BY WIL CREWS
SPORTSCREWS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY —Most area high school football teams were in action this past weekend. Opelika defeated Smiths Station in its homecoming game to get back to its winning ways; Beauregard and Loachapoka narrowly escaped with their perfect records; Lee-Scott barely broke a sweat to remain lossless, Beulah got its first win of the season and Glenwood clinched a playoff berth.
The following is a breakdown of how area teams fared in week eight of the 2022 high school football season. All stats were compiled firsthand, by school sources or by Maxpreps.com.
AHSAA
SMITHS STATION 14 | OPELIKA 31
The varsity Smiths Station High School football team (1-6, R1-4) lost, 31-14, in Bulldog Stadium in Opelika last Friday. The Panthers got on the board first, but gave up 31 unanswered points to the Bulldogs before scoring the game’s final points. The Panthers will now prepare for a bout against Jefferson Davis (2-5, R1-4) in a region bout on Oct. 14. Smiths Station could avoid the potential of finishing last in the region with wins over the Volunteers and last place Lee in the coming weeks.
BEAUREGARD 31 | ELMORE COUNTY 20
The varsity Beauregard High School football team defeated the Elmore County Panthers (4-3), 31-20, Friday Oct. 7. The win moved the Hornets to a perfect 7-0 on the 2022 season. The Hornets totaled 409 all-purpose yards en route to the victory. Junior running back Jacori Tarver continued his good work for the season, rushing for 185 yards on 14 carries. Senior Quarterback AJ Wallace accounted for 216 total yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Javonn Holman led the Hornets in receiving, pulling down three passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Beauregard sits in first place in 5A Region 4 with three weeks remaining in its regular season, and can clinch the No. 1 spot with a road victory over region foe Central of Clay County on Friday, Oct. 14.
BEULAH 29 | CHILDERSBURG 26
The varsity Beulah High School football team (1-6, R1-3) earned its first win of the season last Friday, defeating region opponent Childersburg (1-7, R1-4), 29-26. The Bobcats were spurred to victory by an all-around performance from sophomore Demarion Foreman. The do-it-all athlete racked up 117 rushing yards on 19 carries, passed for 23 yards and one TD and caught one pass for 22 yards and one TD. Quarterback Noah Higdon finished 7-of-8 passing for 103 yards and one TD. The Bobcats registered 12 penalties for 90 yards, but committed zero turnovers to limit self-inflicted wounds. Beulah will look for its second straight win Friday, Oct. 14, as it faces undefeated Randolph County (7-0) in a road, region game.
LOACHAPOKA 24 | AUTAUGAVILLE 18
The varsity Loachapoka High School football team (7-0, R5-0) employed a balance offensive approach to defeat region foe Autaugaville (4-3, R3-2), 24-18. Loachapoka racked up 325 total yards in the contest, with 158 coming through the air and the other 167 coming on the ground. The ‘Poka defense limited Autaugaville to 252 total yards. The two teams were near even for most of the night, trading the lead three times. Senior Ga’kuan “Kuan” Palmer led Loachapoka with a 41-yard rushing touchdown to take a 14-6 lead into halftime, and a 3-yard rushing touchdown to take the lead with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Loachapoka next faces Maplesville (5-2, R5-0) Friday, Oct. 14, on the road with the 1A Region 4 regular-season title on the line.
AISA
LEE-SCOTT 49 | BESSEMER 0
The varsity Lee-Scott football team recorded its fourth shutout of the season, allowing just 11 total yards to its opposition, as it defeated Bessemer Academy (1-6, R1-4), 49-0, last Friday. The dominant performance was led by senior running back George Meyers, who finished with 104 rushing yards on 11 carries with three touchdowns. Backup running backs Jonathan Meyers and Andrew Hahn got in on the scoring action as well, rushing in one and two touchdowns, respectively. Meyers also caught a touchdown, and Parker Wright was responsible for the final Lee-Scott score. The Warriors can secure the regular season AISA 3A title with a home game win against Valiant Cross (2-4) Friday, Oct. 14.
GLENWOOD 36 | MONROE ACADEMY 0
The varsity Glenwood Gator football team (4-3, R4-1) recorded its first shutout of the season last Friday, defeating Monroe Academy (2-6, R1-4), 36-0. In head coach Ryan Nelson’s first season, the Gators clinched a playoff berth with the win. Junior quarterback Dallas Crow threw for three touchdowns — two to running back Aaron Burton — and rushed two yards for a score. Burton finished with five receptions for 119 yards and two TD’s. The Gators will return to the field Friday, Oct. 14, for a road matchup against region foe Autauga Academy (3-3).