DAPHNE — Bayside went 63 and 65 yards for scores on their first two series while the Admirals' defense pitched a first-half shutout for a 24-7 second-round, Class 3A playoff win. Mac Douglas added a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter and picked off a Pike County pass in the red zone to stop a third quarter Bulldog drive at Freedom Field Friday.

Quarterback Reid Norton finished the first Bayside possession with a 1-yard touchdown run. A Douglas interception got the ball back for Bayside at their own 35 which led to a 37-yard Norton to Tucker Milteer TD pass with eight minutes, three seconds left in half. The Douglas field goal made it 17-0 at the half.

“I thought our defense really played well as a team tonight,” said Bayside Academy coach Phil Lazenby. “We knew we needed to work together to contain their big-play potential and our kids got it done. It was no small task, too. So hats off to our defense, that gave us more opportunities to put points on the board and keep their offense off the field. Very proud. Our coaches worked hard all week preparing our game plan and the players executed. Our offensive line did a great job blocking and protecting Reid.”

He added that the punting by Douglas as well as his place-kicking and defensive play deserved recognition.

“Mac did a magnificent job for us tonight, big punts that kept them backed up and the big plays he came up with all night.”

The Bulldogs moved the ball more effectively on the ground in the second half, but only scored once with 10:33 left in the fourth quarter. The impressive 81-yard drive started late in the third quarter and was capped with a 7-yard touchdown run by Juhmir Lampley.

Lampley's extra point kick was good to make it a 10-point game, but the Bulldogs suffered back-to-back interceptions on their next two possessions. Douglas’ picked off one and John Bryant another. Bayside added another TD with 3:27 left in the fourth period when Norton found Bryant open for a 5-yard TD pass and the final score.

Quarterback sacks and hurries by Bayside pass rushers kept the Bulldogs in challenging yardage situations much of the night. Killian Kahalley had one for 9 yards, Bo Ezell one for 12 yards, Noah Waters for 5 yards and Conner Sirmon for 1 yard. Jimbo Cassity also deflected a Jaidyn Wilson pass to force a PC punt. Austin White recovered the muffed punt by a PCHS returner. That and a 14-yard pass play from Norton to Milteer helped set up the Douglas field goal.

Bayside (8-4) will travel to Gordo (9-3) Friday night for their AHSAA 3A state quarterfinal match up at 7 p.m.