BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE OBSERVER
SMITHS STATION — Despite being a first-year program, Glenwood School’s fledgling flag football team had no problem scheduling David-versus-Goliath matchups.
However, the proverbial stone never struck its mark after Opelika High School used a flurry of second-quarter scoring to take down the Lady Gators (0-1) 19-0 in The Swamp on Aug. 26.
J.Z. Agee emerged as a two-way star for the Lady Bulldogs (1-0), snagging a receiving touchdown and two interceptions. Jaela Holmes threw three TD passes, and Kaiden Sallie had two TD catches.
For Glenwood, Caroline Chapa recorded an interception, and Karrington Slocumb showed promise as a dual threat quarterback.
“I’m really proud of the girls. They all work hard, and a lot of them are really young, but they’re going out and playing multiple positions the whole time, and they’re killing it,” Opelika head coach Tiara Harris said. “Starting off the season with a win and then coming in, especially when a lot of things are new to them, they’re really the type to say, ‘Okay, we can do this,’ is big.”
Agee, a freshman who made her varsity debut last Wednesday, said Opelika has made a habit of blocking outside noise and supporting each other.
“Everybody was kind of doubting us because of everything that’s been going on, but I think we all came together as a team and played how we should have,” Agee said. “It’s easy for me because I have really good teammates who back me up, and I know if I mess up, they’re not going to start yelling at me.”
The first half proved to be a defensive stalemate. Glenwood threatened first when Caroline Breazeale’s big punt return with 2:04 left in the opening quarter set the Lady Gators up nine yards out, but Opelika’s defense held to keep the game scoreless into the second quarter.
Glenwood came up big again midway through the second, stopping Opelika on fourth down, but a string of errant snaps pushed the Lady Gators backward and Agee’s first interception ended the threat with 7:39 before halftime.
Chapa answered less than a minute later with a pick deep in Opelika territory, but that drive also stalled and the Lady Gators were forced to punt.
Opelika finally broke through with 1:11 before the break, as Holmes hit Agee on a 23-yard TD before the extra point failed for a 6-0 lead.
Just nine seconds later, Harper Threat’s interception set the Lady Bulldogs up 11 yards away from the end zone, and Sallie hauled in a 16-yard TD that Holmes dropped perfectly over her shoulder three plays later. The extra point attempt again failed, sending Opelika into halftime up 12-0.
Holmes and Sallie connected once more late in the third — a 4-yard TD on fourth down with 22 seconds left — followed by a Holmes-to-Tinsley Williams extra point conversion pass for a 19-0 lead.
Agee capped the night with her second interception with 8:51 left to play, and officials ultimately called the game at the two minute warning even as Glenwood was still driving.
If the Lady Gators wanted an easy win to begin their inaugural season, it certainly didn’t schedule an opening opponent that would give it to them.
According to Alabama High School Athletic Association enrollment figures, Opelika (Class 6A) has 1,121 students, while Glenwood (Class Private AA) has 191 students.
Overall, Lady Gators head coach Ally Cadenhead said she was pleased with the effort against a larger, established program that she was grateful to lead Glenwood on a historic evening.
“I’m very happy with them. I thought they played their hearts out,” Cadenhead said. “We were all pretty nervous in the beginning, but I felt like we got more comfortable as we started playing, and I’m just happy this team and us as coaches were a part of this historical moment.”
The Lady Bulldogs next host J.A.G. High School at Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Opelika played at Enterprise High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, but that result was not available before Tuesday’s press deadline.
Glenwood will travel to Columbus, Georgia, to face Calvary Christian School on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. CT.
