OPELIKA —
Opelika’s girls and boys soccer teams last week advanced to the AHSAA Class 7A State Playoffs, finishing second in their Area after beating Smiths Station. The two soccer teams joined flag football as the only team sports to make the 7A state playoffs in the 2022-23 school year.
The OHS varsity girls won two games last week, beating Beauregard 8-0 and Smiths Station 3-1.
The Lady Bulldogs dominated Beauregard on senior night at Bulldog Stadium. Senior Amiya Brown and Morgan Watts scored two goals a piece. Ashley Hilyer, Maricela Cruz, Kam McDaniel and Maelee Story scored one goal apiece. Scarlet Posadas recorded two assists while Karly Phatsadavong, Bailey Ward, Story, Watts, Karla Guerra and McDaniel added assists. Alex Desantos recorded the shutout at keeper.
The girls play in the state soccer tournament Monday, May 1, on the road against Area 3 winner Dothan (15-5-0).
OHS boys soccer wrapped up a playoff spot after beating SSHS 3-2. Senior Amiya Brown recorded a hat trick by scoring all three goals. Assists were from Guerra, Story and Kaitlyn Spoon.
The Opelika boys soccer team beat Beauregard and Smiths Station to wrap up the week with a 2-0 record. The Dogs beat BHS on senior night, 4-3. Opelika goals were scored by Nathan Faison, Dexter Graham, Moe Forbes and Luke Roberts. Assists were recorded by Nolen Wilson, Faison and Forbes.
OHS advanced to the playoffs after finishing second in Class 7A Area 4 after beating SSHS, 3-0. The Bulldog goals were scored by Forbes, Graham and Roberts. Keeper Eduardo Moran is credited with the shutout.
The boys play in the state soccer tournament Monday, May 1, on the road against Area 3 winner Dothan (21-3-1).
BASEBALL
The Bulldog baseball team (13-17, A 0-6) finished the season losing a three-game series against rival Auburn.
The Tigers won game one, 5-3, game two, 6-4, and game three, 11-1.
OHS finished 0-6 in Area and are eliminated from the state playoffs.
SOFTBALL
The Opelika softball team has a 10-15 overall record as it approaches the area tournament. The Lady Bulldogs must finish the tournament in first or second to make the state playoffs. The softball team plays on the road against Central Phenix City May 1 at 6:30 p.m. If the Bulldogs win, they secure a place in the state tournament. If OHS loses game one against the Red Devils, they will face the winner of Auburn and Smiths Station for a chance to advance to state.
TRACK AND FIELD
OHS girls and boys track and field teams participated in the Wayne Murphy Invitational on the AHS campus last weekend. Below are OHS athletes finishing in the top five.
GIRLS
100 METER DASH
12.22 – Tierra Agee – 1st
12.71 – Amiya Brown – 4th
13.12 – Kahliya Cloud – 5th
200 METER DASH
25.33 – Tierra Agee – 1st
27.04 – Kaylee McIntyre – 4th
400 METER DASH
1:00.67 – Makiah Paschal – 2nd
600 METER RUN
5:48.15 – Caroline Couey – 5th
100 METER HURDLES
18.20 – Cadence Williams – 5th
HIGH JUMP
4-8 – Kyndall Brundidge – 4th
LONG JUMP
16-9 – Tierra Agee – 1st
TRIPLE JUMP
32-1 – Kimora Rowell – 4th
POLE VAULT
7-6 – D’Nya Williams – 2nd
7-6 – Jada Frazier – 3rd
DISCUS
94-7 – Cherdi Daniels – 2nd
JAVELIN
99-0 – Cherdi Daniels – 3rd
97-3 – Rorie Dunbar – 5th
SHOT PUT
34-3.5 – Cherdi Daniels – 2nd
BOYS
100 METER DASH
11.19 – Qualik Harry – 2nd
200 METER DASH
50.50 – Sam Washburn – 2nd
1600 METER RUN
4:36.50 – Charles Brewer – 1ST
110 METER HURDLES
14.66 – Tykell Thomas – 1st
15.07 – Theo Hubbard – 3rd
HIGH JUMP
5-8 – Jaxon Freeman – 5th
LONG JUMP
21-7 -JaClarence Perry – 4th
TRIPLE JUMP
46-3 – Davian Jones – 2nd
POLE VAULT
12-0 -Dontarius Alvis – 2nd
DISCUS
142-9 – Mikeil Heard – 2nd
125-2 – Ajaden Parham – 5th
JAVELIN
154-3 – Octavious Gay – 1st
151-0 – Ronald Reese Jr. – 2nd
SHOT PUT
46-2.5 – Mikeil Heard – 3rd
FLAG FOOTBALL HAS NEW COACH
I learned Opelika High school named Mike Murray as the new flag football head coach following Jaclyn Button’s resignation after two seasons. Murray was the top assistant coach for Button last season and brings over 20 years of coaching experience with him. Murray was an assistant for boys football for many years.
“ON THE MARK” ON RADIO
You can listen to the “On the Mark” radio show each weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on FOX Sports the Game 910AM -1310AM, online at foxsporthsthegame.com or on the free iHeartRadio app on your smartphone. Search WZMG 910-1310 or FOX Sports the Game. Jeff Sasser and I host the local morning sports show from the Orthopaedic Clinic Studio inside the iHeartRadio headquarters in Opelika. The show centers on local high school sports, as well as Auburn University and the SEC. We have a guest host each day, having featured coach Dan Washburn, coach Larry Gore, coach Doug Barfield, James Cooper, Terry Rosenthal, Jeff Meyers, Chris Wood and Derek Lee. Other regular guests appearing on “On the Mark” include coach Gene Stallings, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and local high school head coaches from Opelika, Auburn, Lee-Scott, Beauregard, Valley, Lanett, Smiths Station, Chambers Academy, Lafayette, Glenwood, Central, Notasulga, Loachapoka, Dadeville, Beulah and prominant head coaches from across the state of Alabama.
Listeners can also hear from members of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the Alabama Independent School Association.
Auburn University coaches Jeff Graba, Butch Thompson, Karen Hoppa and Greg Williams make regular appearances during their sports seasons as well.
D. Mark Mitchell is 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 state director.