More heartache as EHS loses at end

The post-game meeting between Enterprise coach Kevin Collins and the football team didn’t take long. There just wasn’t much to say.

For the third time in three weeks, Enterprise lost a game that came down to the final play. Opelika defeated Enterprise 42-35 Friday night in Wildcat Stadium.

“These guys competed and played hard,” Collins said. “I don’t remember ever being more proud of a bunch. This is three weeks in a row it’s come down to the last play of the game … They fought to the very end. I told them I was very proud of them, with how hard they competed. It’s a special group.”

Enterprise lost to Jeff Davis Sept. 23 when the Volunteers scored the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining. The Wildcats lost in double overtime last week at Smiths Station.

It seemed that Enterprise would be celebrating at the end Friday, or at least forcing the game into overtime. The Wildcats drove 43 yards in the final two minutes, but the drive stalled as Enterprise reached the Opelika 30-yard line. Rhett Harrelson’s final heave was intercepted as time expired.

Enterprise’s final drive was the only offensive series of the second half that didn’t end with a touchdown.

The Wildcats opened the game with a ton of momentum. Enterprise took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in five plays. Willie Curry capped the drive with a 4-yard scoring run. John Evans’ extra points put EHS up 7-0 early.

Opelika answered with a touchdown early in the second period. After the Opelika defense intercepted a pass, the Bulldogs needed just one play for DMarius Howard took a lateral and sprinted 15 yards for a score.

Opelika took the lead on its next possession. The Bulldogs drove 67 yards in eight plays. Calvin Bryant scored on a 5-yard run to put Opelika up 14-7.

The Wildcats tied the game at 14-14 just before halftime. Harrelson eluded a strong Opelika pass rush and found Jalen Hooks alone in the end zone for a 20-yard scoring pass.

The offenses took over after the break. Opelika set the tone on its first drive of the second half. The Bulldogs took a 21-14 lead on a 24-yard scoring fro Bryant to Cameron Hill.

Enterprise answered with a methodical, clock-consuming drive. The Wildcats took more than five minutes off the clock on a 15-play, 80-yard drive. Curry ended the drive with a 2-yard run. The extra-point attempt was no good, though, leaving Opelika up 21-20.

The Bulldogs came back with a long drive to take a 28-20 lead.

The Wildcats responded with another long drive. Enterprise needed 14 plays to go 80 yards. Curry ran in from the 2, and Ajee Warren converted the two-point attempt to tie the game at 28-28.

The fireworks were far from over, though. Howard put Opelika in good position to score with a long kick return. Three plays later, Hill scored on a 17-yard run.

Enterprise’s offense finally began wearing on Opelika’s defense. As fatigue set in, the Wildcats took advantage.

Enterprise needed just three minutes to cover 77 yards. The Wildcats ran the ball on nine consecutive plays. Hooks 1-yard scoring run tied the game at 35-35.

Before the Wildcats had stopped celebrating, though, Opelika made another huge special teams play. Howard returned the kickoff 98 yards for a score, providing the final margin.

Enterprise moved the ball on its final possession, but stalled as time expired.

Hooks led Enterprise with 165 rushes on 18 carries. He also added 49 yards receiving. Curry added 64 yards rushing. Harrelson finished 12-of-21 with two interceptions.

Enterprise dropped to 2-5 with the loss and 1-3 in Class 6A, Region 3. The Wildcats have lost five consecutive games. Enterprise will travel to Dothan next Friday.