OPINION —
Opelika High School routed Alma Bryant High School 41-7 last Friday at Bulldog Stadium in the first round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs.
The Bulldogs (5-5) scored early and often against the Hurricanes (3-8), getting points from their offense, defense and special teams. Alma Bryant was no match for Opelika’s size and speed, and the Bulldogs cruised despite playing without several injured players.
With Jalen Nelson sidelined by an ankle injury, Opelika needed someone to help carry the load entering the postseason. Jordan Jackson not only answered the call, but he has also transformed himself into one of Opelika’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
Friday night’s first-round matchup was the latest and most convincing example. Jackson delivered the best performance of his career, rushing 17 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns and adding a 14-yard catch for 200 total yards.
Austan Christiaan completed 13 of 18 passes for 203 yards, and six players caught passes. The Bulldogs ran for 303 yards on 35 carries, giving them more than 500 yards of offense in a playoff game while playing numerous reserves.
Jackson’s emergence has been building for weeks. After moving from wide receiver to running back earlier this season, he steadily became more comfortable in his new role, and the production followed. He rushed for 91 yards against Dothan, 94 against Smiths Station and 105 against top-ranked Prattville in a loss.
Each week brought more carries, more confidence and more evidence that Opelika had found another playmaker. Against Alma Bryant, everything came together.
Jackson credited the offensive line for paving the way and said Opelika felt confident attacking the Hurricanes’ defensive alignment with the running game. Friday’s performance felt like the culmination of months of hard work.
What makes Jackson especially valuable is that his impact extends far beyond offense.
Head coach Jonathan Chandler has repeatedly praised Jackson’s willingness to do whatever the team needs. Jackson contributes on offense, defense and special teams, embraces leadership responsibilities and brings the toughness every successful playoff team needs. Those traits are why Chandler was not shocked by Friday’s results.
The Opelika coaching staff believed Jackson could produce on a big stage. The rest of the state simply saw it firsthand.
Nelson could be nearing a return. If he’s available in the coming weeks, Opelika will have a backfield that can create major headaches for opposing defenses. Jackson’s power and versatility, paired with Nelson’s explosiveness, could give the Bulldogs one of the most dangerous one-two punches left in the Class 6A bracket.
Fairhope up next
Opelika travels to Fairhope High School on Friday, Nov. 13, to face the Pirates (8-2) in the second round. The teams have met once, in the first round of the 2006 playoffs, when Opelika lost 49-0.
Fairhope head coach Caleb Ross is in his first season with the Pirates after leaving the AHSAA in the spring.
The teams had no common regular-season opponents, but both beat Alma Bryant — Fairhope 35-0 and Opelika 41-7. Fairhope’s two losses came in its season opener, 41-0 to Pace, Florida, and to region opponent Baker, 31-21. The Pirates beat Baldwin County (33-21), Foley (42-28), Mary Montgomery (24-14), Robertsdale (32-6), Alma Bryant (35-0), Davidson (42-13), Daphne (27-24) and Vigor (29-21).
This is a good Fairhope team, coached by one of the best coaches in Alabama, against a good Opelika team coached by Chandler, in his second year as head coach.
Ross was head coach at McGill-Toolen, Opelika and Prattville, and an assistant at Troy University and Tulane University before Fairhope. Chandler was his offensive coordinator at Opelika.
Tickets are available at gofan.co. The game will air live on WKKR 97.7 Kicker FM, the radio home of the Opelika Bulldogs, beginning with Chandler’s pregame show at 6:30 p.m. Fans can also listen on the free iHeartRadio app. There will be no live stream from Opelika.
If Opelika beats Fairhope, it will likely face Thompson High School in the quarterfinals.
Local schools
Congratulations to the local schools that won playoff games. No. 7 Loachapoka High School (9-2) beat Meek High School 55-14 and will travel to Woodville High School (10-1) in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs.
In Class Private AA, both area teams exacted revenge in rematches. Lee-Scott Academy (3-8) defeated Madison Academy 24-21 to face No. 4 American Christian Academy (10-1) on the road. Glenwood School (6-5) beat No. 5 St. Michael Catholic 42-35 and advances to play No. 3 McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (9-2) on the road.
Coming off a first-round bye, No. 6 Auburn High School (7-3) hosts Foley High School, which beat J.A.G. High School 49-28 to advance, in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.
All of those games will be played on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.
If you have a local sports story, contact D. Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo.com.
