Oak Ridge senior Jordan Graham (8), pictured here during the Sept. 7, 2018, game against Farragut, ran for four touchdowns during a 42-40 quarterfinal loss to Catholic on Blankenship Field on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. (File photo by Barry Houchin)
Note This story was last updated with photos at 3 p.m. Nov. 17.
For the second year in a row, the Oak Ridge football season ended with a state quarterfinal loss to Knoxville Catholic on Blankenship Field.
Last year’s final score was 37-28 in favor of the Fighting Irish. Catholic went on to win the Class 5A state championship.
This year’s final score in Oak Ridge was closer, 42-40, but Catholic prevailed again.
The Wildcats (9-3) led by 13 points, 27-14, at halftime of the Class 5A quarterfinal on Friday. They widened their lead to 33-14 early in the third quarter when senior Jordan Graham scored his fourth rushing touchdown, his second four-TD performance in two weeks.
But after that score, the Fighting Irish (10-3) rallied with three touchdowns on three drives to take a 35-33 lead at 1:26 in the third quarter. They tacked on one more touchdown early in the fourth quarter to widen their lead to 42-33. [Read more…]
