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Nine Wildcats score in 49-3 homecoming win over Karns

Posted at 6:55 pm September 30, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai'Reese Pendergrass (12) is tackled by Karns sophomore Trey Hawkins (7) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Jaycen McGhee (6) and Johnny Stewart (2). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai’Reese Pendergrass (12) is tackled by Karns sophomore Trey Hawkins (7) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Jaycen McGhee (6) and Johnny Stewart (2). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Nine Oak Ridge Wildcats scored in a 49-3 rout of Karns in the homecoming football game on Blankenship Field on Friday.

Seven different Wildcats scored touchdowns, and two kickers added extra points.

It was the third region win for Oak Ridge (5-2, 3-0 Region 3-5A) and the third straight win for the Wildcats.

The three remaining regular-season games are all region games:

  • Clinton (2-4, 0-2) at home on Friday, October 13;
  • at Powell (5-2, 2-2) on Friday, October 20; and
  • at Fulton (5-1, 2-0) on Friday, October 27.

The Wildcats do not play this coming week.

Oak Ridge finished with a season-high 324 yards rushing on 33 carries and five touchdowns on Friday. The previous high was 112 yards rushing against Farragut on September 8. That was the only other time this season that the Wildcats have had more than 100 yards rushing in a game. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Adarius Cox, Beavers, Blankenship Field, Brady Hutson, Caelan Thompson, Caleb Martin, Carson McGhee, Carter Alexander, Cobe Angel, Daniel Kitts, Edson Castro, football, Herbert Booker, homecoming, Jaylen Heyward, Jeremy Mitchell, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Kai'Reese Pendergrass, Karns, Mark and Shawna Haste, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Region 3-5A, Teahzjawon Hodge-Harper, Trey Hawkins, Tyrell Romano

Football: Wildcats improve to 4-2 with win over Sevier County

Posted at 2:00 am September 26, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior linebacker Adarius Simpson (24) makes a tackle against West at home on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. In the background is senior linebacker Cobe Angel (22). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior linebacker Adarius Simpson (24) makes a tackle against West at home on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. In the background is senior linebacker Cobe Angel (22). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats improved to 4-2 for the season with a 30-14 win over Sevier County at home on Blankenship Field on Friday.

The Wildcats are now 2-0 in Region 3-5A. Their remaining four games are all region games.

After their season-opening win at home against Hardin Valley, the Wildcats:

  • lost 28-25 in a non-region game at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on August 25,
  • won 17-15 in their first region game at Campbell County on September 1,
  • were shut out 41-0 at Farraugt, a non-region opponent, on September 8, and
  • won their second region game, 23-13, over West at home on September 15.

The win over Sevier County this past Friday night was the second straight win for the Wildcats.

Here are the four games remaining, all Region 3-5A games:

  • at home against Karns (2-4, 0-3) on Friday, September 29;
  • at home against Clinton (2-3, 0-1) on Friday, October 13;
  • at Powell (5-1, 2-1) on Friday, October 20; and
  • at Fulton (4-1, 2-0) on Friday, October 27.

All games start at 7:30 p.m.

Here are highlights of the season so far: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Adarius Simpson, Admirals, Alec Keathley, Blankenship Field, Braden Collins, Caleb Martin, Cam Burden, Campbell County, Carson McGhee, Charlie Martinez, Cobe Angel, Colin Russell, Cougars, David Clary, Dobyns-Bennett, Farragut, football, Gavin Wilkinson, Hardin Valley, Herbert Booker, Isaiah Gibbs, Jack Armstrong Stadium, Jack Replogle, Jackson Snodgrass, Jacob Adams, Jake Evans, Jared Galloway, Jaycen McGhee, Jeffrey Bersch, Jeremy Mitchell, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Kai'Reese Pendergrass, Kyle Carter, Luther Simmons, Mark and Shawna Haste, Oak Ridge High School Wildband, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Preston Wardell, rebels, Region 3-5A, Sevier County, Smoky Bears, TJ Johnson, Trariq Hardin, West, Zach Rutherford

Football photos: Oak Ridge-West

Posted at 7:05 pm September 22, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge junior defensive back Herbert Booker (13) tackles West junior wide receiver Jackson Snodgrass (11) on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior defensive back Herbert Booker (13) tackles West junior wide receiver Jackson Snodgrass (11) on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Here are photos by Luther Simmons from the Oak Ridge football game at home on Blankenship Field against West on Friday, September 15. Oak Ridge won 23-13. It was the third win of the season, out of five games total, and the second region win of two played. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Adarius Simpson, Blankenship Field, Caleb Martin, Cobe Angel, football, Herbert Booker, Isaac Quick, Jack Borchers, Jack Replogle, Jackson Snodgrass, Jacob Adams, Jared Galloway, Jaycen McGhee, Jeremy Mitchell, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Luther Simmons, Oak Ridge, Ramar Hawkins, TJ Johnson, Tyrell Romano, West

