ON THE MARK
D. MARK MITCHELL
The Opelika High Volleyball team has won its first three area games of the regular season. Earlier in September, OHS beat Russell County on the road, 3-1. The Lady Dogs recorded 21 aces, 25 kills and eight blocks.
Opelika beat Valley 3-1 in Fairfax last week. The girls recorded 32 kills and 24 aces in the win. Coach Robin Roberts’ team finished 3-1 in the Wadley Tournament over the weekend. Nylon Thomas was named to the All-Tournament Team, recording 10 kills and 13 digs and helped the team earn 41 aces in four games. Emma McSpadden (senior) had 11 kills, Jordan Owens (freshman) had eight kills and MK Kyser (sophomore) played hard and consistent during the entire tournament.
OHS plays at AHS today (Sept. 30) and in Smiths Station on Saturday, Oct. 2.
OPELIKA INVITATION CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
OHS hosted its annual Invitational Cross Country Meet at the Sportplex last Saturday. Lady Bulldog runner Breckin Gould won the varsity girls meet by finishing the 5K race in 19:57.31. Gould was 15 seconds ahead of runner-up Abigail Garner from Central PC. Remaining team members: Paola Torres finished ninth for Opelika with a time of 22:55.58; Margeret Bice was 12th; Mary Evans Cooper 14th; Violett Alcorn 16th; Joanne Smith T-17th; and Susan Gaston placed 25th.
Opelika won the varsity girls meet with 39 points, followed by Columbus High (54), Northside (67) and Auburn split squad (69).
Auburn High dominated the varsity boys meet, finishing 63 points ahead of second place Columbus High. Opelika placed fourth.
AHS runners Thomas Parnell, Sam Sexton, Braden Ball and Dominik Guifarro finished one through four in the 5K race. Opelika’s top runner, Chas Brewer, finished 16th, followed by Michael Hart’s 18th-placed finish and Conner Mullins 23rd.
The Middle School division was won by OMS runner Brantley Turnham. Colt Miller finished 8th; Seth Huling 18th. Opelika Middle’s top girls finisher: Caroline Couey placed 7th, followed by Lilie Flenniken’s 8th place and Jada Coleman who finished 12th.
RED DEVILS BEAT OPELIKA 38-7
The Phenix City Central Red Devils (6-0) rolled up 430 yards of offense and beat Opelika 38-7 last Friday in Phenix City. The Red Devils scored 24 straight points in the first half before OHS scored their only touchdown on a Kaden Cooper 4-yard run. CHS added two more touchdowns, extending the win streak over Opelika (3-3) to six straight.
Opelika gained 184 total yards on the night — 88 passing and 96 rushing — and was 0-11 in third downs. Cooper ended with 61 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards to lead the Dogs. George Meyers punted six times for a 39-yard average.
Opelika jumps back into Region play against Russell County this Friday night in Seale. The Warriors, under first-year head coach Dillion Griggs, are off to their best start since the early 90s with a 5-1 record (including 2-1 in 6A region 2).
RCHS opened the season shocking Smiths Station with a 29-22 win. The Warriors won two games by forfeit — Barbour Co and Park Crossing — then added wins over Valley (35-20) and Beauregard (42-14). Robert E Lee beat RCHS, 28-14, in Seale.
Since the hiring of Griggs, Russell County added a jumbotron, turfed the field and installed new lights, among other upgrades. The players seem to be enjoying playing for the new coach and improving each week.
Opelika has NEVER lost to Russell County, winning 16 straight games by a combined score of 689-68, including 49-7 last year. Despite the new coach, excitement and facility upgrades, Opelika has a better program and should win Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. You can listen to OHS football on 97.7 Kicker fm WKKR, online at kickerfm.com or download the iHeartradio app on your smart phone. (google WKKR 97.7). Fans can watch the game on live stream by going to nfhsnetwork.com. Set up an account and search Opelika High.
GREGORY NAMED ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Allison Gregory is the new assistant athletic director at OHS. Gregory replaces Devin Booth, who left for an administrative position with the AHSAA this summer. Gregory was hired as a PE teacher and assistant basketball coach in 2016. She has extensive knowledge of sports, spending time at Reinhardt College, Auburn University Montgomery and Appalachian State.
Gregory left Opp City Schools for OHS and served as head softball and volleyball coach.
Congratulations Allison Gregory!
D. Mark Mitchell is the the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball director.
