D. Mark Mitchell
Columnist
D. Mark Mitchell is a writer for The Observer
D. Mark Mitchell's Latest
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika (7-1, R 4-1) moved a step closer to clinching a playoff berth after beating Enterprise 30-13 last Friday at Homecoming at Bulldog Stadium.EHS head coach Ben Blackmon did not coach the Wildcats nor make the...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika (6-1, R 3-1) defeated Dothan 28-7 last Friday night at Ripp Hewes Stadium in Dothan. The Dogs held Wolves to 205 total yards and only 7 points, which is 25 fewer points than they average. DHS recovered a OHS...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika (5-1, R 2-1) beat Pike Road 31-20 last Friday in Montgomery in its second toughest game of the season. Coached by Granger Shook, The Patriot’s game plan was obvious from the beginning — Stop the Bulldog’s...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION —Opelika (4-1, R 2-1) beat Smiths Station (0-5) 50-0, last Friday night at Bulldog Stadium on Homecoming. The Dogs piled up the points and yards; gaining 398 total yards, 154 passing yards and 224 yards rushing while the...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika (3-1, R 1-1) beat J.A.G. (0-4, R 0-2) 52-6 last Friday night at Bulldog Stadium. The Bulldogs did exactly as I predicted last week: They dominated the Jaguars in all three phases of the game for four quarters...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — The 99th football game beween Opelika (2-1, R 0-1) and Auburn (3-0, R 1-0) was played last Friday in Auburn’s Duck Samford Stadium in front of a sellout crowd, estimated at 7000. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs in a back...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — The Opelika Bulldogs (2-0) opened their home schedule, thumping Calloway [Georgia} (0-2) 48-13 at Bulldog Stadium last Friday night. Bulldog head coach Bryan Moore wanted his team to start fast, score early and often...
OHS Football season now underway BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — The Bryan Moore era at OHS started with a bang, with Opelika opening the season with a 28-14 win over Benjamin Russell last Friday in Alex City.Opelika’s Jamari Miller returned the...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPELIKA — It is hard to to believe, but high school football season starts next Thursday in Alabama. Most local schools play their first games next week, Aug. 22 or 23.Opelika will open the season by playing Benjamin Russell on...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPELIKA — The Opelika football team started fall practice Monday, preparing for the 2024 season. Head coach Bryan Moore has a new schedule for the next two seasons.OHS plays five road games and five home games. Here is a summary...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika football coach Bryan Moore starts fall practice Monday Aug. 5, in preparation for the 2024 season.Moore spoke to the media last week at FOX Sports the Game High School Media Days presented by Orthopedic Clinic...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Most schools in Alabama start within the first two weeks of August. Lee County Schools’ first day for students is Aug. 6, Lee-Scott Academy’s first day is Aug. 7 and Opelika and Auburn City Schools’ first day for...
High School Media Days BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — High School Media Days will be hosted by iHeartMedia’s local radio station, FOX Sports the Game 910-1310, on July 23-24. The two-day event is sponsored by The Orthopaedic Clinic and hosted at the...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika High football coach Bryan Moore joined “On the Mark” radio show last week on FOX Sports the Game 910-1310 AM and the iHeartRadio app. Moore updated fans about summer workouts.“It is hard to believe June is...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Every successful high school athletic department has a strong Booster Club to help offset expenses in order to make sure the teams have what is needed to be the best. The items range from nutrition, food (meals), buses...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — Opelika Athletics programs continue their summer workouts as the tempatures continue to rise.The basketball and football teams participated in camps, while softball coach Jessica Thornton opened West Ridge Softball...
Opelika Sports | June 13, 2024 BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — The Alabama High School Athletic Association made two major announcements in the last seven days, the hiring of a new executive director and announcing Super 7 changes. AHSAA HIRES HEATH...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — JIMMY JOHNSON RESIGNS AS OHS TRACK & FIELD COACHOpelika Track and Field head coach Jimmy Johson informed me via telephone that he has resigned as of Monday, June 3. Johnson spent 14 years in the Opelika school...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — OHS FOOTBALLOpelika football head coach Bryan Moore completed his first spring with a 10-0 win over Clay-Chalkville in a two-quarter scrimmage at Bulldog Stadium, last Thursday, May 16.Moore joined “On the Mark” radio...
BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION — OHS FOOTBALLOpelika head football coach Bryan Moore held his first spring game last Thursday afternoon at Bulldog stadium against Clay-Chalkville.The spring practice game was the tenth and last day of spring practice...