin County Sept. 23 in non-region matchups.

St. Paul’s (3-0, 2-0) plays Region 1 foe LeFlore at Ladd-Peebles Stadium Friday.