ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — As Nate steamed toward the Gulf Coast, the Baldwin County High Tigers stormed out to a 21-0 lead over the Robertsdale Golden Bears and never looked back en route to a 35-6 victory in 6A Region 1 play Friday night at J.D. Sellars Stadium in Robertsdale.

The victory was the 500th career win for the BCHS program (500-430-30 overall) since the Tigers began fielding a team in 1920.

“That alone is awesome for our program,” said BCHS Head Coach Nathan McDaniel. “I am so proud of our players and so proud to be a part of this community.”

After crushing defeats in Regional play to Blount (a come-from-behind 24-19 loss) and Spanish Fort, and a narrow 21-14 victory over Alma Bryant, the victory was a shot in the arm for the Tigers heading into the last four games of the season, all Regional contests.

“After Blount and Spanish Fort, we needed to be able to come in and execute our game plan,” McDaniel said, “and we did that tonight. We are now in control of our own destiny coming into Saraland next week and if we can control the things we need to control and execute like we’re capable of executing, we have a definite shot at a playoff run over the next four weeks.”

The Tigers wasted no time jumping ahead of the Bears, scoring on their first three possessions behind the running of James Stanley, who finished the game with 139 yards on 21 carries and three scoring runs.

Stanley marched 57 yards on five carries on the opening possession, including runs of 23 and 12 yards to set up first-and-goal from the 2. He punched it in from there and David Rodriguez chipped in the extra point to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 5:56 in the first period.

Stanley and Dayshaun Scott traded carries on the Tigers’ second possession, along with a 40-yard pass play from quarterback Brandon Overstreet to Jontae French to put the ball on the Bear 3.

After a run for no gain, Stanley recorded his second score and Rodriguez added another extra point go give the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 35.4 seconds to go in the period.

The Tiger defense held the Bears to three-and-out and a short punt gave BCHS the ball back at the Robertsdale 24. Four plays later, Stanley scored from eight yards out and Rodriquez chipped in his third PAT for a 21-0 lead with 9:59 to play in the half.

Robertsdale would come back and drive from their own 23 down to the Tiger 6 with quarterback Tristian Stevens completing 6 of 8 passes on the drive for 47 yards on the drive, aided by a pair of Tiger pass interference penalties to keep the drive alive, but the Bears turned the ball over on downs from there and BCHS drove back to the Robertsdale 29 with Rodriguez missing a 46-yard fieldgoal attempt from there to end the half.

Robertsdale kept the ball for a good portion of the third quarter after Robert Barnett recovered a fumbled punt. The drive would stall again at the Tiger 4, but the Bear defense was able to force a punt from the Tiger 4 and a short kick gave Robertsdale the ball at the Tiger 31.

Stevens completed a pair of passes and a 17-yard run by DeAndre Prim gave Robertsdale a first and goal from the 1. Romaro Settles scored from the Wildcat formation to cut the lead to 21-6 with 3:03 to go in the third.

The extra point attempt was blocked and it took just 47 seconds for the Tigers to answer after an onside kick attempt was recovered at the Tiger 47 and French took the opening snap 46 yards down to the Bear 7. He would score from there and the PAT made the score 28-6 with 2:39 left in the third.

The Tigers added a score on a 5-yard pass from Overstreet to Jorge Rodriguez with 8:11 to go in the contest and the two teams played the rest of the game scoreless for the Tiger win.

The Tigers finished the game with 372 total yards, including 252 yards on 37 carries, led by Stanley. French added a 20-yard run to finish the game with 73 yards on just three carries. Scott chipped in 31 yards on nine carries. Overstreet and Eli Powell were both 4 of 6 in the contest passing for 120 yards.

The Bears, who had zero rushing yards in the first half, ended the game with 102 yards on 31 carries, led by Prim, who had 94 yards on 18 carries. Stevens was 14 of 32 passing for 105 yards in the game.

The Tigers (4-2, 2-2) will try to keep the momentum alive, returning to Simmons Field at Lyle Underwood Stadium to take on 6A Region 1 Saraland, while the Bears seek to get their first win of the season hosting 6A Region 1 B.C. Rain for Homecoming.