REGION PLAY IS HEATING UP: Bobcats gear up for battle with Raiders

Published 12:05 am Thursday, September 12, 2019

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The Opp Bobcats (1-1, 1-0) look to keep things rolling as they prepare to take on the Houston Academy Raiders (1-1, 0-1) on Friday in Dothan.

Opp leads the series 2-1, but lost last year’s game 52-0.

Opp won the 2017 contest 30-19.

Opp won the 2016 contest 55-0.

The Bobcats opened the season with a 36-34 loss to a tough Elba team.

Opp battled back last week to knock off the Straughn Tigers 35-12 in the first Class 3A, Region 2 contest of the year.

Through the first two games of the season, the Bobcats have put up good numbers.

Quarterback Hal Smithart is 28-for-51 for 468 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Smithart has also rushed 19 times for 51 yards and one touchdown.

Running back Ashton Patel has been a workhorse for the Bobcats.

Patel has rushed 39 times for 242 yards and four touchdowns. He has also caught three passes for 98 yards.

Erik Matthews has been big at wide receiver.

Matthews has caught six passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Lane Ballard has caught eight passes for 99 yards.

Zee Ridgeway and Curt Zorn have each caught one touchdown.

On defense, James and Dakota Cornelius have been big for Opp.

J. Cornelius has 20 total tackles.

D. Cornelius has 11 total tackles and two sacks.

Thomas Glisson has 20 total tackles and one interception.

Robbie Gafford has 17 total tackles and one sack.

Opp has scored 69 points this season and has given up 48 points.

Houston Academy also comes into the game with a 1-1 record.

The Raiders were able to slip past the McKenzie Tigers 28-21 in week one.

Last week in their first Class 3A, Region 2 match, Houston Academy lost to Pike County 50-0.

Houston Academy has scored 28 points and have given up 71 points.

Opp and Houston Academy are set for a 7 p.m., kickoff Friday in Dothan.