Bayside’s passing game beats Daleville

DALEVILLE — Bayside Academy normally lives by the running game.

Friday night, the Admirals sailed through the air with key passes, sparking a first-ever state playoff win for the football program from Daphne.

Behind a season-high 228 yards and two touchdown passes, Bayside defeated Daleville 27-14 at Warhawk Stadium in a Class 3A state playoff opening round game.

With the win, Bayside (7-4) advances to a second-round game next week against region rival Straughn. The Admirals beat the Tigers 27-0 earlier this season.

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“It means a lot to this program and a lot to these kids,” Bayside Academy coach Phil Lazenby said of Friday’s historic win. “This is the first time the school has won seven games and it’s the first time for a playoff win. It was only the second time in the playoffs. I am proud of them.”

Thomas Buchanan was the star of the night for Bayside. He burned the Warhawks for four receptions for 154 yards and two scores — all in the first half — and rushed for 136 yards, including a key 32-yard run off a fake punt in the first half. He also had a punt downed at the 1-yard line and made a open field tackle that saved a touchdown.

“He is a Mr-Do-it-all and he weighs a buck and 35,” Lazenby said.

“I thought he was a great back when I first saw him on film, but he runs do hard,” Daleville coach Brad McCoy said.

“He is not very big, but he has great speed, great vision, made good cuts and their linemen did a good job.”

Lazenby said his offense is normally a “grind-out” attack. While Bayside did rush for 207 yards, most of the damage came late.

In the opening half — when all the game’s scoring occurred — it was passing that propelled the Admirals.

With Daleville stacking the line, Bayside went to the air at key moments, doing the damage with passes outside to backs coming out of the backfield.

All seven of Camp Campbell’s completions (in nine attempts) went to backs with most going to Buchanan. One other touchdown pass was called back because of a penalty.

“We had to do it,” Lazenby said. “They had nine-10 men up on line of scrimmage, sometimes 11 really. They had no regard for our passing. Last week we looked so poor throwing the ball and I could see how anybody would do that (defensively).

“They covered us man-to-man on the wide outs tough, but when those linebackers have to run with our running backs, it makes it more even for us. We have a couple of quick running backs. They are not fast, but they are quick and have a lot of moves.”

McCoy also felt the strategy proved to be big.

“They have been a running football team, but I think they saw we had struggled with that all year when they watched film,” McCoy said. “They went after it and they got it. They had a good plan. We were trying to match up linebackers with their running backs and they figured out we couldn’t do it.”

With the game tied at 7-7 late in the first quarter, Campbell faked a handoff to Buchanan, who then raced outside to the left and Campbell placed a perfect pass over the Daleville linebacker. Buchanan caught the pass and was off to the races on a 62-yard touchdown pass.

Garrett Hilton hit a 21-yard field goal to boost the Admiral lead to 17-7, but Daleville’s Brandon Burks answered, returning the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a score, cutting it to 17-14 midway in the second quarter.

Campbell and Buchanan then hooked up another pass behind a Daleville linebacker on the left side, this one covering 57 yards, pushing the margin to 24-14.

The Admirals then cashed in on a Daleville mistake late in the half.

The Warhawks had it at their own 40, but had a high shotgun snap. Quarterback A.J. Jones picked it up and tried to pass it as he was stumbling and falling down. However, it was ruled a fumble. There was a scramble and the ball popped loose a couple of times before Bayside’s Ross Palesano recovered at the Daleville 8.

The Warhawk defense held and Hilton came on and booted a 27-yard field goal to make it 27-14 as the half came to a close.

Defenses ruled the second half, but Daleville appeared to have a potential momentum changing play midway in the fourth quarter.

From the Daleville 19, Jones connected deep with Chris Stone, who raced down the field before being stopped inside the 5. However, a block in the back penalty negated some of the play, putting the ball back to the 28.

The Warhawks stalled on downs after that, throwing an incomplete pass on fourth down.

“We had chances, but we had penalties,” McCoy said. “Sometimes it is a lack of discipline. In our program, we have to start understanding that it starts with practice and
that you have to concentrate and focus on the job at hand. We have great talent, but we have a ways to go.”

Campbell earned a 1-yard sneak for Bayside to open the scoring. Daleville’s Burks scored on a 42-yard run to tie it.