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Opp stops Andy’s playoff hopes
Wins first round of playoffs 21-16, will host Jackson next week
Published Saturday, November 7, 2009
Photo by Andrew Garner
Andalusia senior Unricka Jenkins is consoled by a fan after his team’s 21-16 loss to Opp Friday night.
Opp took advantage of Andalusia’s penalties and turnovers to eke out a 21-16 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday night in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs at Channel-Lee Stadium in Opp.
A week earlier, Andalusia claimed the end-of-the-regular-season win by defeating the Bobcats 24-12.
“I know our kids played hard this whole game,” Andalusia coach Brian Seymore said. “I want to congratulate Coach Whigham, his staff and his players. They did an outstanding job.”
At halftime Friday, Opp led 7-0, gaining momentum early in the first quarter when Opp’s Devin Davis intercepted a pass from Andalusia’s Deion Akins, and then ran the ball from 46 yards out for the touchdown.
Photo by Andrew Garner
Andalusia’s Keontae Freeney (52) blocks Opp’s Gavin Free as T.K. Bullard runs the ball behind Andalusia’s Johnny Jones.
When asked how his team pulled out the win, Opp coach Jack Whigham said it was due to his players’ efforts.
“The kids just kept playing hard,” Whigham said. “Our defense just played outstanding. They kept us in the game in the first half, and offensively, we were able to put some things together in the second half.
“Our kids showed a lot of heart (Friday night),” he said. “We told the kids before the game that it was going to be a ‘heart’ game.”
Opp senior running back Josh Scarbrough said after the game that he has never seen his team play like they did Friday night.
“I ain’t never felt nothing like this,” Scarbrough said. “We played with so much heart. We have never played with that much heart.”
Scarbrough said the main “difference” between this week and last week was the execution on both sides of the ball.
“We focused and finished, focused and finished,” he said.
Akins threw two interceptions on the night. His second came in the last play of the fourth quarter when the ball went into the hands of Tyler Harrison.
Andalusia held Opp to three-and-out on the Bobcats’ first possession of the game, before recovering a fumble at their own 18-yard line.
It was a defensive first half of the game, with each team nearly equaling offensive yardage.
Andalusia had a total of 83 yards and Opp had 84.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Opp’s Gavin Free handed the ball off to Richard Davis, who then threw the ball for an interception to Andalusia’s Kenneth Chambers.
Fouls plagued Andalusia’s offense on its next possession.
Opp (7-4) managed to get in field goal range from 8 yards out, but Hunter Jones missed his attempt.
Jones’ second miss came at the end of the first half from 28 yards out to keep the score at 7-0.
Andalusia (6-5) regrouped and came out in the third quarter to gain its first lead over Opp on a 10-play, 74-yard drive by T.K. Bullard.
“Andalusia has an outstanding team,” Whigham said. “They’re very well-coached, they have tremendous players and they played their hearts out. I congratulate them on a great season and we were fortunate enough to win the game.”
At the 6-yard line, Bullard rushed in for his team’s first touchdown. He finished the drive on a 3-yard two-point conversion.
Opp’s Josh Scarbrough answered Andalusia’s touchdown on his team’s next possession and ran the ball in 65 yards to give his team a seven-point edge with a successful two-point attempt.
Opp scored its final touchdown of the night near the mid-point of the fourth quarter on a 36-yard pass from Gavin Free to Josh Thompson. The extra point was no good to put the score at 21-8.
Andalusia had some more life left one minute later in the game when Akins connected with Derrick King for a 79-yard touchdown pass. Bullard drove in the two-point conversion to score the final points for his team’s season.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Seymore said. “I’m proud of what they did this year. I’m proud of the senior group. They really stuck together and I think they really got us back pointed in the right direction. I love each and every one of them and I appreciate all of the effort they gave this year.
“We’re going to move forward and it’s very, very disappointing and very, very bittersweet. Our hats are off to coach Whigham and his staff. They did a tremendous job. I’ll miss these seniors, but we’ve got to get back in the weight room and get ready for next year.”
Opp’s Josh Scarbrough led in rushing with 15 carries for 89 yards and had one touchdown; and Richard Davis rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries.
In passing, Opp’s Gavin Free was 6-for-7 for 103 yards and one touchdown.
Andalusia’s T.K. Bullard had 18 carries for 96 yards and one touchdown; Marcus Jones rushed for 47 yards on 10 carries; and Deion Akins had one touchdown.
Opp will host Jackson next Friday night in the second round of the state playoffs.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Comments
Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 2:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go, BOBCATS!!!!
Posted by skydog (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's great to be a "OPP BOBCAT "
Posted by ahsgradaufan (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's even better to be an ANDY BULLDOG! Good Season Andy.
Posted by RTR (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea Bobcats!
Posted by austin316dta (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 3:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's great to be an Opp Bobcat. 21-16!!!
Posted by andyfan1 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone who has posted "Go Bobcats" seems to forget that Andy beat you last week. You also fail to realize that Jackson will run over you. So congratulations you made it one round, to fall this Friday. The only reason you made it this far was because of the refs.
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really laughed now that I heard that Jackson called our coaches and said that we need to send our game film to Montgomery to AHSAA to let them see it. They said it was the WORST officiated game ever seen. I hope coach sends it in.
Jackson will beat Opp by at least 50 points.
Posted by mbishop (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea Jackson will beat Opp unless an upsets in the works but, you can't say officals cheated when you use state officals.
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
State officials weren't used.
Posted by killadilla2009 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
andyforlife: get some knowledge of State Playoffs or GET OFF THE BOARD!!! The State assigns officials for ALL playoff games. Yeah Jackson will beat Opp but Opp kept Andaloser from advancing!!!
