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Cherokees ends Wildcats’ season

Posted at 2:52 pm November 6, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Jacob Berven blocked a punt inside the McMinn County 10-yard line, giving the Wildcats a chance to tie the football game with about two minutes remaining.

But Oak Ridge was unable to convert that blocked punt into a score, and the Wildcats’ season ended in a 24-17 first-round playoff loss to the Cherokees on Friday. The Wildcats were unable to score when McMinn County stopped Oak Ridge quarterback Hayden Tarwater two yards short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play with 3.2 seconds left.

The season-ending defeat came a week after the Wildcats played their best game, a 48-21 win over region rival Campbell County.

Oak Ridge got credit for not giving up this season, even in the final minutes, despite their 3-8 losing record.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Brian Kelley, Caden Hester, Cherokees, Elijah Rogers, football, Hayden Tarwater, Jacob Berven, Jayden Miller, Kendall Jackson, Mark and Shawna Haste, McMinn County, Oak Ridge, Wildcats

Wildcats lose to South-Doyle in season-opener

Posted at 12:42 pm August 21, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment


The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost to South-Doyle in the opening game of the football season on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost to South-Doyle in the opening game of the football season on Thursday.

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost to South-Doyle in the opening game of the football season on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost to South-Doyle in the opening game of the football season on Thursday.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic

  • Basic monthly subscription ($5 per month)—access premium content
  • Basic annual subscription ($60 per year)—access premium content

Pro

  • Pro monthly subscription ($10 per month)—access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month
  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

Temporary

  • Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Premium Content, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Brandon Heyward, Cherokees, football, Hayden Tarwater, Jacob Berven, Jamichael Ham, Oak Ridge, Shawn Gary, South-Doyle, Wildcats

McMinn County gives Oak Ridge first loss, 28-24

Posted at 12:47 am October 8, 2016
By Tyler Wombles Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-wildcat-football Note: This story was updated at 1:55 a.m ATHENS—When the Oak Ridge Wildcats traveled to Athens on Friday night to face McMinn County, despite the Cherokees’ impressive 5-1 record, they probably were not expecting a loss. But that’s exactly what happened, as the two teams swapped leads throughout the contest, and the Cherokees just barely escaped with the win, 28-24. “They whipped us,” Oak Ridge head coach Joe Gaddis said. “To their credit, they whipped us. And I think they whipped us on both sides of the ball.” McMinn County burned seven minutes and 20 seconds off the clock on their first offensive possession, with all but one of the plays designed runs, and concluded the drive with a Zane Byas touchdown carry to put the Cherokees ahead 7-0. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Adarius Simpson, Caleb Jackson, Campbell County, Carson McGhee, Cherokees, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Knoxville Webb, McMinn County, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Tee Higgins, Xavier Abernathy, Zane Byas

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

Posted at 12:07 pm October 2, 2016
By John Huotari 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…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Adarius Simpson, Blankenship Field, Caleb Jackson, Campbell County, Cartez Campbell, Chase Kimbro, Cherokees, Daniel Kitts, football, Herbert Booker, Jacob Gross, James Joseph "Joey" Kocak, Jaret Miner, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Julio Culiat, Karns Beavers, Kyndall Clark, Lenoir City, Mark and Shawna Haste, McMinn County, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Panthers, Sevier County, Tee Higgins, Tre Jackson, Webb

Football stats: Oak Ridge and McMinn County

Posted at 11:22 pm October 10, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Wildcats Tee Higgins and McMinn County Zane Byas on Oct. 8, 2015

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) stretches to catch a deep ball from quarterback Jordan Dunbar, but the pass fell incomplete just off his fingertips. Higgins is covered here by junior Zane Byas of McMinn County (7). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Senior running back T.J. Allison scored two more touchdowns for Oak Ridge, and the Wildcats had their second shutout of the season in a 24-0 win over McMinn County at home on Thursday. Here are preliminary stats by Mark Haste.

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins, who did not score a touchdown last week for the first time this season, added another to his total on Thursday. With Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis watching from the sidelines, Higgins also had a long punt return that set up a touchdown and an interception on a long throw by McMinn County sophomore quarterback Bradley Hayes.

Senior running back D.J. Kimpson generated almost all of the offense for the Cherokees. He ran for 159 yards on 38 carries. That was more than three-quarters of the Cherokees’ total offense of 203 yards. Kimpson gained 109 yards in the first half alone. Hayes only threw the ball six times, and he had two completions and two interceptions.

See a story on the game here.

See Julio Culiat photos of the game here.

