The Pike Road Patriots will head out on the road to square off against the Opelika Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Opelika will be up against a hot Pike Road squad: the team just extended their winning streak to three. The Patriots blew past Percy Julian 43-0 last Thursday. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Patriots' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Alabama football rankings (they are ranked 23rd, while the Phoenix are ranked 119th).
Gunner Gibbs
| 09/18/25 @ Percy Julian | 3 |
| 09/05/25 vs Rehobeth | 2 |
| 08/21/25 vs Prattville | 2 |
| 09/12/25 @ Wetumpka | 1 |
| 08/29/25 vs Enterprise | 1 |
Pike Road's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Gunner Gibbs, who threw for 166 yards and three TDs while completing 77.8% of his passes. Those three passing touchdowns gave Gibbs a new career-high. O'Mari Smith was in the mix too, providing Pike Road with two scores.
Meanwhile, everything came up roses for Opelika against Smiths Station on Friday as the team secured a 42-6 victory. The win continues a trend for the Bulldogs in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won five in a row.
Opelika's win came from a few key players Pike Road will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Colby Key, who rushed for 37 yards and one touchdown. The team also got some help courtesy of Dre Vann, who picked up 88 receiving yards and one TD.
Pike Road's record is now 4-1. As for Opelika, their record now sits at an identical 4-1.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Pike Road has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 207.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Opelika struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 170.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Pike Road came up short against Opelika in their previous meeting back in September of 2024, falling 31-20. Thankfully for the Patriots, Calvin Hughley (who rushed for 77 yards and a pair of scores) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
