Opelika finishes 8-2, heads to post-season
OPINION —
OHS FOOTBALL
Hoover (10-2) ended Opelika’s (9-3) football season with a 32-29 win in three overtimes last Friday at the Hoover Met.
The quarterfinal matchup between the Bucs and the Bulldogs gained immediate state-wide attention as one of the best matchups in the state, along with Thompson and Auburn. Late Tuesday afternoon the focus of the game became bigger after the Alabama High School Athletic Association suspended OHS coach Bryan Moore due to “rule violations,” according to the statement I received from AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon. Although the AHSAA did not name the “rule” coach Moore broke, sources close to the situation informed me that Coach Moore violated the “Coaches Conduct Bylaw in Rule 5, Section 3, which reads: “A coach or non-faculty coach found guilty of immoral or unsportsmanlike conduct may be disqualified.”
Here is the full statement I received from AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon:
“In accordance with AHSAA Central Board of Control policy, eligibility rulings are only provided to member schools. We encourage all media to contact member schools for access to rule violations. The AHSAA did apply rule violations to Opelika High School. I appreciate you reaching out to me, and I look forward to working with you in the future.”
Opelika City Schools released the following statement: “Opelika City Schools and Coach Bryan Moore respect the standards set by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. While observing Hoover High School’s playoff game, Coach Moore used a media pass to access the field and take notes. Though he had no ill intent, Coach Moore recognizes this was an error in judgment and accepts the suspension.”
Facts: Coach Bryan Moore traveled to Hoover, Thursday, Nov. 7, to watch and scout Hoover and Fairhope at the Met. Moore entered the stadium by using his AHSAA coaching card, put the AHSAA Media Pass (issued from the AHSAA to OHS for school media) around his neck and proceeded to walk on the sidelines during the game. There are mutiple photos of Moore on the sidelines, wearing the pass while holding a notebook throughout the game.
The AHSAA suspended Moore from participating in all football activities until after the Hoover game, including no meeting with coaches or players, no attending meetings, no attending practice, no team meals and functions and no weekly Thursday luncheon @ First Baptist Church Opelika.
I have known Bryan Moore for more than 20 years. I met him after being hired by Opelika as a young assistant. Moore worked his way up the ranks from an offensive assistant to Offensive Coordinator to being hired by Eufaula as their head football coach at the young age of 28. Moore made a mistake by putting an AHSAA media pass around his neck, but he did not try to hide nor did he run from the issue. He kept reiterating he has never cheated or broken a rule on purpose. Personally, I wish Moore would have been able to speak openly to the Opelika fans and supporters last week, to explain the situation and assure everyone this was a mistake and an isolated incident.
The OHS football team played hard last Friday night, overcoming a 16-point deficit, taking the lead but eventually losing in three overtimes by three points.
Moore appeared on my “On the Mark” radio show Monday morning to recap the season.
“Obviously, I wish things happened differently last week,” he said. “I hate this happened but will own it. The team battled — I am proud of the kids, especially these seniors. They have zero playoff experience. We beat Florence, played at Hoover, got down 16 points and came back to force OT. Proud of all three phases, we prepared well, played hard. I wish it would have been a different result.”
Moore applauded everyone involved in helping him during his first year at Opelika.
“I want to have a banquet for the entire team, not just seniors,” he said. “My main concern are the seniors — do they want to play college football, or whatever direction they chose, it may be joining the military, learning a trade, going to school, etc.
“Our schedule was brutal,” he added. “We won more games this year than the two years combined — what a heckuva first season.”
Moore proved he is the right man to lead the Opelika football program. Let’s give him time to continue building it. The future is bright!
FLAG FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS
Opelika’s flag football team played Auburn Nov. 20 at Duck Samford Stadium. The Lady Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 6A-7A after wins over Booker T. Washington and McGill-Toolin. Results of the game were not available at press time.
The winner of the OHS/AHS game advances to the Semifinal round against the winner of Central/Alma Bryant.
BOWLING
The OHS bowling team went 1-1 last week, beating Park Crossing 880-600 and losing to Auburn 922 to 800.
BASKETBALL
The OHS girls basketball team (1-4) defeated Lafayette 62-9 for their first win of the season. The Lady Bulldogs were led on offense by Kamora Johnson’s 15-points and Chloe Stenson’s 8-points.
Opelika boys varsity basketball team (3-1) beat LaFayette 84-46 Monday night at the Mainstreet gym. The Bulldogs also beat Russell County 70-56 and Benjamin Russell 66-46. The lone loss was to Dothan, 66-47 on the road.
On Monday, Nov. 25, OHS junior varsity, girls varsity and boys varsity play at Glenwood. Junior Varsity tipoff is set for 1 p.m., with varsity girls and boys following.
Varsity girls play at Enterprise Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. and will host Loachapoka Nov. 27 at Mainstreet Gym.
WRESTLING
OHS boys wrestling team split a tri-match, beating Hardaway 78-6 and losing to Beauregard 57-23.
AHSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Two teams from Region 2 remain the semifinals of the AHSAA Class 7A football playoffs: Enterprise (8-4) at Thompson (9-3) and Hoover (10-2) at Central-Phenix City.
In Class 2A, Cottonwood (12-0) will play at Reeltown (11-1).
Chambers Academy was set to play Bessemer Academy for the AISA 3A State Championship on Nov. 21 in Montgomery’s Crampton Bowl. Results were not available at press time.
AHSAA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
The Alabama High School Athletic Association released the Class of 2024-25 AHSAA Sports Hall of Fame. Auburn’s Matt Cimo is a part of this year’s HOF after coaching his entire career at Auburn High. Cimo arrived at Auburn in 1992 as a teacher and head baseball coach, where he compiled a 673-432 record in 32 years. He guided the Tigers to 6A State Titles in 2009 and 2010 and to 7A State Titles in 2018 and 2021. Congratulations Matt Cimo!
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia and host of “On the Mark” on Fox Sports the Game 910-1319.
