OPELIKA FOOTBALL

For the first time since 1997 the Opelika Bulldog football team did not qualify for the class 6-A state play-offs. O.H.S. finished in a 3 way tie for third place with Enterprise (The Dawgs beat the wildcats in overtime), and Dothan (Opelika lost to the tigers in the last 47 seconds. Dothan scored two quick touchdowns in the last 47 seconds for the win).  Going into the last week of the season Opelika did not know the outcome of the tie breaker system. Bulldog fans had to wait until about 8 games were over last Friday night.

Before knowing the outcome of the play-off birth.  Head coach Brian Blackmon was upset his team failed to make the post season in his first year as the head man, “I want to apologize to our football team, coaches and fans for not making the play-offs. We will continue to work as hard as we can in the off-season.  Our team will learn from our mistakes and hope we improve next year.”

When I talked to Coach Friday night he was upset his team failed to make it. He was not taking the news too good. He and his staff were on the road scouting the potential opponent  if we made it. This shows that he and his coaches had not given up hope and were not going to wait without working while things worked out. The Dawgs finished 6-3 with highlight wins over 5A number 1 Vigor and region foe Enterprise. The team finished with 15 less players at the end of the year compared to the start of the season. A lot of these players were not able to play due to injuries sustained during the year. Over the course of a 6A football season the teams go through a lot of ups and downs. We had our share of both, but I am proud of the Opelika Bulldogs for working hard year round to try and make football season fun. We all should be thankful our school system allows our high school kids to participate in these activities.  It makes Friday nights fun during late summer or early fall.

WRESTLING

Coach Ryan Thompson is starting his 8^th year as head wrestling coach at O.H.S.  The team has 28 wrestlers participating for 14 different weight classes from 103lbs. to the heavy weight division. The Dawgs return 3 players from last year’s team that made it to the state competition. Brian White returns at 103 lbs. and finished 4^th in the state, Cole Macarty returns in the 125 weight class after 2 straight state trips and Caleb Lawrence returns at heavy weight.

The team has been practicing for a week in the year old wrestling room and have all made the trip to the weigh in process where you are weighed and tested for body fat intake. The first match is November 21^st in Phenix City.  O.H.S. will participate

In tournaments in Dalton GA. Trussville AL., Hoover, Prattville and will host the Opelika duals on January 23^rd. Teams include Bob Jones, Grissom, Spain Park, Auburn, Prattville, Tallassee, Russell CO.  and other high schools around the state.

The SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT is in Auburn February 5-6^th. If you advance to the state tournament, it is in Huntsville Feb. 11-13.

The Middle School had over 75 students try out for the team. Coach Adam Massey will coach the team that will consist of 37 wrestlers. The middle school gets to wrestle 7^th through 9^th graders during meets.

BASKETBALL

NEXT WEEK I WILL GIVE YOU AN INSIDE LOOK AT OUR VARSITY  AND JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS

STAY UPDATED WITH OPELIKA ATHLETICS BY GOING TO THE SCHOOLS WEB SITE www.thedawgnetwork.com THIS SITE IS CONSTANTANTLY  BEING UPDATED AND YOU CAN LEARN UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS AS WELL AS OTHER INFO. LIKE SCHEDULES ,ROSTERS SPONSORS AND NEWS. YOU  CAN ALSO CATCH OPELIKA NEWS EVERY MORNING BY TUNING INTO “ON THE MARK” RADIO PROGRAM ON WTLM 1520a.m. FROM 7-9 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. “VOICE OF THE OPELIKA DAWGS ALONG WITH PARTNER JEFF SASSER HOST THE 2 HOUR PROGRAM THAT CAN BE HAERD ON THE WEB AT kickerfm.com, CLCK ON SPORTS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THEN “ON THE MARK” BANNER.