Opelika overwhelms Northview

OPELIKA — Opelika’s offense didn’t score a point in the second half.

It didn’t matter, however, as the Bulldog defense was in complete control over Northview in Friday night’s 31-7 win at Bulldog Stadium.

Opelika (5-2, 3-2 Class 6A-Region 3) gave up just 143 yards of total offense in the win, and just seven first downs. Out of the 63 second-half yards for the Cougars, 46 came on the final drive against second-and third-team Bulldogs.

“Man, they played well,” Opelika head coach Brian Blackmon said of his defense. “We were able to keep them off the field in the first half, and then we stopped them in the second.”

In the first half, Northview’s offense had just two first downs, 25 yards rushing and 55 yards passing.

The only points the Cougars (2-5, 1-4) were able to get came from their defense when Jeremy Buckley picked up a Terrance Spinks fumble and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown four minutes into the second quarter.

That would be the longest play Northview would have all night.

Opelika’s offense also had trouble coming up with the big play. But stout defense and key plays by their special teams gave the Bulldogs an early lead, allowing them to cruise to their fifth win.

Junior Paul Rowe put Opelika on the board first with a 46-yard punt return for a touchdown with 5:23 to play in the first quarter. It was Northview’s second consecutive punt on its second consecutive three-and-out.

After the Bulldogs forced another three-and-out, the Opelika offense went to work, getting the ball back on the Cougars’ 31-yard line. Five plays later, the Bulldogs were in the end zone. Cameron Hill, a sophomore, went off left tackle for a 20-yard score with two minutes to play in the opening quarter.

Hill, who finished with 13 rushes for 79 yards, got a bulk of the carries for Opelika. Quite the change from the norm, as senior Alabama commitment Corey Grant played mostly in the slot for the Bulldogs.

Grant ran the ball seven times for 57 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 59-yard run for a score called back because of a holding penalty.

“We just decided to make an adjustment and move Corey around, just so they wouldn’t be able to key on him every play,” Blackmon said. “I thought Cameron Hill had a great game for us.”

Opelika was driving on its next possession, but that’s when Buckley was in the right place at the right time to return the fumble for a score to cut the Bulldogs’ lead in half, 14-7.

But the Cougars’ momentum didn’t last long as Hill returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards. Add a 15-yard horse collar penalty to the end of the run, and Opelika had it first-and-10 at the Northview 12-yard line. Two plays later, Rowe scored from 10 yards out.

Grant would add Opelika’s final touchdown of the night on the Bulldogs’ next possession, and then Taylor Daniel added a 37-yard field goal with 2.4 seconds left before halftime to give the home team a 31-7 lead into the break.

And that’s where the score stayed, much to Blackmon’s dismay.

“I was disappointed in the second half — the way we finished,” Blackmon said. “I thought we lacked some intensity there. Our job is to play four quarters. We’re going to have to continue to work on that.”

Opelika finished with 285 yards of total offense, with quarterback Dalton Pritchett, who split time with fellow sophomore Braden Rogers, threw for 106 yards, going 7-for-13 with an interception.

Northview quarterback B.J. Chitty was 11-for-21 for 86 yards and an interception.

Opelika will travel to Smiths Station next Friday for another big Region 3 matchup.