Posted by spifsmom (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
killadilla....no need to get ugly. andyforlife wasn't ugly. Opp will get beat by Jackson. If there is bad officiating like Round 1 for the AHS v Opp game, Jackson is good enough to beat the officials as well, if you get my meaning. (They'll score and then some.)
I'm an AHS fan, and we all know Jackson would have beat us, too. The problem is, the officials were awful, and the game was unfairly called. That is not saying anything against Opp, it's the officials who kept a really good game from happening.
Be a fan, but don't be hateful. Please.
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Killadilla: Just for your information: I have a cousin that has several officiating crews that he is in charge of out of Troy, AL. They were at their regular schools calling the games, those that played at home in the first round. They rotate among several schools throughout the year. I think he has 3 crews going. Anyway, as of Monday, he did not know where they would be sent this Friday.
So, please find your facts out before jumping on other people's case.
I know you are upset because the dreaded defeat that will be delivered to your team on Friday. The other thing is, the zebras will not be able to help you Friday.
Let me know where you will be sitting at the game Friday night, and I will come sit by you. I will be pulling for the Bobcats Friday night. I am an alumni from Opp.
Good luck.
Posted by pre_girl (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on folks. We need good sportsmanship from the fans of your respective teams as well. I am an alumni from Andalusia and I heard about that game. Not really sure what happened b/c I wasn't there. At any rate, Andalusia suffered a loss to Opp. Many people are/were upset. That game is in the past. Look forward to meeting them again on the field next year. Congrats to the Opp Bobcats and as ALWAYS.......GO DAWGS!!! WE ARE STILL PROUD OF YOU. :)
Posted by ahsgradaufan (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First off, I officiate. There are no such things as "state officials" that work on the field. State officials are observers that grade the crew on how well they call. The state sends district directors a list of say 6 games and then the district director assigns them to an association. The association then decides who to send to what games they are given.
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I cant believe this is the same Andalusia High School Bulldogs that once won 57 games in a row whining and mully grubbing about gettin cheated by the refs.
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Biscuits...apparently you weren't at the ballgame. I saw the game film tonight. Awful. The Jackson coaches called the state and said they would not play if the Dothan officiating crew was going to be there. Which, by the way, is the group Opp uses. But that apparently doesn't matter.
Posted by killadilla2009 (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The last time I looked Andaloser STILL WAS NOT GOING to the second round of the playoffs. Andyfor life: I will be sitting on the Opp side, 50 yard line, 4 rows down from the top, wearing a blue sweater. Please come join me as we watch Jackson beat Opp.
Posted by ahsgradaufan (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Killadilla, Andaloser really? Thats original. Thats like me saying slopp. I suggest you park near the stadium gate because you'll want to be leaving that 50 yard line seat at the start of the second quarter. As a matter of fact, Id bet the bank the only thing yall win Friday night might be the coin toss.
Posted by MoreCowBell (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From a Andy fan, congratulations to Opp and good luck.
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Killa, oh, we will be there. A bunch of us. :)
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, one more thing, you must have been sitting in the "reserved" section. What there was at least 10 people in that section? LOL.
Posted by oldoppfan (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Andyforlife, apparently you have been rejected in some manner by Opp. As you have seen fit to become an Andalusia Bulldog, I'm sure everyone in Opp wishes you well.
As for the officiating, perhaps you should review the game films from both Opp games. It's obvious that calls that should have been made in the first game weren't made and the calls made in the second game were accurate.
I also find it hard to believe that Jackson "refuses to play" under any circumstances....
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep. That's it, I am rejected from Opp.
I did review both game films. Did you?
And yes, Jackson did call the state and said they would not play if the same officials from Dothan would be there. We have a good relationship with the coaches from Jackson, and that is what they told us on Saturday after reviewing the game film.
I am done. Good luck to Opp Friday night. I will be pulling for you.
Posted by truthteacher (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, this was a tough game that could have went either way. What if all of those that are whining and complaining along with the rest of our community would get this fired up over going to church and promoting God and salvation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by MoreCowBell (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
truthteacher, you are right. I love football about as much as anyone but in the end, it is just a game.
Posted by killadilla2009 (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Andyforlife: It's ONE MORE coin toss than Anderloser will have, now isn't it? Thought so!!! And by the way,there are no RESERVED SEATS in a State Playoff game, one may sit where they please, including you Einstein!!!
Posted by bulldogfan4ever (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well while everyone else is speaking out, i will to. I was also at the game like other people, and some people say the reason Andalusia lost was because of the refs, but even so, you still have to give these kids credit for playing their hearts out the entire night and not giving up, they did what they could,and I think we need to stop arguing about why we lost and look forward to the future of andalusia football, because the team is just going to get better from here on out, and killadilla, could you be anymore rude. I mean, Andaloser? Come on, man, have some class
Posted by odubstandup (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah we are goin to the second round and what are yall doin?? Practicing basketball?? Jackson hasnt called the state and said send the film to AHSAA.. Jay wise went to andalusia because he couldnt make it through spring training in Opp but yet he was supposed to be going to Florida State to play football... Yeah right that dude wasnt even good
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And how do you know odub? They DID call the state. I don't know if they sent the game film up, but they did call them and complained of the biased officiating and requested those officials not to be allowed to call the game tonight.
And about Jay Wise, he was very smart to come to help Andalusia this year. Very nice young gentleman. Very nice parents. I wish him the best as he is starting school at North Alabama and actually will be helping Terry Bowden and staff out on the sidelines next season.
I don't know anything about his playing ability, but he is a super young man. Looking forward to following his coaching career.
And we are practicing basketball over here in Andalusia. Probably will make another round to the Final Four again. Looking forward to it.
Again, good luck tonight.
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