Oak Ridge Today

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…]

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.

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Sevier County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-wildcats-jordan-graham-run-sevier-county-sept-23-2016

Oak Ridge sophomore Jordan Graham (22) runs during a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Homecoming Night on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge jumped to a quick 35-0 first-quarter lead over Sevier County on Friday, and the Wildcats finished with a 42-10 win on Homecoming Night. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Caleb Jackson scores twice, recovers two turnovers in Wildcats’ win at Lenoir City

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-lenoir-city-football-caleb-jackson-run-2-sept-16-2016-web

Oak Ridge senior Caleb Jackson (25) scored two touchdowns for the Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, and he recovered two Lenoir City turnovers during a 45-8 win over the Panthers in Lenoir City. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—Oak Ridge senior Caleb Jackson scored two touchdowns for the Wildcats on Friday, and he recovered two Lenoir City turnovers during a 45-8 win over the Panthers.

Senior wide receiver Tee Higgins, a Clemson commitment, added three touchdowns for Oak Ridge.

The Wildcats scored on their first four drives, once after intercepting Lenoir City sophomore quarterback Gabe Williams.

Halfway through the regular season, Oak Ridge is undefeated at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Region 3-5A.

Lenoir City fell to 1-4 and 0-2 with the loss at home on Cecil Thomas Field.

Oak Ridge plays Sevier County (1-4, 1-1 Region 1-5A) at home on Blankenship Field at 7:30 p.m. September 23. It’s Homecoming Night. [Read more…]

Football photos II: Oak Ridge in 41-28 win over Dobyns Bennett

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Football Caleb Brinkman and Dobyns-Bennett Aug 26 2016 Culiat

Oak Ridge senior lineman Caleb Brinkman (76) is pictured on the sideline above during a 41-28 win for the Wildcats at home on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Dobyns-Bennett Indians 41-28 on Blankenship Field on Friday. Here is the second of two sets of photos by Julio Culiat. [Read more…]

Football photos I: Oak Ridge in 41-28 win over Dobyns Bennett

Posted at
By 4 Comments

Oak Ridge Wildcats and Dobyns-Bennett Football Clark and Thompson Tackle Aug 26 2016

Oak Ridge senior linebacker Kyndall Clark (54) tackles Dobyns-Bennett senior quarterback Cole Maupin (6) with help from Oak Ridge sophomore Caelan Thompson (32) during a 41-28 win for the Wildcats at home on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Dobyns-Bennett Indians 41-28 on Blankenship Field on Friday. Here is the first of two sets of photos by Julio Culiat. [Read more…]

Acrobatic catches, long TD runs, fumble recoveries help Wildcats in 41-28 win over D-B

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Jordan Graham Touchdown Run Dobyns-Bennett Aug 26 2016

Oak Ridge sophomore running back Jordan Graham (22) scored the last of his three touchdowns on a 79-yard carry up the right side of the field in the second quarter of a 41-28 win over Dobyns-Bennett on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats’ 41-28 win over Dobyns-Bennett on Friday featured acrobatic catches by senior wide receiver Tee Higgins, long touchdown runs by sophomore running back Jordan Graham, and three fumble recoveries by senior linebacker Kyndall Clark. He forced one and recovered another for a touchdown.

There were also a few firsts: first touchdown catch for junior wide receiver Caleb Martin and first interception of the season for senior linebacker Jacob Gross. And sophomore Kai’Reese Pendergrass, who returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown at Clinton last week, stopped a Dobyns-Bennett drive on Blankenship Field on Friday with an interception in the end zone in the third quarter.

The Indians (1-1, 0-0 Region 1-6A) dominated in total yards in the non-region game: 579 to 391. They also had 21 first downs to Oak Ridge’s nine.

But Dobyns-Bennett lost four fumbles and gave up two interceptions, and penalties (11 for 101 yards) also hurt the Indians. The Wildcats (2-0, 1-0 Region 3-Class 5A) had no turnovers.

Much of the buzz after the game focused on two highlight-reel catches by Higgins, who was double-teamed on both. [Read more…]

Photos: Wildcats scrimmage against Heritage

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Reedy-Heritage-Scrimmage-July-29-2016-Simmons-1

Oak Ridge rising sophomore quarterback Kevin Reedy (15) throws a pass during a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers of Blount County at Blankenship Field on Friday. Here are photos by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today and contributor Luther Simmons.

See a story on the scrimmage here.

Oak-Ridge-Booker-Heritage-Scrimmage-July-29-2016

Oak Ridge rising sophomore quarterback Herbert Booker (13) runs during a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak-Ridge-Booker-Heritage-Scimmage-July-29-2016-Simmons-1

Oak Ridge rising sophomore quarterback Herbert Booker (13) takes a snap during a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

[Read more…]

Wildcats scrimmage against Heritage; need to improve tackling, blocking, coach says

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Graham-Heritage-Scrimmage-July-29-2016-2

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. Pictured above is rising sophomore running back Jordan Graham (22). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers of Blount County at Blankenship Field on Friday.

Oak Ridge could have blocked better and tackled better, Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis said.

“They don’t score if we tackle,” he said.

The Oak Ridge first team tied the Heritage team 13-13. The Moutaineers outscored the Wildcats once the second teams came in, and the final score was 33-13.

But the focus wasn’t on the final score. Instead, Gaddis wanted to try different possibilities. Among other things, the Wildcats wanted to run the option quite a bit, he said.

“Scrimmages are all about learning about your team,” Gaddis said. [Read more…]