Oak Ridge Today

Football: Oak Ridge remains at No. 2 in Class 5A; Farragut moves up to No. 5

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Associated Press high school football polls for this week were released on Monday, and once again, East Tennessee is well-represented across the board.

In Class 6A, Maryville remains number one with Bradley Central representing East Tennessee as well at number four.

The Class 5A polls is dominated either by teams from our coverage area or those teams they could face in the postseason. Oak Ridge remains at number two, while Farragut moved up to number five after their win at Campbell County last week. Rhea County slipped to number six, McMinn County—which hosts Oak Ridge Friday—is number seven, with Campbell County falling three spots to number eight and Knox West hanging in the top 10 at number 10.

See the rest of the story on WYSH Radio for more information.

WYSH Radio in Clinton is an Oak Ridge Today news partner.

Football photos: Jefferson vs. Robertsville in City Championship

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

jefferson-robertsville-middle-school-football-city-championship-1-sept-29-2016-web

Jefferson Middle School quarterback Mitchell Gibbons (17) threw a 19-yard touchdown pass and scored twice on quarterback keepers on two-point conversions during a 16-12 win over Robertsville Middle School in the City Championship on Blankenship Field on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Jefferson Middle School Eagles won the City Championship for the second year in a row, beating the Robertsville Middle School Rams 16-12 in a game of fourth-quarter drama on Blankenship Field on Thursday. Here are photos from the game. [Read more…]

Football: Jefferson Eagles win City Championship for second year in row

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

jefferson-robertsville-middle-school-football-city-championship-jonathan-stewart-touchdown-sept-29-2016-web

The Jefferson Middle School Eagles won the City Championship for the second year in a row, beating the Robertsville Middle School Rams 16-12 on Blankenship Field on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. Pictured above is JMS eighth-grader Jonathan Stewart (2), who caught a 19-yard pass for a touchdown in the first quarter. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Jefferson Middle School Eagles won the City Championship for the second year in a row, beating the Robertsville Middle School Rams 16-12 in a game of fourth-quarter drama on Blankenship Field on Thursday.

Jefferson took the lead late in the first quarter and held it until midway through the fourth quarter, when the Eagles led by 8-6.

But then RMS sixth-grader Jayden Williams intercepted a JMS pass at about the Eagles 25 and weaved his way into the end zone, giving Robertsville its first lead of the evening, a 12-8 lead with 4:27 remaining.

But after the two-point conversion failed, the Eagles regained the lead 17 seconds later, when eighth-grader Jonathan Stewart, who scored both touchdowns for Jefferson, returned a kickoff for six points.

This time, the Eagles kept the lead for good. Jefferson quarterback Mitchell Gibbons, who also played defense, intercepted Robertsville quarterback Ky Hirsch on the Rams’ next and final drive, helping to preserve the Eagles’ win. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge vs. Karns

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-karns-football-kaireese-pendergrass-sept-30-2016

Oak Ridge sophomore Kai’Reese Pendergrass (12) stretches to try to make a catch during a 56-6 win over Karns on Senior Night on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The undefeated Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the winless Karns Beavers 56-6 at home on Blankenship Field on Friday. Here are photos by Julio Culiat. [Read more…]

Wildcats race to quick 35-0 start again, this time against Karns

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-karns-football-sept-30-2016

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) caught two passes for touchdowns for the Wildcats during a 56-6 win over Karns on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. One was a 56-yard reception on the Wildcats’ first offensive play, and the second was a 33-yard catch. Higgins is defended here by Karns senior Jefferson Holt (19). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Like they did a week earlier, the Oak Ridge Wildcats again raced to a quick 35-0 start on Friday. The undefeated Wildcats scored their first four touchdowns in their first nine plays during a 56-6 win over the winless Karns Beavers.

Last week, against Sevier County, the Wildcats rolled to a 35-0 lead in the first quarter.

This week, against Karns, they jumped out to a 35-0 lead by early in the second quarter, on Senior Night on Blankenship Field. Like last week, the scoring pace slowed after that.

Oak Ridge held Karns to 65 yards on offense.

The Wildcats again scored on their first offensive play, this time on a 56-yard pass from junior quarterback Johnny Stewart to senior wide receiver Tee Higgins, a Clemson commitment who was left undefended in the middle of the field.

Higgins scored again late in the first quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Stewart. [Read more…]

City offering paddleboard yoga classes at Civic Center

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A unique weekly class will be offered at the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool starting next month: paddleboard yoga.

