Oak Ridge Wildcat Brandon Bonds (81) forces a fumble in the first half of the Kentucky-Tennessee National Guard Border Bowl in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on Saturday, January 10, 2015. (Photos by Melissa Livesey)
Four players from Oak Ridge High School and Anderson County High School participated in the Kentucky-Tennessee National Guard Border Bowl in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on Saturday.
Oak Ridge senior Brandon Bonds—who played safety, wide receiver, and punt returner for the Wildcats—forced a fumble during the first half and recovered a Kentucky fumble in the second, said Melissa Livesey of ORHS Dance Cat Boosters.
Besides Bonds, other players who were picked to play were ORHS senior offensive lineman Isaac Chapman (Chapman also played on the defensive line for the Wildcats, especially toward the end of the season); and senior running back Matt Fox and defensive end Josh Edwards, both of Anderson County High School.
Bonds and Fox had both been previously named to the 2014 Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State football team in Class 5A.
The final score of the Border Bowl was Kentucky 33, Tennessee 32.
Livesey said it was a hard-fought game until the very end.
The Tennessee team was coached by Scott Blade, a former Oak Ridge coach who is now at Independence High School south of Nashville.
Phil Thompson of Oak Ridge was also a Tennessee coach.
The team also included players from other schools in the Knoxville area, including Campbell County, South-Doyle, Scott County, Grace Christian Academy, Knoxville Central, Knoxville West, Gibbs, Fulton, Lenoir City, Pigeon Forge, and Farragut. See the roster here.
The Border Bowl is a nonprofit organization established to promote high school football in Kentucky and Tennessee. The objective is to provide an All-Star Game featuring the top players in the two states. Organizers say the game allows players to have the opportunity to “play, practice, and battle it out for the rights to the border.” It also allows high school seniors an opportunity to gain additional exposure and, perhaps, earn a scholarship for college.
Each player must be nominated by his coach. All player profiles are reviewed by a panel of coaches from their home state to field the best possible team.
Here are five pictures from Saturday’s game by Livesey.
Running back Matt Fox of Anderson County High School (43) looks for a block ahead of another running back during the Kentucky-Tennesee National Guard Border Bowl in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on Saturday, January 10, 2015.
Bonds (81) recovers a fumble in the second half.
Senior Isaac Chapman (71) of the Oak Ridge Wildcats blocks during the bowl game.
Defensive end Josh Edwards (75) of Anderson County High School is pictured above.
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