Oak Ridge Today

Football: Gaddis named Coach of the Year in Region 3-5A

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Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis celebrates his 300th football coaching win after the Wildcats beat Clinton 42-6 on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis celebrates his 300th football coaching win after the Wildcats beat Clinton 42-6 on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The All-Region 3-5A Football Team has been announced, and among those honored from Oak Ridge are Joe Gaddis, Jeff Miner, Johnny Stewart, Kai’Reese Pendergrass, and Isaac Quick.

Gaddis was named Coach of the Year, Miner was named Defensive Assistant of the Year, and Stewart was named Co-player of the Year. Pendergrass was named Defensive Back, and Quick was named Punter.

Oak Ridge players named to the First Team were Adarius Cox, Caleb Martin, T.J. Johnson, Cobe Angel, Jack Borchers, Ramar Hawkins, Jeremy Mitchell, Jacob Adams, Adarius Simpson, and Jaycen McGhee.

Sam McFarland of Oak Ridge was named to the Academic Team.

Here is the complete list of those who were honored: [Read more…]

Gaddis gets 300th coaching win

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Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis talks to the Wildcats football team after a 42-6 win over Clinton on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. It was Gaddis' 300th coaching win. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis talks to the Wildcats football team after a 42-6 win over Clinton on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. It was Gaddis’ 300th coaching win. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 a.m.

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis got his 300th win as a football coach during a 42-6 win over Clinton on Friday.

Gaddis is only the seventh football coach in Tennessee to get 300 career wins, and he is one of only two active coaches with 300 wins, Oak Ridge school officials said. Gary Rankin of Alcoa is the other. Rankin was the first in Tennessee to win 400 games, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported in September.

Fans and players, parents and coaches, and students and school officials celebrated Gaddis’ milestone 300th win with a brief ceremony on Blankenship Field on Friday that included fireworks and photos, and signs and a football painted with the number 300 that was presented to Gaddis.

More than half of Gaddis’ wins have been at Oak Ridge, where he is 162-36. Gaddis first coached at Oak Ridge for 11 seasons, from 1988 to 1998, and he is in his fifth season back, after returning in 2013.

“I’m coaching at the best place there is to coach,” Gaddis said. “This is just a special place.” [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Karns

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Oak Ridge junior linebacker K-Juan Stacey-Wright (16) tackles Karns junior wide receiver Thomas Harper (10) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are sophomore linebacker Jacob Adams (44) and senior linebacker Matt Thompson (23). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior linebacker K-Juan Stacey-Wright (16) tackles Karns junior wide receiver Thomas Harper (10) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are sophomore linebacker Jacob Adams (44) and senior linebacker Matt Thompson (23). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Nine Oak Ridge Wildcats scored in a 49-3 rout of Karns in the homecoming football game on Blankenship Field on Friday. Seven different Wildcats scored touchdowns, and two kickers added extra points. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Nine Wildcats score in 49-3 homecoming win over Karns

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Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai'Reese Pendergrass (12) is tackled by Karns sophomore Trey Hawkins (7) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Jaycen McGhee (6) and Johnny Stewart (2). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai’Reese Pendergrass (12) is tackled by Karns sophomore Trey Hawkins (7) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Jaycen McGhee (6) and Johnny Stewart (2). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Nine Oak Ridge Wildcats scored in a 49-3 rout of Karns in the homecoming football game on Blankenship Field on Friday.

Seven different Wildcats scored touchdowns, and two kickers added extra points.

It was the third region win for Oak Ridge (5-2, 3-0 Region 3-5A) and the third straight win for the Wildcats.

The three remaining regular-season games are all region games:

  • Clinton (2-4, 0-2) at home on Friday, October 13;
  • at Powell (5-2, 2-2) on Friday, October 20; and
  • at Fulton (5-1, 2-0) on Friday, October 27.

The Wildcats do not play this coming week.

Oak Ridge finished with a season-high 324 yards rushing on 33 carries and five touchdowns on Friday. The previous high was 112 yards rushing against Farragut on September 8. That was the only other time this season that the Wildcats have had more than 100 yards rushing in a game. [Read more…]

Football: Wildcats improve to 4-2 with win over Sevier County

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Oak Ridge senior linebacker Adarius Simpson (24) makes a tackle against West at home on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. In the background is senior linebacker Cobe Angel (22). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior linebacker Adarius Simpson (24) makes a tackle against West at home on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. In the background is senior linebacker Cobe Angel (22). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats improved to 4-2 for the season with a 30-14 win over Sevier County at home on Blankenship Field on Friday.

The Wildcats are now 2-0 in Region 3-5A. Their remaining four games are all region games.

After their season-opening win at home against Hardin Valley, the Wildcats:

  • lost 28-25 in a non-region game at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on August 25,
  • won 17-15 in their first region game at Campbell County on September 1,
  • were shut out 41-0 at Farraugt, a non-region opponent, on September 8, and
  • won their second region game, 23-13, over West at home on September 15.

The win over Sevier County this past Friday night was the second straight win for the Wildcats.

Here are the four games remaining, all Region 3-5A games:

  • at home against Karns (2-4, 0-3) on Friday, September 29;
  • at home against Clinton (2-3, 0-1) on Friday, October 13;
  • at Powell (5-1, 2-1) on Friday, October 20; and
  • at Fulton (4-1, 2-0) on Friday, October 27.

All games start at 7:30 p.m.

Here are highlights of the season so far: [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-West

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Oak Ridge junior defensive back Herbert Booker (13) tackles West junior wide receiver Jackson Snodgrass (11) on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior defensive back Herbert Booker (13) tackles West junior wide receiver Jackson Snodgrass (11) on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Here are photos by Luther Simmons from the Oak Ridge football game at home on Blankenship Field against West on Friday, September 15. Oak Ridge won 23-13. It was the third win of the season, out of five games total, and the second region win of two played. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge shuts out Campbell County to win region championship

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Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis was pleased with the performance of the Wildcats’ defense, which is shown here trying to stop Cougars quarterback Zach Rutherford (12) during a 28-0 region championship win at Campbell County on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

JACKSBORO—The Oak Ridge Wildcats shut out Campbell County 28-0 on Thursday to win the Region 3-5A championship, making them a top seed going into the playoffs and giving them home-field advantage in at least the first two rounds, assuming they get a win in round one.

Here are photos from the game by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge vs. Karns

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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…]

Football: Cougars blank Dragons 35-0, improve to 5-0

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Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

Campbell County improved to a school-record 5-0 and 2-0 in Region 3-5A as they pulled away after halftime at home against Clinton on Friday. The Cougars won 35-0.

Zach Rutherford threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Logan Phillips that covered 56 and 58 yards, respectively. Patrick Strunk provided the balance for the Cougar offensive attack as he ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Clinton (1-4, 1-2) was held to eight first downs and was outgained 450-183. Ahmaad “Ro” Hardin led Clinton with 90 rushing yards, and J’Quan Thomas provided the Dragons’ lone defensive highlight with an interception.

Campbell County led 14-0 at halftime but scored 21 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach and start the clock running continuously. [Read more…]

Football photos, videos: Oak Ridge vs. Lenoir City

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Oak Ridge junior quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) hands off the football during a 45-8 win at Lenoir City on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Stewart threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, and he had 12 completions on 20 attempts (60 percent). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Lenoir City Panthers 45-8 in Lenoir City on Friday. Here are photos and videos from the game. [Read more…]

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

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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…]

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

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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…]