FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Fairhope Pirates coach David Faulkner has high hopes and should with a talented group that has a number of college prospects on both sides of the ball.

“Experience is always a plus,” Faulkner said. “I think we’ll score points and move the football, but at the end of the day, we have to play championship defense. We talk a lot about effort and execution. You can have all the effort in the world, but you still have to execute to accomplish the kind of goals we have set for ourselves and challenge ourselves to play up to the standards we expect as well.”

If experience is a teacher, it’s also a reminder of that old adage about defense winning titles, he added.

“Last year our effort was great, but our execution at times was not. We believe we can turn that around this year and finish strong because of what we went through last year. If we can keep folks out of the end zone and off the field and keep our offense on the field, we can go a long way. That’s what we have been working on since last year and we have made progress.”

In 2010, Fairhope went 8-5 and lost in the playoffs second round to eventual semifinalist Davidson, which lost to eventual state champ Daphne. Four of those Fairhope losses were by less than six points, including two overtime games. Two of those close losses were to eventual state champions Daphne and Spanish Fort.

On offense, the Pirates hope to balance their attack starting up front and personal with center Kyron Samuels and offensive linemen Robert Leff. James Doolittle, Joel Williams, Jacob Nunnelly and Christopher Weeks will also shoulder much of the heavy-lifting duties in the trenches.

Senior quarterback Chase Domino has a strong receiver corps back in Nate Andrews, Alex Sealy, Elias Petties and Duke Milton with power running back Tanner Martin who can catch and block lining up in multiple slots.

On defense, senior leaders off the ball include Charles Carter III, Deandra Ervin, Scott Dacus, Nick Cutrone, Ian Thomas, Mitchell Bradley, Ross Henseler and Harrison Kren. Defensive linemen Brock Gilheart, Javis Curry, William Burch, Tyler Kristeff, Israel Williams and Kyle Hughes will also carry senior leadership roles.

Fairhope will begin the regular season at home hosting the defending 5A state champion Toros from Spanish Fort Aug. 25 and jump into the Region race Sept. 2 with a visit to McGill-Toolen Catholic's Lipscomb stadium in Mobile.

The Pirates will host Jubilee Cup rival, neighbor and 6A defending state champion Daphne Oct. 14.