OPELIKA, Alabama -- The 100th meeting between Auburn and Opelika lived up to the billing, as Auburn earned a 17–10 victory in a rivalry game filled with momentum swings and big plays on Thursday night.

The Tigers struck early, setting the tone with a first-quarter touchdown pass to grab a 7–0 lead. In a clever play, wide receiver Joshua Askew found a wide-open quarterback, Cason Myers, on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 5:44 left in the first quarter. Their defense held strong, and a field goal before halftime extended the margin to 10–0. Auburn appeared in control, dictating the pace and limiting Opelika’s offensive rhythm through two quarters.

The Bulldogs, however, refused to go quietly. After halftime, Opelika began to find some traction, cutting into the lead with a third-quarter field goal. That momentum carried into the fourth quarter when Opelika delivered its biggest highlight of the night—a 67-yard rushing touchdown run by CJ Johnson that electrified the home crowd and tied the game at 10–10. Suddenly, the momentum seemed to tilt in favor of the Bulldogs, who had clawed back from a two-score deficit.

But Auburn answered like a championship-caliber team. With the game tied and the pressure mounting, the Tigers pieced together a clutch drive capped off by a pinpoint touchdown pass. Myers hit Cash Reif with a 17-yard pass play for the Tigers. The score and ensuing extra point restored Auburn’s lead at 17–10 late in the fourth. From there, the Tigers’ defense held firm, stifling Opelika’s final attempts to rally and sealing the milestone win. Auburn had the ball inside the Tigers' red zone but fumbled the snap, and Auburn jumped on the football to seal the road win.

The victory not only gave Auburn bragging rights in one of Alabama’s most storied rivalries but also marked their 50th overall win in the series. The historic backdrop of the 100th meeting added weight to every play, and both teams rose to the occasion with physical, passionate performances. Ultimately, Auburn’s fast start and late-game execution made the difference in a memorable chapter of this century-old rivalry.

OPELIKA, Alabama -- The 100th meeting between Auburn and Opelika lived up to the billing, as Auburn earned a 17–10 victory in a rivalry game filled with momentum swings and big plays on Thursday night.

The Tigers struck early, setting the tone with a first-quarter touchdown pass to grab a 7–0 lead. In a clever play, wide receiver Joshua Askew found a wide-open quarterback, Cason Myers, on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 5:44 left in the first quarter. Their defense held strong, and a field goal before halftime extended the margin to 10–0. Auburn appeared in control, dictating the pace and limiting Opelika’s offensive rhythm through two quarters.

The Bulldogs, however, refused to go quietly. After halftime, Opelika began to find some traction, cutting into the lead with a third-quarter field goal. That momentum carried into the fourth quarter when Opelika delivered its biggest highlight of the night—a 67-yard rushing touchdown run by CJ Johnson that electrified the home crowd and tied the game at 10–10. Suddenly, the momentum seemed to tilt in favor of the Bulldogs, who had clawed back from a two-score deficit.

But Auburn answered like a championship-caliber team. With the game tied and the pressure mounting, the Tigers pieced together a clutch drive capped off by a pinpoint touchdown pass. Myers hit Cash Reif with a 17-yard pass play for the Tigers. The score and ensuing extra point restored Auburn’s lead at 17–10 late in the fourth. From there, the Tigers’ defense held firm, stifling Opelika’s final attempts to rally and sealing the milestone win. Auburn had the ball inside the Tigers' red zone but fumbled the snap, and Auburn jumped on the football to seal the road win.

The victory not only gave Auburn bragging rights in one of Alabama’s most storied rivalries but also marked their 50th overall win in the series. The historic backdrop of the 100th meeting added weight to every play, and both teams rose to the occasion with physical, passionate performances. Ultimately, Auburn’s fast start and late-game execution made the difference in a memorable chapter of this century-old rivalry.