OPELIKA —
Opelika hosted region foe Enterprise (EHS) at Bulldog Stadium last Friday night. First-year Enterprise head coach Ben Blackmon returned to Opelika (OHS), where he started his coaching career as an assistant under then-coach Spence McCracken. Blackmon’s Wildcats beat Opelika, 22-14. The Bulldogs fall to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in region 2 with the loss.
OHS scored the first lead of the game on a 5-yard pass from junior QB Roman Gagliano to senior tight end Tae Gay. EHS answered with a 4-yard passing touchdown, and made the 2-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead. Jamari Miller then caught a 28-yard pass from Gagliano for the last Opelika touchdown of the game. The Wildcats scored a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters to win the game 22-14. Opelika failed to score in the second half despite out-gaining Enterprise in total yards, 232 to 182.
Individually for Opelika, Gagliano was 17-of-32 for 143 yards and two touchdowns, running back Jacorey Thorntan rushed 12 times for 83 yards and Miller added 53 receiving yards and one score on three catches.
OPELIKA AT DOTHAN / PLAYOFF PICTURE
Opelika travels to Dothan (5-3 R-3-3) Friday night for the last regular season game. The Wolves are 3-3 in the region and are one of five teams alive for two playoff spots. Opelika is one of the five teams trying to earn a playoff berth. For the first time since 2009, OHS could miss the playoffs.
The Bulldogs need to beat Dothan and hope Prattville loses to Central and Auburn, or hope Enterprise splits its games with Lee and JD. Bottom line, OHS needs to win and watch the scoreboard.
Dothan is coached by former Enterprise defensive coordinator Jed Kennedy. In his first season in charge, Kennedy has led the Wolves to a 5-3 record. The Wolves beat Carroll (45-19), Lee (42-14), Prattville (14-10), Smiths Station (57-43) and Baker (43-15). The three losses came against Auburn (14-42), Central (35-28) and Enterprise (51-28).
After last week’s game, OHS head coach Erik Speakman talked about the importance of putting everything behind you, going to Dothan and playing the team’s best game.
You can listen to the Opelika/Dothan game on WKKR 97.7 Kicker FM presented by the Orthopaedic Clinic, online at kickerfm.com and on the iHeartRadio app. Airtime is 6:30 p.m. for the pre-game show, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
OHS FLAG FOOTBALL
The Opelika Lady Bulldog Flag Football team will hold its senior night ceremony before its last regular season game, Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m. OHS will then play either Loachapoka or Booker T. Washington in the first round of the playoffs, Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. If Opelika wins the first round playoff game, the Bulldogs will play Auburn Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. All playoff games will be played at Auburn’s Duck Samford Stadium.
CROSS COUNTRY
Opelika Cross Country teams from OMS and OHS ran in the 26th Annual Tiger Classic at Auburn’s Kiesel Park last Saturday. This is the last regular season meet before the Sectional Meet, Oct. 29 at Kiesel Park.
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.