TEAM STATISTICS

Oak Ridge

McMinn County

FIRST DOWNS

18

Total 11

13

By rushing 8

5

By passing 2

0

By penalty 0
RUSHING

38

Attempts 46

208

Yards gained 189

3

Yards lost 28

205

Net yards 161
PASSING

9

Completions 2

15

Attempts 6

60.00%

Percentage 33.33%

1

Intercepted 2

122

Net yards 42
TOTAL OFFENSE

327

Net yards 203
PUNTS

1

Attempts 5

39

Average 27.4
RETURN YARDS

50

Punt returns 0

15

Kickoff returns 0

0

Interception returns 7
FUMBLES

1

Total 0

1

Fumbles lost 0
PENALTIES

1

Total 5

10

Yards lost 40

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Cherokees, D.J. Kimpson, football, Julio Culiat, Mark Haste, McMinn County, Oak Ridge, T.J. Allison, Tee Higgins, Wildcats, Zane Byas

Football photos: Oak Ridge and McMinn County

Posted at 12:57 pm October 9, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Wildcats T.J. Allison and McMinn County on Oct. 8, 2015

Oak Ridge senior running back T.J. Allison (6) had 96 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns in a 24-0 shutout win over McMinn County on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Senior running back T.J. Allison scored two more touchdowns for Oak Ridge, and the Wildcats had their second shutout of the season in a 24-0 win over McMinn County at home on Thursday. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

Wildcats Tee Higgins and McMinn County Zane Byas on Oct. 8, 2015

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) had a punt return that set up a rushing touchdown, a touchdown catch, and an interception during a 24-0 shutout win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Here, Higgins catches a 16-yard TD pass over McMinn County defensive back Zane Byas (7) early in the third quarter. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Adam Manookian, Adarius Simpson, Alex Alcorn, Chase Kimbro, Cherokees, Jamaya Bazel, John Chavis, Jordan Dunbar, Julio Culiat, Kyndall Clark, Logan Fadnek, McMinn County, Myles Hebrard, Oak Ridge Wildcats, T.J. Allison, Tee Higgins, Zane Byas

Wildcats pick up second shutout in 24-0 win over McMinn Co.

Posted at 10:15 am October 9, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

McMinn County D.J. Kimpson and Wildcats Alex Alcorn, Adarius Simpson, and Adam Manookian on Oct. 8, 2015

Wildcat defenders Adarius Simpson (24), Alex Alcorn (66), and Adam Manookian (35) stop McMinn County running back D.J. Kimpson (23) during a 24-0 shutout for Oak Ridge on Blankenship Field on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Manookian had five tackles and six assists, and Alcorn had one tackle, three assists, and two sacks. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:40 p.m.

Senior running back T.J. Allison scored two more touchdowns for Oak Ridge, and the Wildcats had their second shutout of the season in a 24-0 win over McMinn County at home on Thursday.

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins, who did not score a touchdown last week for the first time this season, added another to his total on Thursday. With Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis watching from the sidelines, Higgins also had a long punt return that set up a touchdown and an interception on a long throw by McMinn County sophomore quarterback Bradley Hayes.

Senior running back D.J. Kimpson generated almost all of the offense for the Cherokees. He ran for 159 yards on 38 carries. That was more than three-quarters of the Cherokees’ total offense of 203 yards. Kimpson gained 109 yards in the first half alone. Hayes only threw the ball six times, and he had two completions and two interceptions.

Higgins (6 catches, 98 yards) and Allison (20 carries, 96 yards) are now tied as the leading scorers for the Wildcats, with 11 touchdowns each.

Allison picked up four of his touchdowns in a 56-14 win at Karns last week, when Oak Ridge (7-1, 3-1 Region 3-5A) rushed for 514 yards. He added one on the ground and one through the air this week. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Anderson County, Cherokees, D.J. Kimpson, Jordan Dunbar, Karns, Logan Fadnek, McMinn County, Oak Ridge, Region 3-5A, shutout, T.J. Allison, Tee Higgins, Webb, Wildcats

Wildcats football game rescheduled to Thursday, JMS league championship game starts earlier

Posted at 1:05 pm October 7, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Joe Gaddis

Joe Gaddis, Oak Ridge Wildcats football coach

The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play McMinn County at home on Thursday rather than on Friday because of a high chance of thunderstorms on Friday, and a league championship game featuring Jefferson Middle School will start earlier Thursday.

The Wildcats game starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 8, on Blankenship Field, Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said. Gates will open at 7 p.m.

There is also a previously scheduled game on Blankenship Field on Thursday. That’s the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference league championship game, and it features undefeated Jefferson Middle School and Grace Christian, which has lost two football games, including one to JMS. That game had been scheduled to start at 6 p.m., but it will now start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Gaddis said.

He said there is a 90 percent chance of thunderstorms on Friday and Friday night, continuing into Saturday morning, and coaches didn’t want to take chances. The Wildcats have already had one game this season stopped in the first quarter and then restarted a few days later because of lightning. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Middle School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Blankenship Field, CAK Warriors, Cherokees, Clinton Dragons, football, Grace Christian, Jefferson Middle School, Joe Gaddis, league championship, McMinn County, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference

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Classifieds

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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