SPANISH FORT, Ala. — A second-half rally by the Toros went well, until it didn’t. The Bulldogs capitalized and retook their final lead to the wire and a 21-17 win at Spanish Fort and a semifinal berth next week.

The Toros trailed 7-3 at halftime, outscored Opelika 14-7 in the third quarter to lead by 10 points, but could not add to the lead down the stretch. Weldrin Ford’s second touchdown of the night put OHS ahead for good with 1:49 left in the game and sealed the quarterfinal victory.

Spanish Fort senior quarterback Wyatt Wilkinson led his team’s third-quarter rally with a 16-yard TD pass to Logan Morgan (84-yard drive) and a 39-yard TD toss to Trae Barry (64-yard drive).

In between OPS quarterback John David Worth threw an 18-yard TD pass to Jaleel Heard capping a 67-yard drive to keep the Dawgs within three points, 17-14.

Ford’s go-ahead 4-yard TD run in the fourth was set up by an SFHS fumble at the OPS 32 late in the fourth period.

Ford scored the first TD of the game on a 13-yard run after a scoreless first quarter. Mathew Quinn’s 34-yard field goal for SF put the Toros on the board 5:41 before the half.

The Bulldogs’ win evens the record between head-coaching brothers Ben at SFHS and Brian at OHS (1-1). The Toros won last year’s quarterfinal showdown 21-14. The outcome snapped a 13-game, home-field win streak for Spanish Fort. The Toros last fell on The Hill to Saraland (14-10) in the 2014 semifinals.

Opelika’s only defeat of this season was to Class 7A Central-Phenix City 35-28 in September. The Bulldogs (13-1) will host undefeated Park Crossing in their semifinal matchup after the Thunderbirds defeated Blount in a score-a-thon 54-51.

Other AHSAA Results



CLASS 7A
(Semifinals)


McGill-Toolen Catholic (13-0) 35, Central-Phenix City (10-2) 21


Hoover (11-2) 42, Gadsden City (7-6) 14

Quarterfinals

CLASS 6A


Park Crossing (13-0) 54, Blount (10-3) 51


Opelika (12-1) 21, Spanish Fort (10-3) 17


Ramsay (11-2) 40, Minor (11-2) 20

Austin (10-3) 27, Muscle Shoals (7-6) 21



CLASS 5A


Beauregard (11-1) 56, Carroll (12-1) 21


Jackson (9-3) 35, St. Paul’s Episcopal (9-4) 9


Briarwood Christian (12-1) 15, Mortimer Jordan (10-3) 0

Wenonah (10-2) 49, Scottsboro (12-1) 28



CLASS 4A


Andalusia (12-1) 51, Tallassee (9-4) 7


Handley (11-2) 36, Thomasville (9-3) 18


Hokes Bluff (9-4) 28, Cherokee County (10-3) 21


Madison Academy (10-3) 25, Rogers (12-1) 7



CLASS 3A


Mobile Christian (12-1) 44, Oakman (8-5) 12


Gordo (13-0) 55, Bayside Academy (8-5) 21


Piedmont (13-0) 52, Weaver (9-4) 28


Ohatchee (12-1) 31, Randolph County (10-3) 0



CLASS 2A


G.W. Long (12-0) 42, Southern Choctaw (10-2) 14


Aliceville (12-1) 52, Elba (10-3) 44

Fyffe (13-0) 53, LaFayette (12-1) 20


Lanett (11-2) 48, Tanner (9-4) 42



CLASS 1A


Linden (13-0) 52, Georgiana (12-1) 12 


Maplesville (12-0) 60, Sweet Water (9-3) 34


Pickens County (10-3) 48, Decatur Heritage (10-3) 12


Addison (13-0) 30, Hubbertville (10-2) 20