Oak Ridge quarterback Jaylin Henderson is pursued by Clinton Dragons linebacker Shane Hooks during a 51-14 victory for the Wildcats at Blankenship Field on Friday.
Oak Ridge Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis returned to Blankenship Field on Friday with a 51-14 win over the Clinton Dragons.
The Wildcats, who started and stuck with senior Jaylin Henderson at quarterback this week after trying three quarterbacks last week, are now 1-1.
“I am definitely happy,” Gaddis said after the lopsided victory. “We’re going to do this a bunch more.”
Oak Ridge fans cheer on the Wildcats at Jack Armstrong Stadium on Friday.
Clinton Coach Josh Kerr said the game was closer than the score indicated. The Dragons missed opportunities to score early in the game and missed some crucial plays later, he said. Clinton, which only had four seniors starting Friday, gave up 30 points on big special teams plays, failed to score twice in the first half in the red zone, and could have done better stopping Oak Ridge on third downs, he said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to get them off the field on third down.”
In the first half, Oak Ridge (1-1) scored on a four-yard run by junior running back Michael Rowe, a 51-yard pass play to junior wide receiver Brandon Bonds, an eight-yard run by Henderson, and a pass play of more than 40 yards to junior wide receiver Ted Mitchell.
Clinton (1-2) scored once on a five-yard run by sophomore quarterback Tyler Thackerson, and twice turned over the ball on downs near the Wildcats’ 20-yard line. The score at halftime was 28-7.
Wildcats running back Jaleel Luster (#8) heads for the end zone late in the third quarter.
In the second half, Oak Ridge scored on a safety after a high snap sailed over the head of the Dragons’ punter, and the Wildcats later converted a blocked punt into a scoring drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown dive by junior running back Jaleel Luster. Sophomore Jordan Dunbar, who briefly swapped places with Henderson at quarterback, also ran one in from 15 yards out.
The Dragons scored once more on a two-yard pass play with less than four minutes remaining, but Rowe answered that by returning a kickoff for a touchdown for the Wildcats.
Gaddis said there is still work to do, however. He wasn’t happy with the penalties against the Wildcats in Friday’s game, the coach said. But he was pleased with the turnout at Jack Armstrong Stadium for the home opener.
“This was tremendous,” Gaddis said.
It was Gaddis’ first game back at Blankenship Field after 15 years away. He led the Wildcats to their last state championship in 1991.
Note: This story was last updated at 1 a.m. Sept. 7.
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