 In 1914, Auburn High School successfully petitioned the state high school commission to take the county flagship status as the "Lee County High School" away from Opelika, starting the two schools long-standing rivalry, and the Opelika school became officially known as "Opelika High School" for the first time, operating as a town school.Opelika kept the old county high school building until 1917.On Saturday, January 20, 1917, Opelika High School burned to the ground.