Oak Ridge Today

Wildcats beat Karns 56-28; three ‘big’ district games remain

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats and Karns Beavers

Jaleel Luster, right, a junior running back, was one of six Oak Ridge Wildcats to score during a 56-28 win over the Karns Beavers on Friday. (Photos by Julio Culiat)

Note: This story was last updated at 10:47 a.m.

Six players scored eight touchdowns as the Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Karns Beavers 56-28 on Blankenship Field on Friday.

It was the third time this season that the Wildcats have scored more than 50 points.

Coach Joe Gaddis said the Wildcats (5-2, 4-1 in the district) played well on offense, but he was troubled by a few passes the defense allowed when Oak Ridge was in control of the game.

“We don’t want to give up those long touchdowns,” Gaddis said. [Read more…]

Wildcats QB ties school record with five touchdown passes in 57-28 victory

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Ted Mitchell Reception

Junior wide receiver Ted Mitchell catches a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jaylin Henderson near the end of the first quarter during the 57-28 homecoming victory against the Gibbs Eagles on Friday. (Photo courtesy Julio Culiat)

Oak Ridge quarterback Jaylin Henderson threw a record-tying five touchdown passes as the Wildcats rolled over the Gibbs Eagles 57-28 during a homecoming game at Blankenship Field on Friday night.

Oak Ridge (4-1, 3-0 in the district) had eight touchdowns total as they scored on drive after drive and kept the Wildcats band busy playing touchdown tunes.

Junior wide receivers Ted Mitchell and Brandon Bonds each had two touchdown catches in the first half, and senior Michael Baker caught one in the second. [Read more…]

Two sacks prove critical in Wildcats’ 600th win

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Ted Mitchell

Ted Mitchell, a junior wide receiver for the Oak Ridge Wildcats, tries to go around a defender for the McMinn County Cherokees on Friday at Blankenship Field.

Two sacks late in the fourth quarter proved critical in the milestone 600th win for the Oak Ridge Wildcats on Friday.

The Wildcats (3-1) were leading 28-19 with less than three minutes to play, but the McMinn County Cherokees had driven downfield and were threatening to score with 2:32 left in the game.

But the Cherokees’ drive stalled with back-to-back sacks by two Oak Ridge defenders, sophomore linebacker Gavin Warrington and senior defensive end Kyler Jones. The Cherokees (1-4) were pushed back from a second-and-7 at the Oak Ridge 18 to a fourth-and-long at about the Oak Ridge 38. [Read more…]

Wildcats play first home football game tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats and Farragut Admirals

The Oak Ridge Wildcats play their first home game of the 2013 season against Clinton at 7:30 p.m. today at Blankenship Field. It’s also Former Wildcat Night. The Wildcats are pictured above playing the Farragut Admirals last week.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats play the Clinton Dragons in their first home game of the 2013 season at 7:30 p.m. today (Friday) at Blankenship Field.

It’s also Former Wildcat Night, and organizers said they hope to have a large group of former players walk down the steps at Jack Armstrong Stadium. They will meet at the top of the steps at 6:46 p.m. and, led by former player Jackie Pope, walk down the steps at 6:55 p.m. [Read more…]

ORHS graduation tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School Graduation

The Oak Ridge High School graduation ceremony is at 7 p.m. today at Blankenship Field. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge High School graduation ceremony is at 7 p.m. today at Blankenship Field.

If the ceremony is rained out tonight, it will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Blankenship Field.

Check the ORHS website for more information.

Hall touchdown propels Wildcats to 35-28 playoff victory

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Play Science Hill

Oak Ridge Wildcats quarterback Rian Hall, pictured at center above trying to outrun Science Hill defenders, rushed for a game-winning touchdown with 29.8 seconds to play in a first-round playoff game on Friday.

A six-yard touchdown run by Oak Ridge quarterback Rian Hall with 29.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter broke a tie Friday night and propelled the Wildcats to an exciting 35-28 first-round playoff victory over Science Hill.

Hall’s game-winning run followed a crucial 12-yard catch by Wildcats receiver Robert Valdez on a fourth-and-4 play with 1:02 left to play at Blankenship Field.

Oak Ridge (10-1) had a few two-touchdown leads during the game—ahead 21-7 in the second quarter and 28-14 in the third—but the Hilltoppers (9-2) rallied back behind Science Hill quarterback Reed Hayes to tie the game at 28 with 3:38 remaining.

“Tonight, we had to fight for everything, every first down, every yard,” Oak Ridge coach Scott Blade said, calling it an incredible game between two good teams.

The Wildcats travel to Maryville next week to play the top-ranked Rebels in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Maryville, which gave Oak Ridge its only loss during the regular season, eliminated Hardin Valley 42-10 on Friday.