Callaway Falls to Opelika in OT

By JOHN KUYKENDALL
The Callaway High Cavalier football team attempted a two point conversion in overtime that would have won the game against the Opelika High Bulldogs last week, but the attempt was short and the Bulldogs returned home with a 36-35 victory.
This year’s game was no different that any other contest between the two teams. It was very physical and close throughout the game.
The Cavaliers drew first blood forced a Bulldog three and out and them taking the punt and driving down the field to score. Senior quarterback Blake Harrington drove in from 2-yards out to give the Cavaliers the lead. Jaidyn Bailey made the score 7-0 when his point after attempt split the uprights.
The Bulldogs fired back and score but missed the point after attempt and the Cavaliers held onto a slim 7-6 lead.
A little later in the second quarter, Bailey gave the Cavaliers a 10-6 lead with a 23-yard field goal.
Jeremiah Dunn gave the Cavaliers halted a Opelika scoring drive when he picked off a Bulldog pass on the 15-yard line and the Callaway offense began moving the football. However, the Bulldog defense returned the favor and scored on a 50-yard pick six to take a 13-10 lead.
The Cavalier offense went to work on the return kick and mounted a 91-yard drive to score. Callaway capped the drive when Harrington connected with Dunn on a 40-yard pass. Bailey’s second kick was true and the Cavaliers had regained the lead with the score standing at 17-13.
With about nine minutes left to play in the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored on a 22-yard field goal to cut the Callaway lead to 17-16.
The Cavaliers put together another long scoring drive on the return kick. Callaway drove 80-yards in seven plays and capped the drive with another Harrington touchdown pass. This time he found JD Strong from 11-yards out and the Cavaliers had take a 23-16 lead.
The Bulldogs fired back and put together a scoring drive of their own and capped the drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass with about 10 minutes left to play in regulation. The Bulldogs added the point after attempt and the game score was tied at 23-23.
It seemed the Cavaliers might end the game with just over two minutes left to play in regulation when Harrington came through on his second running touchdown of the night. He darted through the Bulldog defense to score from 31-yards out and gave the Cavaliers a 29-23 lead.
The Bulldogs battled back and drove down field to score with :48 left to play on a 28-yard pass. Opelika had a chance to end the game with an extra point, but the kick failed and the score was tied again at 29-29.
In the overtime period, the Bulldogs had first possession and scored to take a 36-29 lead.
The Cavaliers battled back again and it was Harrington’s arm that came into play when he connected with Kaiden James on a 15-yard strike. The Cavaliers went for the win on a two point conversion play that failed and the Bulldogs earned a slim 36-35 victory.
Tomorrow night, Sept. 5, the Cavaliers will travel to Adel to play the Cook County High Yellow Jackets. Kickoff time is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Cavaliers will enter the game with a 0-2 record. The Yellow Jackets are 2-0 and coming off an impressive 22-6 victory over the Bainbridge Bearcats.