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






2023 Team Previews 

  


Opelika Bulldogs

Head Coach: Erik Speakman (sixth season)
Career Record: 5 seasons, (41-19)
At Opelika: 5 seasons, (41-19)
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium
2022 Enrollment:  1,130
Rank:  28th in the AHSAA, 28th in Class 7A

 History 
Overall Record:   603-409-18   (60.0%)
Last 25 years:   231-72   (76.0%)  (Rank: 10th in the AHSAA, 2nd in Class 7A)
Since 2010:   113-45  (71.5%)  (Rank: 31st in the AHSAA, 4th in Class 7A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2021
Last Region Championship:   2021
Last Winning Season:   2022
Last Losing Season:   1995

 2022 
Class:  7A              Region:   2
Record:  5-5
Region Record:   4-4, (sixth)
Playoff Record:   Did not qualify.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  258 (25.8)
Defense:  222 (22.2)


 2023 
Class: 7A              Region:   2
Strength of Schedule: 73-46 (61%) (12th in the AHSAA, 4th in Class 7A)
Region Strength:  49-42 (54%)
Non-Region Strength:  24-4 (86%)



 2022 Results 
 8/19  @ Callaway GA    29-28   W  
 8/26  vs. Jeff Davis   *  35-14   W  
 9/2  @ Lee Montgomery   *  51-7   W  
 9/9  vs. Central Phenix City  (7A)  *  17-14   W (OT) 
 9/16  @ Prattville  (7A)  *  21-24   L (OT) 
 9/23  vs. Theodore  (6A)   24-34   L  
 9/30  @ Auburn  (7A)  *  29-51   L  
 10/7  vs. Smiths Station  (7A)  *  31-14   W  
 10/14  vs. Enterprise  (7A)  *  14-22   L  
 10/21  @ Dothan High  (7A)  *  7-14   L  
 10/28   OPEN 

 2023 Schedule 
 8/25   Thompson  (7A)       
 8/31  @ J.A.G.  (7A)  *      
 9/8  vs. Percy Julian  (7A)  *      
 9/15  @ Central Phenix City  (7A)  *      
 9/22  vs. Prattville  (7A)  *      
 9/29  @ Theodore  (6A)       
 10/6  vs. Auburn  (7A)  *      
 10/13  @ Smiths Station  (7A)  *      
 10/19  @ Enterprise  (7A)  *      
 10/27  vs. Dothan High  (7A)  *      
 11/3   OPEN 


Class  7A Region  2
Team 2022 Record Region Scoring                            
Central Phenix City (7A) 10-3 7-1461-209
Auburn (7A) 12-2 7-1510-272
Enterprise (7A) 8-4 5-3394-272
Dothan High (7A) 8-4 5-3388-324
Prattville (7A) 6-4 4-4296-223
Opelika (7A) 5-5 4-4258-222
J.A.G. (7A) 3-7 2-6176-294
Jeff Davis (7A) 3-7 2-6176-294
Smiths Station (7A) 1-9 1-7189-427
Percy Julian (7A) 1-9 1-7154-372

 2023 Preview 


       Opelika completed the 2022 season with a 5-5 record. Last year Opelika finished sixth in Class 7A region two with a 4-4 region record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

       Since 2010, Opelika has gone a combined 113-45. Their 71.5% winning percentage ranks 4th in Class 7A over the past thirteen seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Opelika has finished a combined 231-72. Their 76.0% winning percentage ranks 2nd in Class 7A and 10th in the AHSAA. The Bulldogs have been successful on the football field with twenty-five winning seasons during this time. Their last losing season was 1995.




       The Bulldogs are led by head coach Erik Speakman who is entering his sixth season at the helm. He has compiled a record of 41-19 over the past five seasons at Opelika. Under his direction the Bulldogs have qualified for the playoffs a total of four times. They have won three region crowns with Coach Speakman.

       The Bulldogs have one of the toughest schedules in the state this season. Their non-region opponents finished 24-4 last year. The Bulldogs have one of the toughest overall schedules in Class 7A. Their opponents had a combined record of 73-46 last season. That ranks 4th in Class 7A and 12th in the AHSAA.

       The Bulldogs could find themselves challenging for one of the playoff spots for region two this season with a few breaks and a little improvement. Opelika came up short of the playoffs last year but are optimistic of a return to the post season this year.

      The Bulldogs will be young on defense but experienced as the secondary returns with their starters all intact.

      Returning quarterback Roman Gagliano will lead the offense in 2023. He completed 129 of 228 passes for 1,488 yards and 16 touchdowns in 10 games. He also rushed for three scores.

       The Bulldogs open the 2023 season on a neutral field against non-region opponent Thompson on Friday, August 25 at Cramton Bowl. Last year the Thompson Warriors finished with an overall record of 11-3 and in second place in Class 7A region three. The Warriors won the Class 7A State Championship last season when they defeated Auburn by a score of 49-24 in the Super Seven finals in Auburn.

       This will be the second meeting between Opelika and Thompson on the football field. The Bulldogs have a 0-1-0 record against the Warriors. They last met in with

       Opelika lost 7A All-State  defensive lineman Brenton Williams to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating was teammate punter Roman Gagliano.

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Clay County shutout an amazing eleven opponents in 1996. The Panthers outscored their opponents 613-42 finishing the season 15-0.