Wildcats defense shines in third shutout of season

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:15 a.m.

By Alex Myers

ATHENS, Tennessee—It was a beautiful night for a high school football game in McMinn County on Friday night.

Oak Ridge traveled down Interstate 75 Friday evening to face the Cherokees of McMinn County High School in Athens. Oak Ridge (4-0, 2-0 District 3-AAA) was coming off of a 42-0 win against Halls, while McMinn County (0-5, 0-1 District 5-AAA) was looking to rebound after a 32-point loss to Alcoa last week.

The Wildcats got things started quickly in the first quarter after getting on the board with a five-yard touchdown run from Jaylen Nickerson. Just minutes later shortly after a Cherokee turnover, Nickerson carried the ball in from 22 yards out for his second touchdown of the game.

With 1:39 left in the first quarter, junior quarterback Logan Fadnek connected with Jordan Dunbar to once again get the Wildcats into the end zone. At the end of the first quarter, Oak Ridge had jumped out to a 21-point lead.

 

With a scoreless second quarter in the books, the Wildcats clawed back again quickly in the third quarter. After a Riley Myer fumble recovery gave Oak Ridge possession at the McMinn County one-yard line, T.J. Allison bulled his way in for yet another rushing touchdown for the Wildcats. The last scoring drive of the night ended with an 11-yard touchdown scamper from Malik Hardy.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter, and Oak Ridge came out with a 35-0 victory against McMinn County.

The offense shined in McMinn County on Friday night, but the defense played a major part in the victory as well. For the third time in four games so far this season, the defense pitched a shutout. The Wildcat defense tallied one interception and three fumble recoveries on the night. Whether forcing turnovers or just forcing punt after punt from the Cherokees, the Oak Ridge defense shined under the lights on Friday night.

Oak Ridge coach Joe Gaddis said the Cherokees’ record is not indicative or reflective of their talent.

“To shut them out is a feat,” he said.

 

But Gaddis said he thinks the Wildcats defense is still not playing to its full potential.

Also Friday, Wildcats kicker Brandon Nickle broke the record of 53 consecutive extra points made without a miss.

The Wildcats move to 4-0 on the season and are on the road next week as they travel to Gibbs (3-2, 1-2 District 3-AAA).

 

***

Stats:

Passing: Logan Fadnek was 10-14 for 94 yards and one touchdown

Receiving:

• Tee Higgins caught four passes for 21 yards
• Jordan Dunbar caught four passes for 64 yards and one touchdown
• Isiah Jones caught one pass for four yards
• Brandon Bonds caught one pass for five yards

Rushing:

• T.J. Allison had 12 carries for 69 yards and one touchdown
• Chase Kimbro had two carries for five yards
• Gavin Warrington had one carry for zero yards
• Stefan Mortl had one carry for seven yards
• Jordan Dunbar had two carries for 17 yards
• Malik Hardy had three carries for 16 yards and one touchdown
• Logan Fadnek had two carries for -10 yards
• Isiah Jones had four carries for 37 yards
• Jaylen Nickerson had seven carries for 33 yards and two touchdowns
• Brandon Bonds had one carry for five yards
• Jaret Miner had one carry for two yards

Defensive:

• Jaret Miner had one interception
• Riley Myer, Ted Mitchell, and Ryan Waddell each had one fumble recovery

***

Here are preliminary stats, courtesy of Mark Haste:

TEAM STATISTICS
Oak Ridge		McMinn
	FIRST DOWNS
12	Total	7
10	By rushing	3
2	By passing	4
0	By penalty	0
	RUSHING
36	Attempts	27
224	Yards gained	54
15	Yards lost	31
209	Net yards	23
	PASSING
10	Completions	10
14	Attempts	18
71.43%	Percentage	55.56%
0	Intercepted	1
94	Net yards	81
	TOTAL OFFENSE
303	Net yards	104
	PUNTS
3	Attempts	5
35.3	Average	31
	RETURN YARDS
24	Punt returns	0
28	Kickoff returns	23
0	Interception returns	0
	FUMBLES
1	Total	4
0	Fumbles lost	3
	PENALTIES
9	Total	4
75	Yards lost	20

 

Rushing Stats

Num	Player	Total_Carries	Total_Yards	Long	Average	Yards_Gained	Yards_Lost	Carries	FD	TD
6	Allison, TJ	12	69	10	5.75	69		9,  5,  6,  4,  2,  6,  7,  7,  1,  2,  10,  10	5	1
10	Kimbro, Chase	2	5	6	2.5	6	1	-1,  6
11	Warrington, Gavin	1	0	0	.	0		0
12	Mortl, Stefan	1	7	7	7.	7		7
14	Dunbar, Jordan	2	17	9	8.5	17		8,  9	2
15	Hardy, Malik	3	16	10	5.33	16		5,  1,  10		1
17	Fadnek, Logan	2	-10	-1	-5.		10	-9, -1
20	Jones, Isiah	4	37	26	9.25	39	2	-2,  3,  10,  26	2
29	Nickerson, Jaylen	7	33	13	4.71	35	2	9,  2, -2,  13,  5,  2,  4	1	2
81	Bonds, Brandon	1	5	5	5.	5		5
84	Miner, Jaret	1	2	2	2.	2		2

Passing Stats

Num	Player	Completions	Attempts	INT	Percent	Yards_Gained	Yards_Lost	Total_Yards	Catches	FD	TD
17	Fadnek, Logan	10	14		71.43%	94	0	94	 15,  9,  9,  25,  4,  9,  15,  4,  5, -1	2	1

Receiving Stats

Num	Player	Completions	Yards_Gained	Yards_Lost	Total_Yards	Catches	FD	TD
5	Higgins, Tee	4	21		21	 9,  9,  4, -1
14	Dunbar, Jordan	4	64		64	 15,  25,  9,  15	2	1
20	Jones, Isiah	1	4		4	 4

 

Tackles by Position – McMinn Co. 2014
No.	Name	Tack	Assists	TOT	Yards	Sacks	Yards	INTs	Yds	Fum	Rcv	Fum	Blk	Blk	Blk
					Lost		Lost			Rec	Yds	Cause	FG/EP	Punt	Pass
34	Warmbrod, Matt	2	7	10		1	7
11	Warrington, Gavin		8	9		1	7
99	Middleton, Darel	2	6	9	4	1	10
66	Alcorn, Alex	3	2	7	2	2	7								1
81	Bonds, Brandon	3	2	5
16	Chitwood, Ricky		4	4
22	Myer, Riley	2	1	3						1	12
78	Fleming, Shawmain	1	2	3
1	Mitchell, Ted	1	1	2						1
4	Kaczocha, Tommy		1	1
7	Anderson, Jamar		1	1
10	Kimbro, Chase		1	1
53	Henderson, Jamalcolm		1	1
63	Brown, Diaz		1	1
84	Miner, Jaret			0				1							1
86	Waddell, Ryan			0						1
18	Hurd, Tomarrea			0
23	Hall, Jemiah			0
24	Freeman, Trevon			0
33	Hannah, Jordan			0
35	Manookian, Adam			0
36	Hammer, Wilson			0
65	Hostetler, Alex			0
68	Gray, Hunter			0
80	Kaczocha, Mark			0
87	Lawless, Alex			0
	GameTotals	14	38	57	6	5	31	1	0	3	12	0	0	0	2