The first class will be held on Thursday, October 13, and will continue each week on Thursdays. The one-hour class is also offered at two different times to accommodate various schedules: in the mornings from 7 to 8 a.m. and in the evenings from 8 to 9 p.m. [Read more…]

Middle school football: Jefferson, Robertsville play in City Championship on Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Jefferson Middle School Eagles and Robertsville Middle School Rams play in the City Championship game on Blankenship Field on Thursday, September 29. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Events start earlier, and there is an Eighth Grade Recognition Night Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Oak Ridger wins Paul Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

pwbawards-jack-bailey-2016

On Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, Jack Bailey of Oak Ridge and Demeco Ryans of Bessemer, Ala., received the University of Alabama’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award during halftime of the Crimson Tide’s first home game against Western Kentucky. (Submitted photo)

 

On Saturday, September 10, Jack Bailey of Oak Ridge and Demeco Ryans of Bessemer, Alabama, received the University of Alabama’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award during halftime of the Crimson Tide’s first home game against Western Kentucky.

The award, presented by the University of Alabama National Alumni Association, was bestowed on the two men at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Bailey, past district governor of Rotary District 6780 (which has 3,200 Rotarians in 65 clubs in East Tennessee) and a graduate of Oak Ridge High School, is the first male track and field athlete to receive the award in its 29-year history.

Ryans played football for the Crimson Tide from 2002 to 2005 and in the NFL for 10 years.

The award honors them for “their exceptional accomplishments regarding character, contributions to society, professional achievements, and service to their fellowman.” Past recipients include Bart Starr, Ozzie Newsome, Lee Roy Jordan, Bill Battle, Mal Moore, Joe Namath, and Sylvester Croom Jr. [Read more…]

Mavericks uncork big plays, notch 8th straight Crosstown Showdown victory

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County 71, Clinton 43: Stanton Martin completed 20 of 24 passes Friday night for 420 yards and seven touchdowns, while also adding 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground as the Mavericks capitalized on defensive breakdowns for several big plays on their way to an eighth straight win in the Crosstown Showdown with Clinton. The Mavericks have now won in 17 of the last 18 games.

Three different Maverick receivers caught two touchdowns each: Caleb Bethel (nine catches for 157 yards), Thyshaud Thrasher (five catches for 98 yards), and Michael Carroll, two catches for 99 yards. Everette Dews caught the seventh scoring strike.

Mason Phillips also had a strong offensive game for Anderson County as he tallied 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Mavericks racked up 604 yards of total offense. [Read more…]

CHS football: Kerr under fire; Parrott responds

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

After a disappointing start to the 2016 season, some fans of Clinton High School football have seemingly run out of patience. Anderson County Director of Schools Tim Parrott sent a letter Friday afternoon to local media outlets, county commissioners, school board members, administrators at Clinton High, and some parents urging people to stop spreading what he called “untruths” about Clinton football coach Josh Kerr.

Parrott said in the letter that he has met with parents of one football player and three community members that he said had concerns about the Dragon football program and Kerr. Parrott said he has met with Kerr supporters as well. In the letter, Parrott writes, “I have listened to their comments, been present at football practice and games over the past six years, and I have never witnessed Coach Kerr belittling players, being unsafe, or not playing to win.”

Parrott said that all coaches are also teachers and operate on one-year contracts that are evaluated at the end of each school year. [Read more…]

Volleyball: Lady Wildcats finish undefeated in district

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-high-school-volleyball-2016-senior-night-1a

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished undefeated in the district at home against Central on Senior Night on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (Photo by Jennifer Galloway)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats volleyball team finished undefeated in the district with a 3-0 win over Central on Senior Night at home on Thursday.

That win followed a 3-0 win over Clinton last Monday and 3-0 wins over Powell and Halls the previous week.

Oak Ridge (20-8, 8-0 District 3-AAA) has two games remaining in the regular season. The first is against Farragut at home on Tuesday, September 27. It’s the annual Dig Pink match meant to raise awareness of breast cancer, and it’s expected to be a good match. Junior varsity teams start at 5 p.m., and varsity matches begin at 6.

Farragut (19-3, 5-0 District 4-AAA) finished as state runner-up in Class AAA last year, losing 3-0 to Brentwood in the state championship game in Murfreesboro in October.

Here are final scores from the Oak Ridge-Central game on Thursday: [Read more…]

Higgins scores three TDs as Wildcats roll to 35 in first quarter against Smoky Bears

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-tee-higgins-punt-return-1-sevier-county-football-sept-23-2016

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5) returned two punts for touchdowns and he also caught a touchdown pass during a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Senior Tee Higgins scored three touchdowns, including two on punt returns, as the Oak Ridge Wildcats jumped out to a quick 35-0 lead over Sevier County at home on Friday.

After five touchdowns in the first quarter, though, Oak Ridge only scored once more the rest of the game. Still, the scoring outburst in the first quarter was enough to give the Wildcats (6-0, 3-0 Region 3-5A) a 42-10 win.

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said the Wildcats started well but didn’t play well in the last three quarters.

“We weren’t good after the first quarter,” Gaddis said. “We got sloppy. We got complacent.”

When you’re ahead of a team like that, Gaddis said, you’ve got to finish them. [Read more…]