AHSAA KICKOFF: Thompson, Opelika, Selma, Beauregard set for annual Kickoff Classic
Members of each of the four teams participating in the annual AHSAA Kickoff Challenge were announced at a press conference on Tuesday at the AHSAA facility. Included in the photo are AHSAA executive director Alvin Briggs, associate athletic director Kim Vickers and assistant director Brandon Dean. (Contributed by AHSAA)
By GRAHAM DUNN
When asked about the prospects of facing defending champ and top-ranked Thompson High School next Friday, Opelika coach Erik Speakman took the light approach.
“I was asked about being in the game and I said, ‘sure, who are we playing?’” he explained. “They said ‘Thompson.’ I said, ‘wrong number.’”
Speakman and his Bulldogs will indeed be at Cramton Bowl next Friday, Aug. 25, for the annual AHSAA Kickoff Classic, one of two games to officially open the high school football season.
“That’s the fun part is you get to start the year with them,” Speakman said. “I did some research before I said we’d play them. I’ve know Mark (Freeman, head coach at Thompson) a long time. I told coaches, ‘we’ll play them but he won’t run the score up on you.’ He’ll keep it respectable.’
“Our kids love it. I told them and and they were excited . One came up and said, ‘can you get Saraland (6A champion) to play us?’ They want to play the top teams.”
The teams were announced at a press conference on Tuesday at the annual Media Day at the AHSAA facility.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 5-5 season which began with four straight wins including a 17-14 overtime thriller over Central-Phenix City. But they would win just one more game the rest of the way and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
But Speakman’s team will not back down from the challenge and is looking forward to what should be a great experience.
“To play in a historic venue is something special,” Speakman said of Cramton Bowl. “I wish I could have seen some of the classic matchups between Lee and Jeff Davis. I tell our kids about it. This will be a great experience that may not get it again.”
Thompson is coming off its fourth-straight state title, defeating Auburn in the championship game last season. Freeman has led the Warriors to the last five championship games.
“We tell our guys we have to look to today and tomorrow and next week,” Freeman said. “The most important thing on our mind right now is Opelika and this coming season. We are thankful to Montgomery and putting this game on.”
The Kickoff Classic opens the night before with Beauregard facing Selma, both teams were in the playoff last season.
The Saints have a new coach in Leon Day.
“We are truly thankful to be a part of something this special,” Day said. “Just being around the other programs is exciting. These are the kind of programs we try to learn from. This game will allow our team to be seen in a positive light.”
Justin Jones begins his third season as head coach at Beauregard. He led the Hornets to a 10-2 record in 2022.
“We at Beauregard appreciate the opportunity to be a part of something like this. It is exciting for us at Beauregard,” he said. “This atmosphere is really special. We are coming off a successful 10-2 season, but we have emphasized we need to keep putting our boots to the ground. Our kids are doing just that.’
Beauregard will be making its second appearance in the Kickoff Classic, losing to Central-Clay County in the 2012 game,. Opelika is 2-0 in past Classics beating G.W. Carver in 2014 and Greenville in 2010. Thompson won 38-7 over James Clemens in the 2018 Classic, and Selma is making its first appearance in the event.
Tickets for the Kickoff Classic can be purchased through GOFAN.