Note: This story was updated at 11:20 a.m.
Here is the 2017 game schedule for Oak Ridge Wildcats football:
- August 18—Hardin Valley at home (Blankenship Field)—7:30 p.m.
- August 25—Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport (away)—7:30 p.m.
- September 1—Campbell County in Jacksboro (away)—7:30 p.m. (Region 3-5A game)
- September 8—Farragut at Farragut (away)—7:30 p.m.
- September 15—West at home—7:30 p.m. (Region 3-5A game)
- September 22—Sevier County at home—7:30 p.m.
- September 29—Karns at home—7:30 p.m. (Region 3-5A game)
- October 13—Clinton at home—7:30 p.m. (Region 3-5A game)
- October 20—Powell at Powell (away)—7:30 p.m. (Region 3-5A game)
- October 27—Fulton in Knoxville (away)—7:30 p.m. (Region 3-5A game)
Fulton and West, both of Knoxville, are new regional opponents of Oak Ridge in 2017 under the 2017-2018 classification.
Farragut and Lenoir City—two high schools that were in Division I, Class 5A, Region 3, with Oak Ridge last year—have both moved to another class or region. Farragut, a longtime Oak Ridge rival, is now in Class 6A, although the Wildcats will still play the Admirals this season. Farragut won the Class 5A state championship in 2016 after losing to Oak Ridge during the regular season.
Lenoir City, which played Oak Ridge the past two seasons, has moved to Class 5A, Region 4, and the Wildcats will not play the Panthers during the regular season this year.
Teams that are still in the same class and region as Oak Ridge are Campbell County, Clinton, and Karns.
For the first time since 2014, Powell is now back in the same classification as Oak Ridge. The two schools were both in Class AAA, District 3, in 2014, when Anderson County, Central, Gibbs, and Halls were also part of the district.
Anderson County remains in Class 4A this year. Like Oak Ridge, Central, Gibbs, and Halls are in Class 5A this year, but in Region 2, as opposed to Region 3.
Here is Class 5A, Region 3, for the 2017-2018 school year:
- Campbell County High School of Jacksboro,
- Clinton High School,
- Fulton High School of Knoxville,
- Karns High School of Knox County,
- Oak Ridge High School,
- Powell High School, and
- West High School of Knoxville.
These were the teams in Class 5A, Region 3, in 2015-2016:
- Campbell County High School,
- Clinton High School,
- Farragut High School of Knox County,
- Karns High School,
- Lenoir City High School, and
- Oak Ridge High School.
Sevier County, which will play Oak Ridge during the regular season this year, is in Class 5A but in Region 2.
Like Farragut, Dobyns-Bennett and Hardin Valley, two other Oak Ridge opponents this year, are in Class 6A. The Wildcats have recently played the Admirals and the Indians, but they haven’t played the Hawks of Hardin Valley since 2012.
Joining Lenoir City in Class 5A, Region 4, this year is Knoxville Catholic. The Fighting Irish won the state championship in Class 4A in 2015 and made it to the state semifinals in 2013.
Catholic and Fulton, which won the Class 4A state championship in 2014, both moved up to Class 5A this year from Class 4A last year.
Other teams in Class 5A, Region 4, this year include Rhea County, which ended Oak Ridge’s 2014 playoff run in the Class 5A quarterfinals, and Walker Valley High School of Cleveland, which ended Oak Ridge’s 2016 playoff run in the Class 5A first round.
Other Class 6A teams that Oak Ridge has played during the past few years in scrimmages, the regular season, or playoffs are Cleveland, Heritage, McMinn County, and Ooltewah. The Owls ended the Wildcats’ playoff run in the Class 5A second round in 2015. Oak Ridge beat Heritage 41-14 in a scrimmage on Monday.
Other Class 6A teams this year include Bearden and Maryville, a football powerhouse that has been a regular state champion or state runner-up.
Oliver Springs High School is in Class 1A, Region 2.
You can see the 2017-2018 football classification on the TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) website here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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