Three Undefeated Teams Go Down
BY WIL CREWS
SPORTSCREWS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY —
Heading into last Friday, four local high school football teams remained undefeated. Following the weekend, only one remains. Friday saw Auburn, Beauregard and Loachapoka pick up their first losses of the season. Lee-Scott emerged at the top of the totem pole, defeating Valiant Cross, 42-7, to move its record to 8-0. Opelika fell further behind the 7A playoff race with a loss to Enterprise; Smiths Station and Beulah dropped games; and Glenwood locked up a playoff berth.
The following is a breakdown of how area teams fared in week nine of the 2022 high school football season. All stats were compiled firsthand, by school sources or by www.Maxpreps.com.
AHSAA
AUBURN 17 | CENTRAL 38
The varsity Auburn High School football team (7-1, R6-1) lost its first game of the season Friday night, falling 38-17 to region foe, the Central Phenix City Red Devils (7-2, R6-1). Central jumped on the Tigers 14-0 after two first quarter fumbles, and never surrendered the lead. Shutout from the end zone in the first half, Auburn registered a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters. Auburn’s two touchdowns came from senior receivers Logan Blomeyer and Marcellus Josephson. The loss moved Central ahead of Auburn — to the No. 1 spot — in the 7A standings. The Red Devils control their own destiny in the region with two more weeks left in the regular season. Auburn travels to play region foe Prattville on Friday, Oct. 21, and host Smiths Station for the regular-season finale on Oct. 28. The AHSAA playoffs are scheduled to begin Nov. 4.
OPELIKA 14 | ENTERPRISE 22
The Opelika High School varsity football fell to 5-4, R4-3, with a 14-22 home loss to region foe Enterprise (5-3, R3-3). Junior quarterback Roman Gagliano threw two touchdown passes, 143 yards and two interceptions. Senior Tae Gay and sophomore Jamari Miller were on the receiving end of Gagliano’s touchdown passes. Miller led the ‘Dawgs with six catches for 53 yards and one score. The loss moved Opelika out of a region playoff spot, needing help from other results now to clinch a berth. Opelika needs Prattville to lose both of its final two games (against Auburn and Central), and beat Dothan on the road in the regular-season finale Oct. 21 to move into a playoff spot.
SMITHS STATION 14 | JEFFERSON DAVIS 42
The varsity Smiths Station High School football team (1-7, R1-5) fell, 42-14, to Jefferson Davis (3-5, R2-4) last Friday. Smiths fell behind early, 14-0, but rallied to tie the game at 14 by halftime. The Panthers were outscored 28-0 in the final two quarters. The Panthers can avoid finishing last in the 7A Region 2 by beating Lee (0-8, R0-6) in their penultimate regular season game on Oct. 21. The Panthers close out the season with a road matchup against Auburn (7-1, R6-1) on Oct. 28.
BEAUREGARD 3 | CENTRAL OF CLAY COUNTY 28
The varsity Beauregard High School football team (7-1, R4-1) fell, 28-3, to region foe Central of Clay County (6-2, R5-0) last Friday night. Beauregard struck first with a first quarter field goal, but then failed to register any points for the rest of the contest. The Hornets totaled just 229 all-purpose yards and turned the ball over once. The loss moved Beauregard behind Central at the top of the 5A Region 4 standings. The Hornets have three more games on the schedule: Jemison (2-6), Lincoln (4-4) and Marbury (4-5).
BEULAH 7 | RANDOLPH COUNTY 47
The varsity Beulah High School football team (1-7, R1-4) fell to undefeated Randolph County, 47-7, last Friday night. Beulah’s lone score came from an 80-yard kickoff return for touchdown by junior receiver LJ Fitzpatrick in the first quarter. Coming up next, the Bobcats play the Weaver Bearcats (Weaver, Alabama) in a 3A Region 4 battle, on Friday, Oct. 21. Beulah will attempt to advance on its 1-7 season record. The Bearcats go into the battle with a 1-7 record after their 22-12 league loss to Wellborn (Anniston, Alabama).
LOACHAPOKA 8 | MAPLESVILLE 38
The varsity Loachapoka High School football team (7-1, R5-1) fell on the road, 38-8, to Maplesville (6-2, R6-0) last Friday night. Loachapoka never really got going in its first loss of the season, registering its lonely touchdown (and two-point conversion) in the third quarter when the deficit was already insurmountable. Loachapoka closes out its regular season Friday, Oct. 21, at home against Billingsley (3-5).
AISA
LEE-SCOTT 42 | VALIANT CROSS 7
The varsity Lee-Scott Academy football team (8-0, R6-0) defeated Valiant Cross (2-5) 42-7 Friday night to remain undefeated. Quarterback Pelzer Reaves led the Lee-Scott offense, going 7-of-7 passing for 162 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target on the night was junior Jake White, who hauled in five targets for 120 yards and two touchdowns. White added another score on the ground, and Andrew Hahn and Jonathan Meyers scored two and one rushing touchdowns, respectively. The dominant Lee-Scott defense allowed just 203 total yards. Lee-Scott has two more home, regular season matchups on its schedule: Oct. 21 against Fort Dale (3-5); Oct. 28 against Edgewood (4-4).
GLENWOOD 49 | AUTAUGA ACADEMY 13
The varsity Glenwood High School football team (5-3, R5-1) defeated conference foe Autauga Academy (3-4, R2-4), 49-13, Friday, Oct. 14. The Gators recorded their third straight win behind a 29-point first quarter. The Gators finish out the regular season Friday, Oct. 28, in a home, conference matchup against Chambers Academy (6-2, R3-0).