OPELIKA —
Opelika High’s girls’ flag football teams (junior varsity and varsity) opened the season by sweeping two games against Smiths Station. The varsity team shut out SSHS 20-0, and the JV won 21-13.
Lady Bulldog Ashley Hilyer caught a pass from Cherida Daniels in the first half, resulting in the first touchdown of the varsity’s 2022 season. Z. Fanning caught a short pass from Daniels for the second score, and the defense scored the final TD after Amiya Brown returned an interception for a score. OHS converted two-of-three extra points.
Opelika’s junior varsity team won a close game, 21-13. The Dogs scored three TD’s: Kahliya Cloud sprinted 64 yards for a score; Cloud returned an interception for her second TD; and Bryanna Edwards caught a 10 yard pass from Cloud for the last score for Opelika.
The Lady JV Panthers scored two touchdowns, but Opelika’s defense held the Panthers from scoring in the fourth quarter.
On Monday, the varsity girls’ defeated Loachapoka, 40-0, to secure Opelika’s first home game win. The Bulldogs moved to 2-0. On the first drive of the game, Daniels found Kaitlyn Spoon in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was converted on a pass from Daniels to KayKay Dowdell. Daniels ran the ball in for a 35-yard touchdown on Opelika’s second drive, and the extra point was good on a pass to Fanning. Fanning returned an interception for a touchdown on the defensive snap. To start the second half, Daniels and Spoon connected for another TD, their third and second of the game, respectively. Karly Phatsadavong came in at QB and threw a long pass to Jasmyaine McCloud, who ran it in for a touchdown. To end the game, Phatsadavong found Cloud for a touchdown, and Kenley Jackson in the for the extra point.
Head coach Jaclyn Button has two assistant coaches — Mike Murry and Jessica Thornton — and volunteer coach Mike Spoon.
Playoff begins Oct. 31 with the top two teams in each area. The Lady Bulldogs are in the area with LaFayette and Valley. The Lady Bulldogs and Rams have clinched playoff berths because Lafayette did not field a team this season.
Opelika plays Auburn in Duck Samford Stadium, Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m., and host Valley Sept. 21, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Opelika’s girls’ and boys’ cross country teams traveled to Fayetteville, Georgia, to run in the “AT&T Starr’s Mill Cross Country Meet”.
The following is a summary of OHS team members in the 5000 meters run.
GIRLS
5000 METER RUN
• 21:46.00 – Paola Torres – 62nd – Girls Varsity 5k
• 22:28.82 – Margaret Bice – 83rd – Girls Varsity 5k
• 23:30.42 – Violett Alcorn – 99th – Girls Varsity 5k
• 23:34.05 – Joanne Smith T – 101st – Girls Varsity 5k
• 27:15.83 – Frida Cruz Valdez – 180th – Girls Varsity 5k
• 27:20.30 – Carlie Moates – 181st – Girls Varsity 5k
• 28:23.79 – Ellie Kendrick – 193rd – Girls Varsity 5k
• 28:52.51 – Kaitlyn Brown – 197th – Girls Varsity 5k
• 31:59.23 – Kiley Brooks – 200th – Girls Varsity 5k
BOYS
5000 METER RUN
• 16:47.46 – Chas Brewer – 21st – Boys Varsity 5k
18:04.31 – Brantley Turnham – 1st – Boys Freshmen 5k
• 18:30.00 – Michael Hart – 124th – Boys Varsity 5k
• 19:10.28 – Zalen Shaw – 159th – Boys Varsity 5k
• 19:11.16 – Zane Sexton – 161st – Boys Varsity 5k
• 19:26.00 – Trey White – 181st – Boys Varsity 5k
• 20:59.21 – Ben Bell – 230th – Boys Varsity 5k
• 21:12.49 – Amari Bynum – 244th – Boys Varsity 5k
• 21:27.72 – Burch Harris – 44th – Boys Freshmen 5k
• 23:31.59 – Alexander Burgess – 281st – Boys Varsity 5k
• 24:11.02 – Tripp Campbell – 84th – Boys Freshmen 5k
• 24:45.00 – Benjamin Owens – 173rd – Boys JV 5k
• 28:15.13 – Justin Watson – 232nd – Boys JV 5k
• 30:07.12 – Daylan Sanders – 244th – Boys JV 5k
HIGH SCHOOL COACHES EACH WEDNESDAY
Listen to the the “High School Coaches Show” on WKKR 97.7 Kicker FM every Wednesday night ( 6 to 8 p.m.) presented by the Ortho Clinic, live from Moe’s Original Bar BQ. Jeff Sasser and I will interview up-to 18 local high school football coaches each week. You can listen to your favorite high school’s coach on the radio, iHeartRadio App or online at kickerfm.com D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.