PREP CAPSULES: Opelika, Central face off in key contest

Editor’s Note: This is the final in a series of a stories previewing tonight’s high school football games. Today, Class 6A-5A.

While the battle between Auburn and Smiths Station has the week’s top billing, there’s nothing small about Opelika hosting Central.

Granted, the game lost a bit of luster with Central dropping two surprising games and Opelika coming off a loss. But the game still looms large as it has major Class 6A-Region 3 implications on the line.

Opelika dropped from No. 5 to No. 9 in the latest ASWA high school poll after falling last week to Class 5A Vigor, 38-34.

But the Bulldogs remain unbeaten in Region play with a perfect 3-0 mark.

Central is also coming off a non-Region loss, falling to Stanhope Elmore last week, 44-30. Central, though, already has a Region loss — a 21-14 loss to Northview in Week 3.

An Opelika victory tonight will leave the Bulldogs in a two-way tie atop the Region 3 standings with the winner between Auburn and Smiths Station.

A loss, however, will mean a logjam of three teams in the 2, 3 and 4 spots, with Central having the tiebreaker over Opelika.

In other words, tonight is not the time to have an off night if you’re either team.

For Opelika, junior Corey Grant continues his solid start to the year.

So far he’s rushed for 302 yards and eight touchdowns — a team-best in both.

He’s also second on the team in receiving yards (134) with a touchdown.

Then you add in his explosiveness on special teams, where he averages 40 yards a punt return and has scored twice.

Opelika’s solid defense, led by senior linebacker Josh Rowe (team-best 51 tackles), will get a big test from an experienced Central team.

The Red Devils are led offensively by highly-touted running back Orwin Smith, while quarterback Darren Daniel has played well enough to take some pressure off Smith.

Class 5A
Beauregard (3-2) at Charles Henderson (3-2)
Beauregard got itself back on the winning track last week with a 27-20 win over Holtville.

But that was a non-region matchup.

In their last 5A-Region 2 game, the Hornets fell to Eufaula — so a win tonight is vitally important to remain among the league’s top four teams.

Along with a solid Charles Henderson team, another obstacle the Hornets must overcome is playing in a much larger stadium than it’s accustomed to — Troy’s Movie Gallery Stadium.

Valley (4-1) at Eufaula (3-2)
At the beginning of the season, Eufaula was the state’s sportswriters pick to win the Class 5A state title.

That doesn’t look so likely now, as injuries have plagued Eufaula all year. The Tigers narrowly beat BTW before losing to Tallassee. And after falling last week to Enterprise, the Tigers are no longer in the Class 5A Top 10.

Valley has gone in the opposite direction.

The Rams sit alone atop the 5A-Region 2 standings and are coming off a solid beat down of rival Lanett, 35-12. The Rams’ only loss came in the season’s opening week to Class 6A Auburn.

Carroll (3-2) at Tallassee (4-1)
Another team quietly putting together a stellar season is Tallassee.

In his second year at the helm, Rodney Dollar has transformed the Tigers into real contenders with an offense that’s been piling up the points.

Carroll-Ozark got a narrow win over 6A Dothan last week, but have just one region win to its credit so far, but that came against 0-3 BTW.

Rehobeth (1-4) at BTW (1-4)
This will be a battle to see who steps away from the bottom of 5A-Region 2.

Both teams are winless in league play and have just one victory on the year.

BTW, though, did put a major scare in then No. 1 Eufaula earlier this season, but have struggled since.

tpeavy@oanow.com | 737-2568