Photos: Junior ROTC Color Guard at Blankenship Field on Friday

Posted at 1:56 pm September 16, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School Navy Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Color Guard is pictured above on Blankenship Field at the Oak Ridge-West football game on Friday, September 15, 2017. (Photo by Linda Ripley)

The Oak Ridge High School Navy Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Color Guard is pictured above on Blankenship Field at the Oak Ridge-West football game on Friday, September 15, 2017. (Photo by Linda Ripley)

 

Here are photos by Linda Ripley of the Oak Ridge High School Navy Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Color Guard on Blankenship Field at the Oak Ridge-West football game on Friday, September 15. The photos are used here with Ripley’s permission.

Ryan Nicholls is the Navy JROTC teacher.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Slider, Sports Tagged With: Blankenship Field, Junior ROTC, Junior ROTC Color Guard, Linda Ripley, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge High School Navy Junior ROTC, Oak Ridge-West football game, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Ryan Nicholls

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley

Posted at 10:43 pm August 19, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Hardin Valley defenders tackle Oak Ridge senior running back Adarius Simpson (24) during a 21-20 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Hardin Valley defenders tackle Oak Ridge senior running back Adarius Simpson (24) during a 21-20 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won a close one-point game against Hardin Valley Academy on Friday night when the Hawks missed an extra point with 21.5 seconds left in the season opener. Here are photos from the 21-20 win by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Aaron Dykes, Adarius Simpson, Blankenship Field, Bryan Wyatt, Grayson Vaughn, Hardin Valley, Jack Armstrong Stadium, Jack Replogle, Jacob Adams, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Martin McDonald, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Tyrell Romano

Football: Wildcats win when Hardin Valley misses extra point in final minute

Posted at 10:13 pm August 19, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) runs against Hardin Valley during a 21-20 win on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) runs against Hardin Valley during a 21-20 win on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won a close one-point game against Hardin Valley Academy on Friday night when the Hawks missed an extra point with 21.5 seconds left in the season opener.

The Hawks scored in the final minute after Oak Ridge junior linebacker Jeremy Mitchell dropped a Hardin Valley player in the backfield, and the football came loose. There was a scramble for the ball near the goal line, and it squirted into the end zone, where Hardin Valley recovered it for a touchdown. The Hawks then trailed by just one point, 21-20.

They had a chance to tie the game at 21 with an extra point, and they had a chance to take the lead with a two-point conversion.

A few extra point attempts by Hardin Valley were waived off due to penalties, including one on a try that was no good and bounced down to Blankenship Field off the crossbar on an Oak Ridge offsides.

The final attempt went wide left, and Oak Ridge kept its 21-20 lead with 21.5 seconds remaining.

Hardin Valley, a Class 6A team, used an onsides kick to try for one final score in the final seconds of the non-region game. But Oak Ridge, a Class 5A team, recovered and only had to take a knee to run out the clock. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Dykes, Adarius Simpson, Blankenship Field, Cartez Campbell, Dobyns-Bennett, football, Hardin Valley Academy, hawks, Herbert Booker, Jeremy Mitchell, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Kai'Reese Pendergrass, Martin McDonald, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Tyrell Romano

ORHS WildBand has preview show this evening

Posted at 11:37 am July 28, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School WildBand trombone section is shown above during a practice in 2017. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge High School WildBand trombone section is shown above during a practice in 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School WildBand Preview Show is at 6 p.m. today (Friday, July 28) at Blankenship Field.

If it’s raining at 4 p.m. today, the show will be presented in the ORHS Performing Arts Center Auditorium.

The students have been working hard to prepare “Danza del Toro” for the fall marching season, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Entertainment, High School, K-12, Music, Sports Tagged With: Blankenship Field, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge High School Wildband, ORHS, ORHS Performing Arts Center, Wildband

Butch Jones, UT football coach, to be special guest at Blankenship Field fundraiser

Posted at 6:07 pm June 27, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Martin McDonald and Butch Jones at Blankenship Field on Sept. 18, 2015

University of Tennessee Volunteers Coach Butch Jones, right, is pictured above with Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald at Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (File photo courtesy Martin McDonald)

 

University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones will be the special guest at a July 11 fundraiser for Blankenship Field.

Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally will also be there. So will board members of the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation.

