by D. Mark Mitchell
Sports Editor
The OHS athletic season has come to an end for the 2011-12 school year, except for the spring football game tonight in Eufaula.
Coach Brian Blackmon is starting his fourth season as OHS head coach. The Dawgs have 90 players who have made it through spring practice that comes to an end tonight in Eufaula at 6 p.m. with a spring game. The Bulldogs will be looking for several players to fill positions vacated by players who graduated or were moved to a different position.
The quarterback position is open because Calvin Bryant has been moved to running back to help that position and try to create some depth. Freshman Mathew Christian and Sophomore B.J. White are battling for the quarterback spot. Both are young and have no varsity game experience but are great athletes who are smart and capable of leading the team.
The offensive line has a chance to be the biggest OHS line we have seen in many seasons. Most of these guys are young but able to make a difference. Wide receiver and tight end are two positions that will have some experience. Look for OHS to run a fast paced offense early to try and see how the young players respond to live football.
The defensive side of the ball will be a normal Opelika defense. The D-linemen will anchor the “D.” These guys have the size and quickness to cause trouble for the opposing team. The linebackers and secondary should be aggressive and fast to to the football.
The coaches will use the game tonight to see how the players respond in a game setting. There could be changes made after the coaches break down the tape of the game. Special teams have not received much work this spring due to the limited number of practice days (only 10), which includes tonight’s game.
The football team will work out with weights and conditioning during early summer.
You can hear the broadcast of the game tonight at 5:30 p.m. on Mix 96.7 FM. I will not be able to make the trip, but you can hear Tyler Pigg and Jeff Sasser broadcast the game.
Athletic Camps
If you are interested in baseball or girls’ basketball, you can register for their respective camps at Opelika High School. Coach Devin Booth will run the girls’ basketball camp while coach Scott Sullivan will run the baseball camp. The baseball camp starts the last day of May while the basketball camp starts in June. You can call the main office at OHS for more information at (334) 745-9715.
Summer Baseball and Softball
The Opelika Dixie baseball and softball leagues as well as the Miracle League have all begun. Please look for a special 64-page section in the “Opelika Observer” next week.
This insert will have every team picture and the names of the kids and the sponsors of the teams for all of the leagues. This is just the latest in the Opelika Observer’s excellent coverage of these leagues.