Championship Glory and Rivalry Showdowns

This week has been nothing short of electric, with titles being claimed, playoff hopes rising, and rivalries heating up as we dive deeper into the fall sports season. From volleyball state championships to crucial region football battles, the excitement is palpable. Let’s jump right into the action.

Starting on the volleyball courts, a HUGE congratulations to the Pacelli Lady Vikings, who brought home the GIAA 3A Volleyball State Championship in dominant fashion.

Facing their crosstown rivals, the Brookstone Cougars, the Lady Vikings were on a mission, sweeping the match 3-0 and securing the state title in emphatic style.

It’s always something special when two hometown teams battle it out for the top spot, and the Oct. 15 showdown was one for the books. The gym was packed, the energy was off the charts, and in the end, it was Pacelli standing tall as state champions.

But the volleyball excitement didn’t stop there. Just across the Alabama border, the Auburn High Lady Tigers continued their dominance, sweeping the Central Red Devils 3-0 on Oct. 16 to claim the AHSAA 7A Area 5 title. The Lady Tigers have been a force all season, and their relentless play led them to the top of the area once again.

Girls Flag Football:

Switching gears to the gridiron, girls' flag football is in full swing across Muscogee County. The buzz around the sport reached a new level this past week as Muscogee County hosted its first-ever Girls Flag Football Media Day, introducing the teams and coaches from Northside, Spencer, Carver, Jordan, Columbus, Shaw, Hardaway and Kendrick. With players being interviewed and coaches sharing their thoughts on the growing sport, it’s clear that flag football is on the rise, and the excitement around these teams is only getting stronger.

On the field, the Columbus Lady Blue Devils faced a daunting challenge, taking on the top-ranked Central Lady Red Devils—the No. 1 team in the country.

However, despite a valiant effort, Columbus couldn’t break through Central’s dominant defense and were shut out in a 33-0 loss. Central, boasting a near-perfect season, showcased why they are at the pinnacle of the national rankings, with stellar play on both sides of the ball.

Columbus, now 7-4, will have a chance to bounce back when they face the Carver Lady Tigers this Wednesday at Odis Spencer Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Harris County Lady Tigers continue to turn heads with their recent performances, improving their record to 5-1 on the season after blowout wins over Heritage (53-0) and Brookstone (27-0).

Quarterback Madalynn Cauley was nothing short of spectacular, completing 17-of-22 passes for 160 yards and tossing three touchdowns. Receiver Pearson Pettit also had a standout performance, racking up 45 receiving yards and a touchdown. Harris County’s defense has been lights out, recording back-to-back shutouts, and they’ll look to keep the momentum going when they take on the Pacelli Lady Vikings in what promises to be a thrilling match-up tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Pacelli.

Football:

But let’s not forget about the boys' football action heating up as we near the end of the regular season.

The Carver Tigers are riding high after securing yet another region championship with a dominant 31-0 win over previously undefeated Sumter County.

Carver’s offense wasted no time, with quarterback Matthew Mungin launching a 60-yard touchdown strike to Braylon Jakes on their opening drive. Mungin, who has been a consistent playmaker all season, added another touchdown pass later in the half, connecting with Jakobe Caslin on a perfectly executed screen pass that Caslin turned into a 28-yard score.

Meanwhile, running back Kelston Tarver added a 53-yard touchdown run, and the Tigers’ defense was unstoppable, closing out the game with a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Markevious Yancie.

The Tigers, now 7-1, look poised for a deep postseason run and will take on the winless Jordan Red Jackets in their next game.

Elsewhere, the Opelika Bulldogs handed the Central Red Devils their second loss of the season in a hard-fought 23-14 contest. Opelika’s defense set the tone early, forcing turnovers and limiting Central’s offensive opportunities. A pair of field goals from Reese Beasley, along with a rushing touchdown from Blake Johnson, gave Opelika a commanding lead.

Despite a late push from Central, including a rushing touchdown from Tristan Williams, Opelika held on to secure the win. Central will look to rebound as they enter the final stretch of the season, eyeing a strong postseason run despite the setback.

As we look ahead, the Week 10 final scores are in:

• Spencer 16 - 7 Shaw
• Columbus 31 - 0 Kendrick
• Central 23 - 14 Harris County
• Pike Road 46 - 14 Russell County
• Auburn 29 - 14 Carver (Montgomery)
• Dothan 48 - 0 Smiths Station
• Strong Rock 42 - 7 Calvary
• Westfield 17 - 10 Brookstone
• Glenwood 41 - 14 Lee-Scott
• Starr's Mill 36 - 6 Northside

Now let’s take a quick peek at the Week 11 matchups, where playoff implications are on the line:

• Thursday Night Football: Columbus vs. Spencer at Kinnett Stadium, 7 p.m. Central vs JAG 7 p.m.
• Friday Night Lights: Shaw vs. Kendrick at Kinnett Stadium, 7 p.m.; Carver vs. Jordan at Odis Spencer Stadium, 7 p.m.; Sumter County vs. Hardaway at Sumter County, 7:30 p.m.; and Jonesboro vs. Northside at Jonesboro, 7:30 p.m.; Pacelli at Westfield at 7:30 p.m.; Smiths Station at Enterprise 7 p.m.; Dothan at Auburn 7 p.m.; and Brookstone at Strong Rock 7 p.m.

In middle school football, the highly anticipated Private Middle School Football Championship is set for October 22nd as the Pacelli Vikings face off against the Calvary Knights at Calvary Christian at 7 p.m. With both teams riding high after strong seasons, this championship game promises to deliver fireworks as the future stars of local football take the field.

That’s all for this week’s Time-Out! From state volleyball champions to regional football titans, the competition is fierce, and the stakes are higher than ever.

As the postseason looms for several sports, you won’t want to miss the action. Keep cheering for your teams, and we’ll see you next week as we recap more thrilling moments from around the tri-city sports scene!