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   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2017 Team Previews 

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Opelika Bulldogs

Head Coach: Erik Speakman (first season)
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium
Career Record: 0 seasons, (0-0)
At Opelika: First season
2018 Enrollment:  966
Rank:  42nd in the AHSAA, 10th in Class 6A

 History 
Overall Record:   562-390-18   (59.0%)
Last 25 years:   213-70   (75.0%)  (Rank: 14th in the AHSAA, 3rd in Class 6A)
Since 2010:   72-26  (74.0%)  (Rank: 36th in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 6A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2017
Last Region Championship:   2016
Last Winning Season:   2017
Last Losing Season:   1995

 2017 
Class:  6A              Region:   3
Record:  9-4
Region Record:   5-1, (third)
Playoff Record:   Quarter-finals loss to Hillcrest Tuscaloosa by a score of 26-24.
Final ASWA Poll:   8th
Scoring:  361 (27.8)
Defense:  215 (16.5)


 2018 
Class: 6A              Region:   3
Strength of Schedule: 77-32 (71%) (2nd in the AHSAA, 1st in Class 6A)
Region Strength:  36-23 (61%)
Non-Region Strength:  41-9 (82%)



 2017 Results 
 8/25  @ Smiths Station  (7A)   51-0   W  
 9/1  vs. Auburn  (7A)   13-17   L  
 9/8  vs. Carver Montgomery  (6A)   17-3   W  
 9/15  @ Chilton County  (6A)  *  41-14   W  
 9/22  @ Benjamin Russell  (6A)  *  14-19   L  
 9/29  @ Central Phenix City  (7A)   19-46   L  
 10/6  vs. Helena  (6A)  *  42-14   W  
 10/13  @ Chelsea  (6A)  *  37-10   W  
 10/20  vs. Wetumpka  (6A)  *  20-19   W  
 10/27  vs. Pelham  (6A)  *  41-21   W  
 11/3   OPEN 
 Playoffs 
 11/10  @ Daphne    15-5   W  
 11/17  vs. Park Crossing    27-21   W  
 11/24  @ Hillcrest Tuscaloosa    24-26   L  

 2018 Schedule 
 8/24  @ Callaway GA        
 8/31  @ Auburn  (7A)       
 9/7  vs. Selma  (6A)  *      
 9/14  @ Wetumpka  (6A)  *      
 9/21  vs. Central Phenix City  (7A)       
 9/28   OPEN 
 10/5  @ Benjamin Russell  (6A)  *      
 10/12  @ Calera  (6A)  *      
 10/19  vs. Stanhope Elmore  (6A)  *      
 10/26  vs. Vigor  (5A)       
 11/2   OPEN 
 11/9  vs. St. Pauls        
 11/16  @ Bessemer City        
 11/23  @ Saraland        


Class  6A Region  3
Team 2017 Record Scoring                            
Benjamin Russell (6A) 7-4234-199
Calera (5A) 7-5383-248
Opelika (6A) 9-4361-215
Selma (6A) 4-6269-315
Stanhope Elmore (6A) 5-6171-299
Wetumpka (6A) 13-2613-299

 2018 Preview 


       Opelika completed the 2017 season with a 9-4 record. With their 5-1 region record and a third place finish in Class 6A region three, the Bulldogs earned a spot in the playoffs in 2017. Opelika lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season to a good Hillcrest Tuscaloosa team by a score of 26-24.

       The Bulldogs had some tough luck last season as three of their four losses were by less than eight points.

       Over the past two seasons the Bulldogs have gone 22-6 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. Since 2010, Opelika has gone a combined 72-26. Their 74.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 6A over the past eight seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Opelika has gone a combined 213-70. Their 75.0% winning percentage ranks 3rd in Class 6A and 14th in the AHSAA. The Bulldogs have been successful on the football field with twenty-three winning seasons during this time. Their last losing season was 1995.




       The Bulldogs will be under the direction of new head football coach Erik Speakman as they enter the 2018 season.

       The Opelika Bulldogs will play in Class 6A region three during the 2018 season. The Bulldogs have one of the toughest schedules in Class 6A. Their opponents had a combined record of 77-32 last season. That ranks 1st in Class 6A and 2nd in the AHSAA.

       Region three will be one of the most competitive regions in any classification this season. The Bulldogs should be considered one of the favorites for the region three championship this season and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2009 and expect to be included again when November rolls around.

       The Bulldogs open the 2018 season on the road against non-region opponent Callaway GA on Friday, August 24.

       Opelika and Callaway GA have met a total of 5 times on the football field. The Bulldogs have a 3-2-0 record against Callaway GA. They last met in with

       Opelika returns 6A All-State  offensive lineman James Dawson. He was named to the second team last season.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Spence McCracken won a record 21 Area/Region Championships at Montgomery Academy, Lee Montgomery and Opelika during his coaching career.