Summer 2026 — Opelika, Alabama
Football: The Opelika High School Bulldogs football program is deep in summer preparation under head coach Jonathan Chandler, practicing four days a week with late starts on Mondays to build chemistry ahead of the fall season. Chandler has been taking the quarterback and wide receiver groups to multiple 7-on-7 camps, including stops at Troy University and Auburn University, to develop offensive timing before fall camp begins. Players receive two meals a day during practice days and are following a structured nutrition and weight-room program. “We want our guys comfortable with each other before we get into the regular season,” Chandler said. The Bulldogs open the 2026 season on Aug. 21 at Benjamin Russell.
Girls Basketball: The OHS Girls Varsity Basketball team wrapped up an 18-game summer schedule running June 1 through June 19, competing across Alabama and in Columbus, Georgia, under head coach Blake Smalley. The season closed with a trip to Birmingham for the AHSAA Live Period at the Finley Center, providing players the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of college scouts. This year’s roster includes 13 players, with nine returning — including the top two leading scorers, the leading rebounder, and the assist leader. “We have gotten better every week as the summer has gone on,” Smalley said. “I am very excited about what the future holds for this team.”
Source: Opelika Observer, “On the Mark” (June 15, 2026); Yahoo Sports (Feb. 17, 2026)
From the Opelika Weekly News Digest — June 30 – July 5, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
