No. 3 Auburn Claws Past Rival Opelika 31-30
Opelika, AL – In a thrilling Class 7A, Region 2 showdown, the third-ranked Auburn Tigers (6-1, 4-1) secured a hard-fought 31-30 victory over arch rival Opelika (3-4, 3-2) Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
Auburn quarterback Henry Allen shined for head coach Keith Etheredge’s Tigers displaying impressive poise and determination throughout the contest. He not only contributed 50 yards on the ground but also delivered a noteworthy passing performance, punctuated by 179 yards through the air in the second half. This turnaround in the passing game played a pivotal role in Auburn’s comeback.
Tigers’ tight end Griffin McLean emerged as a key figure when the pressure was at its peak. The senior stepped up when it counted most, securing the game-tying fourth quarter touchdown.
Auburn’s offense faced a formidable challenge from their Lee County rivals, who managed to force punts on five of the Tigers’ first six drives. This early adversity showed that Auburn needed a game-changer to turn the tide in their favor, and they found it in the second half.
With less than three minutes remaining on the clock and trailing by six, Auburn embarked on their final drive. The initial two plays resulted in first downs, but the subsequent two made minimal progress. In a critical moment, Auburn High faced a third-and-ten situation but committed an unfortunate offsides penalty, pushing them back to their own 45-yard line.
However, in a turn of fortune, Allen connected with Omar Mabson, resulting in a crucial 37-yard gain moving the Tigers in prime pouncing position inside Bulldog territory. Mabson continued to grind it out on the ground, gaining seven yards on first down, followed by back-to-back runs of two yards a piece for a Tigers first down. With the goal line in sight, Allen, took it upon himself, gaining two yards on first down and an additional yard on the next play, putting the ball at the Opelika five yard line.
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This relentless drive forced Opelika to call a timeout after Allen’s second run. Following the timeout, Opelika’s defense stepped up, swatting away an Allen pass into the endzone, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth-and-goal situation with only thirty ticks left on the clock.
Etheredge called his final timeout to draw up what would be the game winner. Allen executed a rollout to the right before abruptly turning left, spotting Griffin McLean who was strategically positioned just outside the numbers. McLean, found an open lane, secured the crucial four yards needed to level the score at 30 a piece. All that remained was for kicker Towns McGough to split the uprights, sealing the victory and giving the clutch kicker his second career game-winning boot.
Looking ahead, Auburn will enjoy a well-deserved week off before gearing up for a pivotal Region 2 showdown against top-ranked Central-Phenix City (6-0, 5-0) at Duck Samford Stadium. Opelika will look to rebound with a road trip to winless Smith’s Station (0-6, 0-4).
