Game Preview: Unbeatens Vigor, Orange Beach Collide in Southbound Sports Game of the Week

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Something has to give Friday night.

No. 2 Vigor travels south to face Orange Beach in the Southbound Sports Game of the Week, with both teams entering the matchup at 2-0 and looking to make an early statement in Class 4A, Region 1.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Orange Beach Middle & High School. More importantly, this is the region opener for both programs — and the first-ever meeting between Vigor and Orange Beach.

Vigor’s Defense Has Set the Tone

Vigor enters Friday night as the No. 2 team in the Southbound Sports Power 10, and the Wolves have looked the part through their first two games.

After opening the season with a 28-7 victory over Blount, Vigor followed with a dominant 47-3 win over Mary G. Montgomery. The Wolves have outscored their first two opponents 75-10.

The defense may be the biggest reason why.

Vigor returned eight to nine starters from a unit that helped the Wolves reach the 2025 state championship game. Three names in particular headline a defense loaded with college-level talent: Jabarrius Garror, Isaac McNeil and Miguel Wilson.

Garror is coming off a monster performance against MGM, recording six tackles, 2.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup in the 47-3 victory.

McNeil gives the Wolves another major presence at linebacker. The senior is committed to Auburn, while Garror is committed to Texas and Wilson to Kentucky.

That group presents by far the toughest challenge Orange Beach has faced this season.

Orange Beach Has Made a Statement of Its Own

The Makos aren’t simply waiting for Vigor to come to town.

Orange Beach is 2-0 and has already shown significant improvement from the program that finished 4-6 and missed the postseason in 2025.

After opening the season with a 24-14 victory over T.R. Miller, Orange Beach exploded in Week 1, defeating Monroe County 56-0.

The Makos scored 21 points in the first quarter and another 28 in the second, taking a 49-0 halftime lead.

Now comes the measuring stick.

Sophomore quarterback Tucker Wade leads an Orange Beach offense that will be challenged by Vigor’s speed and experience on defense. Wade entered the season as one of the Makos’ primary players to watch after starting as a freshman.

Two-way players Verchaun Simms and Lee Steele are also names to watch. Simms joined the program as a senior WR/DB, while the 6-foot-6 Steele gives Orange Beach a weapon at tight end and outside linebacker.

Players to Watch

For Vigor, keep an eye on Jabarrius Garror, Isaac McNeil and Miguel Wilson. The Wolves’ defense has been the strength of the program, and Orange Beach’s ability to handle that unit could determine how competitive Friday night’s game becomes.

For Orange Beach, the trio of Tucker Wade, Verchaun Simms and Lee Steele will be central to the Makos’ upset bid. Orange Beach has shown it can put points on the board, but doing it against Vigor will require a different level of execution.

The Matchup

The biggest question Friday night is straightforward:

Can Orange Beach’s offense consistently move the football against Vigor’s defense?

The Makos have home-field advantage and enter with confidence after a 56-point performance. But the Wolves bring a defense filled with experienced players who have already played deep into November — and into December.

Vigor went 12-3 and reached the 2025 Class 5A state championship game before falling to Moody. The Wolves have since moved into Class 4A and now share Region 1 with Orange Beach.

That makes Friday about much more than protecting an undefeated record.

It’s the first opportunity for both teams to establish themselves in a region that also includes Citronelle, LeFlore, Williamson, B.C. Rain and Satsuma.

Orange Beach has not reached the playoffs since 2022. Beating one of the region favorites Friday would immediately change the conversation surrounding the Makos.

For Vigor, the objective is different. The Wolves aren’t trying to prove they belong. They’re trying to show that dropping from 5A to 4A hasn’t changed their championship expectations.

Southbound Sports Game of the Week

Vigor Wolves (2-0) at Orange Beach Makos (2-0)
Friday, September 4 | 7:00 p.m.
Orange Beach Middle & High School
Class 4A, Region 1

Two undefeated teams. The first meeting between the programs. A region opener. And one of Class 4A’s established contenders walking into the home of a program trying to take its next step.

Friday night in Orange Beach should tell us a lot about both teams.