Oak Ridge football coach moving back to Middle Tennessee

January 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School football coach Scott Blade has resigned and is moving back to Middle Tennessee, where he will coach at Independence High School south of Nashville.

Blade has coached the Oak Ridge Wildcats since 2009, compiling a 35-15 record. He resigned Thursday, ORHS Athletic Director Mike Mullins said.

Mullins said Blade’s parents live in Franklin in Middle Tennessee, and Blade came to Oak Ridge from Hillsboro High School in Nashville. In addition, his wife received a job promotion in the medical field, and Independence quickly hired Blade.

“It was a job opportunity that he just couldn’t turn down,” Mullins said.

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Oliver Springs football field house damaged by weekend fire

December 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Investigators are still working to determine what started a fire that did some damage to the Oliver Springs High School football field house.

According to Oliver Springs Assistant Chief Justin Bailey, the fire happened sometime over the weekend. The coaching staff discovered the damage on Monday.

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Wildcats show promise in third, fall to Rebels in fourth

November 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge had a strong third quarter, scoring twice against Maryville and tying a Friday night second-round playoff game at 25.

But it wasn’t enough. The top-ranked Rebels answered with two touchdowns of their own in the fourth quarter and beat the Wildcats 39-25.

The Wildcats were down 25-10 at halftime, but the football team mounted a comeback in the third quarter with a 16-play drive and an interception by quarterback Rian Hall.

But the momentum shifted back to Maryville and its running game in the fourth quarter, and Hall was injured and had to leave the game with a little more than eight minutes to play.

It was the second match-up between the Wildcats (10-2) and Rebels (12-0) this year. Oak Ridge lost both, one during the regular season and the second during Friday night’s Class 6A playoff game in Maryville.

The Rebels will play the Dobyns-Bennett Indians (12-0) in Maryville next week.

Oak Ridge beat Science Hill 35-28 in a first-round playoff game last week.

The Wildcats finished the regular season 9-1, the best since 2005, and the football team was undefeated in the district and also district champions.

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Hall touchdown propels Wildcats to 35-28 playoff victory

November 3, 2012 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.

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Oak Ridge Wildcats beat Campbell County 33-8, finish season 9-1

October 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 4:44 p.m. Oct. 27.

Oak Ridge beat Campbell County 33-8 in the last game of the regular 2012 football season.

The Wildcats finished the season 9-1, the best since 2005, and were undefeated in the district and were also district champions, according to David Clary and the staff on “Voice of the Wildcats” radio show on prepradio.com.

The Wildcats’ one loss this season was to Maryville on Sept. 20.

Oak Ridge will play Science Hill (9-1) in a first round playoff game at Blankenship Field at 7 p.m. Friday.

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Pumpkin Fest, regatta, car show this weekend

October 26, 2012 By 7 Comments

From a regatta and football to a car show and pumpkin festival, there is much to do in Oak Ridge this weekend.

Tonight, the Oak Ridge Wildcats football team wraps up its regular season with a 7:30 p.m. game at Campbell County.

On Saturday, the Secret City Head Race starts at 8 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Marina, and the annual Pumpkin Fest starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. in Grove Center.

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Rebels beat Wildcats 38-23

September 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost their first football game of the season on Thursday, falling to the Maryville Rebels 38-23 at Blankenship Field.

The Wildcats are now 4-1, and the Rebels are 5-0.

The Wildcats, who are undefeated in the district, play Anderson County on Friday, Sept. 28, at Blankenship Field.

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Wildcats defeat Panthers 21-3

September 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Powell Panthers 21-3 at Blankenship Field on Friday night.

The Wildcats football team is now 3-0, and the Panthers are 3-1.

Oak Ridge plays at Halls at 7:30 p.m. next Friday, Sept. 14.

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Oak Ridge High School football starts tonight at Farragut

August 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School football season starts tonight at Farragut.

The Wildcats play the Farragut Admirals, and the game starts at 7:30 p.m.

Update: Oak Ridge won 28-24.

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Boys Club Alumni prepare for football, ask for repair help Saturday

July 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Boys Club Alumni Association will be working Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to update the press box and concession stand for the club’s upcoming football season.

The Alumni is working to revitalize the program and has partnered with Greg Palmer from Tennessee Tool and Engineering to purchase all new helmets and uniforms, according to an e-mail from Alumni President Aaron Wells.

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