Big quarter dooms Stanhope as Opelika clinches region

Caleb Turrentine / The Herald Stanhope Elmore’s Andrew Rines is brought down in the backfield by Opelika’s Tori Roberts Jr. (14)

After Stanhope Elmore struck first in the Class 6A Region 3 title game, Opelika reeled of 38 unanswered points as the Bulldogs ran away from the Mustangs for the second straight season. The Bulldogs scored their final 21 points in the first six minutes of the second half and limited any hopes of a Stanhope comeback to win, 38-14.

Opelika (7-1, 5-0) held a 17-7 lead at halftime and had good field position to start the third quarter. Brody Davis found Omar Holloway for a 56-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the drive.

Caleb Turrentine is a sports writer for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.