Oak Ridge Today

Wildcats miss opportunities in 31-14 loss to Farragut

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Jordan Dunbar at Farragut Admirals

Oak Ridge senior quarterback Jordan Dunbar (14) scrambles before throwing to junior receiver Tee Higgins in a 31-14 loss at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m. Sept. 6.

FARRAGUT—It was a game of missed opportunities. Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said. A missed field goal, a bobbled snap on a field goal, a touchdown that was called back, and another missed opportunity for a touchdown.

The Wildcats scored first and led for most of the first half. But Farragut gained a 17-14 lead going into halftime. Then, they added 14 more points in the second half while holding top-ranked Oak Ridge scoreless.

The final score was 31-14 in favor of Farragut. The Admirals had 28 unanswered points starting late in the second quarter.

Both teams were undefeated at 2-0 coming into the rivalry game. It was the first time Oak Ridge (2-1, 1-1 Region 3-5A) has trailed in a game this year. The Wildcats lost even though they had more total yards offense than Farragut (3-0, 1-0), with 409 compared to the Admirals’ 325. [Read more…]

Updated: Wildcats shut out Farragut on long kicks, interception

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Gavin Warrington of Oak Ridge Wildcats

Oak Ridge used two quarterbacks on Friday, junior Gavin Warrington, #11 above, and junior Logan Fadnek. Also pictured above is junior running back Isiah Jones, #20. (Photos by Julio Culiat.)

 

Note: This story was last updated with new photos at 11:30 p.m. August 30.

Oak Ridge coach Joe Gaddis savored the 13-0 shutout during the season opener against the Farragut Admirals on Friday night.

“Anytime you get out a shutout against anyone, it’s sweet,” Gaddis told the team during a post-game huddle. “Against these guys, it’s even sweeter.”

Neither offense was able to score a touchdown at Blankenship Field. The Wildcats scored twice on long kicks by junior Brandon Nickle—the first was 44 yards and the second was 46—and an interception returned up the left sideline for a 76-yard touchdown by cornerback Jemiah Hall.

Senior cornerback and wide receiver Ted Mitchell had a momentum-stopping interception near the goal line with about a minute-and-a-half to play, ending Farragut’s final drive deep in Wildcats territory.

“They were moving the ball, and I knew we had to come up with a big play,” Mitchell said of his first-ever goal-line pick. “I didn’t care who it was. Luckily, it was me.” [Read more…]

Down at halftime, Wildcats rally but fall to Farragut 31-24

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Interception Tommy Kaczocha

An interception by junior defensive back Tommy Kaczocha, right, early in the third quarter helps set up Oak Ridge’s first touchdown.

FARRAGUT—Down three touchdowns at halftime, the Oak Ridge Wildcats rallied in the second half against Farragut on Friday, keeping the football game close but falling to the Admirals 31-24.

It was, in part, a test of the high expectations that had been set for returning Coach Joe Gaddis, who led the Wildcats to their last state championship in 1991 and returned to Oak Ridge in March after 15 years away.

Fans disheartened by the score at the end of the first half at Bill Clabo Field in Farragut were encouraged by the turnaround in the second. [Read more…]