Former quarterbacks face their old programs as one of Baldwin County’s biggest rivalries kicks off the 2026 season.
By Southbound Sports Staff | August 20, 2026
There are season openers.
And then there is Daphne vs. Spanish Fort.
Thursday night, two of Baldwin County’s premier football programs meet under the lights at The Hill as the Daphne Trojans make the short trip to Spanish Fort for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
It’s a rivalry that already carries plenty of history. This year, though, the storyline at quarterback makes it personal.
Daphne senior Christian Segar will walk onto a field he once called home. Across from him, Spanish Fort senior JJ Thibodeaux will line up against a Daphne program he once led.
Two quarterbacks. Two former schools.
Now they’re on opposite sides of one of Baldwin County’s biggest rivalries.
A rivalry with history
Spanish Fort has controlled the all-time series, holding an 11-3 advantage through 14 meetings.
But the most recent result belongs to Daphne.
The Trojans defeated Spanish Fort 42-28 in 2025, part of a 9-3 campaign that carried Daphne into the second round of the state playoffs.
Thursday night gives Spanish Fort an opportunity to answer that loss on its home field while Daphne looks to make it consecutive victories over its rival.
And both programs enter 2026 with something to prove.
The AHSAA’s latest reclassification places Daphne in Class 6A and Spanish Fort in Class 5A, but classification means little when these two meet.
The quarterbacks take center stage
If there is one storyline that defines Thursday night’s matchup, it’s the players taking the snaps.
Segar enters his senior season after a huge junior campaign for Daphne, completing 210 of 306 passes for 2,775 yards and 37 touchdowns.
He’ll also enter 2026 with his college decision already made.
The 6-foot-3 quarterback committed to the University of South Alabama in April and is part of the Jaguars’ 2027 recruiting class.
But before Segar became Daphne’s quarterback, he was at Spanish Fort.
Thursday night brings him back to The Hill.
On the opposite sideline is another quarterback who knows his opponent particularly well.
Thibodeaux previously played at Daphne, including a 2024 season in which he produced several big performances for the Trojans. Against Davidson that year, he threw for 216 yards while accounting for four total touchdowns.
He moved to Spanish Fort for the 2025 season and now enters 2026 as the Toros’ senior quarterback.
So when the offenses take the field Thursday, neither quarterback will need much introduction to the colors on the other sideline.
Players to Watch: Daphne
Segar may headline the Trojans’ offense, but Daphne has talent around him.
CJ Maxwell gives the Trojans a major presence on the offensive line and, like Segar, has committed to South Alabama. The Jaguars’ 2027 recruiting class currently includes both Daphne standouts.
Senior offensive lineman Kaden Forrest gives Daphne another veteran presence up front.
Defensively, juniors Kaden Brown and Karson Lacey give the Trojans two names to follow in the secondary, while freshman defensive lineman Trey Kyles will be one of the youngest players worth watching Thursday night.
Daphne enters the season under head coach Kenny King with expectations particularly high on the defensive side of the football. AHSFHS’ 2026 preview describes the Trojan defense as a strength capable of keeping Daphne in games throughout the season.
Players to Watch: Spanish Fort
Spanish Fort enters the season considerably younger.
Head coach Chase Smith has just five seniors returning as the Toros attempt to return to the postseason after finishing 4-6 in 2025.
That puts even more attention on Thibodeaux and a young group surrounding him.
Senior defensive lineman Brandon Marinho is one of the key pieces up front after recording six sacks during the 2025 season.
Behind him, junior linebackers Jase Trucks and Anderson Butterworth are names to watch, along with junior defensive back Noah Stone.
Junior athlete Ya’Lin Lee is another potential difference-maker as Spanish Fort works new pieces into its lineup.
The youth creates questions.
It also creates opportunity.
What could decide it
For Daphne, the formula starts with its veteran quarterback and offensive line.
Segar has already demonstrated the ability to produce at a high level, and with Maxwell and Forrest among the players protecting him, Daphne has experience at two of the most important areas on the field.
Spanish Fort’s challenge will be making him uncomfortable.
That’s where Marinho and the Toros’ defensive front become particularly important. If Spanish Fort can generate pressure without constantly committing additional defenders, it could change the complexion of the game.
For the Toros offensively, Thibodeaux’s familiarity with Daphne adds another layer to the matchup. Spanish Fort doesn’t necessarily need its young roster to play like a veteran team in Week 0. It needs to avoid giving Daphne short fields, stay within striking distance and allow its playmakers opportunities to change the game.
Then there’s the rivalry itself.
The first game of a season can expose mistakes—missed tackles, special-teams errors, turnovers and penalties.
In a rivalry game, one of those mistakes can be the difference.
One county. Two rivals. A new season.
The records are 0-0.
The classifications have changed.
The rosters have changed.
Even the quarterbacks have changed sides.
But Daphne-Spanish Fort still means something.
Spanish Fort owns the history.
Daphne owns the most recent win.
And at 7:00 p.m. Thursday night on The Hill, the next chapter begins.
Daphne Trojans vs. Spanish Fort Toros
Thursday, August 20 | 7:00 p.m.
The Hill | Spanish Fort High School
Southbound Sports will have coverage throughout the night. Follow along for game-day content, photography and postgame coverage from Daphne vs. Spanish Fort.
Editor’s Note: Southbound Sports owner is a member of the Daphne High School football coaching staff. Southbound Sports is committed to transparency and editorial independence in its coverage. No prediction or strategic analysis is included in Southbound coverage of games involving Daphne.