PREP FOOTBALL: Auburn High takes most lopsided win over Opelika in 30 years

On Oct. 27, 2006, Opelika blew out Auburn High on its home field.

It might have taken them three years, but the Tigers returned the favor Friday night.

Auburn, ranked No. 1 in the state, used a 20-point third quarter to hang a 41-15 victory on its rival Opelika at Bulldog Stadium, reaffirming its top billing and throwing the Bulldogs’ postseason hopes into jeopardy.

It was the most lopsided victory for the Tigers against the Bulldogs since a 29-0 win in 1979.

“That’s not a bad Opelika team,” Auburn coach Tim Carter said. “It’ll run in cycles. They’ve got good groups coming, and so do we. So it’s always gonna be a battle.

“We just played a little better tonight.”

Auburn (9-0, 7-0) and Opelika (6-3, 4-3) played almost even in the first half, with the exception of two huge hitters for the Tigers.

The first came on a third-and-21 at the end of the first quarter, when Calvin Jenkins found Jason Webb down the visiting sideline for an 80-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers up 7-0.

Opelika had a chance to tie on its next drive, with big runs by Cameron Hill and Paul Rowe setting up a first-and-goal at the 1. Corey Grant was injured in the first quarter and didn’t play the rest of the game.

But a 6-yard loss, a fumble that put the Bulldogs back 14 more and a false start made it fourth-and-goal from the 26, and JaMichael Payne got one of his big hands on Taylor Daniel’s field goal attempt.

Two drives later, Jenkins busted a 47-yard run on the first play, and Augustus Brooks punched it in from 3 yards out five plays later to put Auburn up 14 at the half.

“It wasn’t easy early on,” Carter said. “Opelika played well early, gave us some challenges. But our kids just bowed their neck a little bit, showed a lot of class. We just kind of took the game over at the start of the third quarter.”

That’s an understatement.

Auburn’s defense allowed Opelika only 20 yards in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Auburn’s offense was wrecking shop.

Brooks capped off an eight-play drive with a 5-yard run to put Auburn up 20. On the next drive, another big strike from Jenkins to Desmond Purter set up another Brooks touchdown run. Then, on the first play of the Bulldogs’ next drive, Jadez Menifee caused a fumble that Julian Holloway scooped up and took 21 yards to the house to give Auburn a 34-0 lead.

At that point, the fourth quarter was just for show.

“I thought our defense — Coach (Anthony) Jeter and his staff — they played phenomenal,” Carter said, before listing the names of most of his defensive starters. “I’m just so proud of what our kids have accomplished.”

Opelika scored twice in the fourth quarter — on runs by Cameron Hill and Braden Rogers — against the Tigers’ second-team defense.

Frustration also got the best of some of the Bulldogs’ players, and two were ejected.

“We got whipped by a good football team,” Opelika coach Brian Blackmon said. “They just outplayed us. They’re a better football team than we are.”

Brooks finished with 128 yards and three scores on 18 carries, and Jenkins completed 5-of-8 passes for 176 yards — with 101 going to Webb — and an uncharacteristic two interceptions.

With wins by Dothan and Enterprise, Opelika drops into a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots in the region, one that won’t be resolved until the Cougars and Tigers play their 10th games. The Bulldogs are off next week.

Paul Rowe rushed for 149 yards on 13 carries for Opelika, and Hill added 82 yards on 14 carries.

For a team that at one time lost nine straight to the Bulldogs, Friday night had to serve as a bit of redemption.

“That’s coming to an end,” Payne said. “Two straight seasons, undefeated regular seasons, region championships ... unbelievable.

“That’s all I can say. Unbelievable.”

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