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| Opelika Bulldogs |
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Head Coach: Caleb Ross (first season) Stadium: Bulldog Stadium Career Record: 4 seasons, (32-16) At Opelika: First season 2017 Enrollment: 905 Rank: 48th in the AHSAA, 16th in Class 6A |
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Overall Record: 553-386-18 (59.0%) Last 25 years: 232-75 (76.0%) (Rank: 9th in the AHSAA, 3rd in Class 6A) Since 2010: 63-22 (74.0%) (Rank: 33rd in the AHSAA, 9th in Class 6A) Last Playoff Appearance: 2016 Last Region Championship: 2016 Last Winning Season: 2016 Last Losing Season: 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 6A
Region: 3
Record: 13-2 (Team record for wins in a season) Region Record: 6-0, (first) Playoff Record: Lost in the Class 6A State Championship game to Ramsay at the Alabama Super Seven 21-16 in Auburn. Final ASWA Poll: 3rd Scoring: 540 (36.0) Defense: 234 (15.6) College Signees lost to Graduation Will Boler, DB [UAB] Rakevius Chambers, OL [Duke] Caleb Florence, TE [Austin Peay] Jaleel Heard, WR [Jacksonville St.] John David Worth, QB [Jacksonville] Zack Yancey, LB [E. Tenn. St.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class: 6A
Region: 3
Strength of Schedule: 52-56 (48%) (231st in the AHSAA, 44th in Class 6A) Region Strength: 27-36 (43%) Non-Region Strength: 25-20 (56%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Opelika completed the 2016 season with a 13-2 record. Last year Opelika captured the region three title and a number one seed in the Class 6A playoffs. They finished region play with a 6-0 record. The Bulldogs won four consecutive playoff games to reach the Class 6A State Championship game only to fall just short of claiming a title. They were defeated by Ramsay at the Alabama Super Seven 21-16 in Auburn. No team at Opelika ever won more games in a season than the thirteen victories last year. Over the past two seasons the Bulldogs have gone 25-3 and will be looking to continue that winning tradition. Since 2010, Opelika has gone a combined 63-22. Their 74.0% winning percentage ranks 9th in Class 6A over the past seven seasons. Over the past 25 seasons, Opelika has gone a combined 232-75. Their 76.0% winning percentage ranks 3rd in Class 6A and 9th 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. Brian Blackmon resigned his position as head football coach and athletic director at Opelika in February. His eight seasons at the school produced a 69-25 record. Twice Blackmon led the Bulldogs to the state championship game only to fall to Hoover in the finals. After just three seasons at McGill-Toolen, Caleb Ross moves on to Opelika. He led the Yellow Jackets to their best season in school history with a 13-1 record and a state championship in 2015. A graduate of Prattville, he was also the head coach at Thompson for one year (2011) with a 2-8 record. Coach Ross' overall record as a head football coach in four season stands at 32-16 (66.7%). Over the course of his career, Coach Ross' teams have qualified for the playoffs a total of two times and won two region championships. Coach Ross won a state championship at in 2015. The Opelika Bulldogs will play in Class 6A region three during the 2017 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. Don't be surprised if the Bulldogs are making another deep run into the playoffs. The Bulldogs have successfully qualified for the playoffs every year since 2009 and expect to be included again when November rolls around. Senior Conner Smith returns after rushing for 354 yards on 44 carries and scoring 4 touchdowns. Senior Jorden Heard also returns after catching 39 passes for 518 yards and 5 touchdowns. The defense returns Senior defensive end Jackson Talik who got in on 90 tackles and 17 sacks along with Senior free safety Jamias Presley who registered 73 tackles and 4 interceptions last season. The Bulldogs open the 2017 season on the road against non-region opponent Smiths Station on Friday, August 25 at Panther Stadium. Last year the Smiths Station Panthers finished with an overall record of 2-8 and in sixth place in Class 7A region two. Opelika and Smiths Station have met a total of 25 times on the football field. The Bulldogs have a 23-2-0 record against the Panthers. They last met in 2013 with Smiths Station winning by a score of 3-0. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Since 1966 the Colbert County Indians have made the state playoffs a record 37 times.
Since 1966 the Colbert County Indians have made the state playoffs a record 37 times.
