BY D. MARK MITCHELL
OPINION — The OHS Volleyball season ended with a 3-0 loss to Central in the Area Tournament last week at Auburn High. The Lady Tigers beat Smiths Station and Central to win the Area and earn a trip to the South Super Regional at the Multiplex in Montgomery.
CROSS COUNTRY
Opelika’s varsity Cross Country team competed in the 27th Annual Tiger Classic at Keisel Park in Auburn.
The following are Opelika’s runners and their results:
GIRLS
20:42.60 —Caroline Couey, 9th
23:46.20 — Violett Alcorn, 45th
24:52.60 — Frida Cruz Valdez, 62nd
25:46.60 — Heidi Peralta Fernandez, 72nd
27:21.30 — Alyson Culberson, 92nd
28:10.10 — Ellie Kendrick, 103rd
BOYS
16:56.80 — Brantley Turnham, 6th
19:00.14 — Amari Bynum, 10th
19:47.40 — Aiden Stephens, 55th
19:55.50 — Drew Schoonoven, 57th
19:56.10 —Ben Bell, 58th
20:08.70 — Trevor Thompson,16th
20:11.70 — Caleb Thornton, 62nd
20:23.30 — Alexander Burgess, 64th
20:39.00 — Murphy Williams, 72nd
21:21.10 — Seth Huling, 90th
21:54.30 — John Greer — 104th
21:57.20 — Zane Sexton, 105th
22:10.48 — Teotl Heredia, 34th
22:18.69 —Tripp Campbell, 35th
22:19.03 —Benjamin Owens, 36th
24:01.08 — Daylan Sanders , 41st
25:54.34 — Javis Bedell, 47th
26:28.59 — Ephraim Thornton, 50th
Opelika participates in the7A Sectional Meet Saturday at Kiesel Park in Auburn. Top qualifiers advance to the state meet next weekend.
ENTERPRISE BEATS OPELIKA 28-14; DOGS MUST BEAT DOTHAN TO MAKE 7A PLAYOFFS
Enterprise (6-2, R 4-2) defeated Opelika (4-5, R 4-3) 28-14 , last Thursday at “Bill Bacon Field” in Enterprise. The Dogs loss means they must beat Dothan ( Friday) to avoid missing the 7A playoffs for the second year in a row.
Neither team scored in the first quarter, however EHS was able to use a strong rushing attack behind Dunlop and Winters to score 21 straight points, after the Dogs took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. Keion Dunlop led Enterprise with 162-rushing yards and scored three TD’s on runs of 45, 29 and 5 yards while QB Eric Winter ran for 91-yards on 16 rushing attempts and three for 85 yards. Opelika’s Roman Gagliano scored Opelika’s first TD on a 4-yard run with 11 minutes left in the first half. E’Mauri Smiley scored the Dogs second TD on a 1-yard run. Will Carroll made both PAT for Opelika.
Enterprise outgained Opelika in total yards, 276 yards to 217 yards. Gaglian finished 8 for 18 with 114 passing yards including a 45 yard pass and Waites rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries. Defensively: Autry made nine tackles while Moss, Jenkins and Lighhtfoot made seven tackles each.
OHS MUST BEAT DOTHAN TO MAKE 7A PLAYOFFS
It is real simple: The winner of the Opelika – Dothan game Friday night at Bulldog Stadium makes the playoffs. Both teams need a win to qualify for the AHSAA 7A State playoffs. Opelika is trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.
DHS (6-2, R 3-2) enters Bulldog Stadium after having a bye week. The Wolves are trying to make history by making the playoffs for the second year in a row under head coach Jeb Kennedy.
Dothan beat: Carroll (59-14) , Percy Julian (42-6), Prattville (59-24), Smiths Station (66-0), Baker (35-14) and Enterprise (21-14). The two losses were: Auburn in double overtime (28-27) and Central (48-14).
The Wolves beat OHS 14-7 last year at Rip Hews Stadium in Dothan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bullldog Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets at the Bulldog Stadium ticket office Friday night at 5:30. You can listen to the game on WKKR 97.7 KICKER FM , the iHeartRadio app and online kickerfm.com. Van Riggs and his crew will begin coverage at 6:30 p.m., presented by the Orthopaedic Clinic.
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.