The fundraiser will start at 11:30 a.m. July 11 in the banquet room of the DoubleTree Hotel on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. Tickets are $100 per person for this buffet lunch, and they include an opportunity to hear from Jones, an event notice said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Blankenship Field, Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, Blankenship Field Revitalization Project, Butch Jones, Randy McNally, University of Tennessee

Oak Ridge receives Blankenship Field grant, primarily for synthetic turf

Posted at 9:46 pm January 26, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Blankenship Field Overall Plan

An overall view of the proposed renovation of Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium. (File image from April 2015)

 

Oak Ridge has received a state grant of just under $500,000 that will be used primarily for synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. But it is also expected to help pay for track improvements, upgraded restrooms, fencing between the football field and track, and improvements to the Cedar Hill trailhead behind the visitors bleachers at Jack Armstrong Stadium, city officials said Thursday.

The Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant requires a 50 percent match. The match is supposed to be provided by the nonprofit Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, and it can be a mix of cash and in-kind contributions, although the precise percentage of each—cash versus in-kind contributions—isn’t clear yet. The foundation has been chaired by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally.

Officials expect to know more after four of them—City Manager Mark Watson, City Council member Rick Chinn, Recreation and Parks Director Jon Hetrick, and Allen Thacker of Oak Ridge Schools—attend mandatory grant training in Nashville in February.

After that, the Oak Ridge City Council could accept the grant, possibly as early as the February 13 meeting. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, High School, Oak Ridge, Slider, Sports, Sports, State Tagged With: Allen Thacker, Bermuda grass, Blankenship Field, Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, City of Oak Ridge, grant, Jack Armstrong Stadium, Jon Hetrick, Julio Culiat, Local Parks and Recreation Fund, Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant, Mark Watson, Mike Mullins, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, Randy McNally, synthetic turf, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

City Council, BOE to discuss preschool, Blankenship, budget, energy savings

Posted at 10:14 am January 20, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education will have a joint work session on Thursday, January 26, to discuss site selection for the preschool, the revitalization of Blankenship Field, an energy savings project, and the budget and capital improvements.

The preschool site selection could include Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge and Scarboro Center.

The joint work session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, January 26, in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. See the agenda here.

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Blankenship Field, joint work session, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, preschool

Higgins again a Mr. Football semifinalist

Posted at 11:32 am November 4, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Higgins-TD-Catch-Clinton-Thomas-Aug-18-2016-Web-Cropped

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a 17-yard pass from junior quarterback Johnny Stewart before falling backward into the end zone for a touchdown near the left pylon, putting the Wildcats ahead of the Clinton Dragons 42-7 with 2:57 left in the first half at Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Higgins is defended here on his second TD catch by Clinton senior J’Quan Thomas (5). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m.

He won the Mr. Football award last year, and Oak Ridge High School senior Tee Higgins is a semifinalist again this year.

The semifinalists were announced by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, or TSSAA, on Friday.

Higgins is one of four semifinalists for Division I Class 5A Back of the Year. The other three semifinalists are Caden Harbin of Halls High School in Knoxville, Jordan Mason of Gallatin High School, and Jacob Murprhee of Dickson County High School.

Higgins, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who has committed to Clemson, had 59 catches for 901 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season. A wide receiver who also plays cornerback and punt returner, he’s also returned at least one interception—he had a 90-yard return against Webb—and at least two punts for touchdowns this season.

Higgins had two interceptions that led to Oak Ridge touchdowns in the season-opener against Clinton, and he became the all-time leader in career receiving yards for the Wildcats during that game.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Bernard Childress, Blankenship Field, Caden Harbin, Class 5A Back of the Year, Dickson County High School, Gallatin High School, Greg Woofter, Halls High School, Jacob Murprhee, Jordan Mason, Mike Keith, Mr. Football, Oak Ridge High School, Spencer Gulmire, Tee Higgins, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, Tennessee Titans Mr. Football, Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards, TSSAA, Walker Valley

Oak Ridge shuts out Campbell County to win region championship, secure home-field advantage

Posted at 11:13 pm October 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-campbell-county-football-tre-jackson-run-oct-27-2016-web

Oak Ridge sophomore Tre Jackson (6) ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns during a 28-0 region championship win at Campbell County on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

JACKSBORO—Oak Ridge won the regional championship and secured home-field advantage to start the playoffs with a 28-0 win at Campbell County on Thursday.

The Thursday night shutout win followed two disappointing losses this month, one at McMinn County and the other at Webb. Both games were decided by four points or less.

After giving up 393 yards at Webb a week earlier, the Wildcats (8-2, 5-0 Region 3-5A) held the Cougars to 183 yards of total offense in the regular-season finale on Thursday.

The defense played great, Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said.

“Nobody has really shut them down like we did tonight, and no one has come close to shutting them out,” Gaddis said. “Tonight, we were ready to play.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Football, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Blankenship Field, Caleb Jackson, Campbell County, Cougars, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Justin Price, Kyndall Clark, Oak Ridge, Region 3-5A, Region 4-5A, regional championship, Tee Higgins, Tre Jackson, Walker Valley, Wildcats, Zach Rutherford

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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