This Friday night, high school football fans in Alabama will have all eyes on Lee County as the Central-Phenix City Red Devils take on the Opelika Bulldogs in the CM Gridiron Game of the Week. This matchup promises to be a thrilling showdown between two top contenders in Class 7A, Region 2.
The Central-Phenix City Red Devils, led by head coach Patrick Nix, are coming off a narrow 31-26 victory over the 7th ranked Carver-Montgomery Wolverines. The defending Class 7A Champions come into the showdown with a 6-1 record overall, with a 4-1 mark in region play. Notably, the powerful Devil offense has been on fire, scoring a staggering 330 points across seven games. This includes two explosive outings where they put up over 60 points, and they’ve consistently scored at least 30 points in every game. On the defensive side, they have limited opponents to 161 points.
On the other side of the field, the Opelika Bulldogs, under the guidance of first-year head coach Bryan Moore, are ridding a five-game winning streak. Since their close 28-21 defeat to arch rival and No. 1 ranked Auburn in week two, the Bulldogs have been on a roll. They have tallied 288 points this season while their robust defense has allowed only 101 points. Impressively, they have held six of their eight opponents to two scores or less.
The stakes are high for both teams as they vie for the upper hand in securing the No. 2 spot in Class 7A, Region 2, with just two weeks left before the playoffs. Both teams share a common adversary in the undefeated Auburn Tigers, who handed each their sole loss of the season in closely fought contests.
Adding to the intrigue, this game is steeped in history. The rivalry between these two east Alabama powerhouses dates back to 1928, having been played 81 times. Central-Phenix City currently holds the edge in the series with a 48-33 all-time record.
The big question remains—will the high-scoring Red Devil offense be able to break through the stingy Bulldog defense? With significant playoff implications on the line, this matchup is set to deliver yet another classic showdown in their storied rivalry.
