Oak Ridge Today

Football: Wildcats start season 0-2

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats have started the 2019 football season with two losses.

The first was a 13-6 loss to Hardin Valley at home on Friday, August 23, and the second was a 41-6 loss at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on Friday, August 30.

The Wildcats will play their first Region 3-5A game at Campbell County (2-0) on Friday.

Oak Ridge scored their one touchdown in the season-opening game against Hardin Valley (1-1) with a 21-yard pass from junior quarterback Mitchell Gibbons to senior running back Tyrell Romano with 8:26 left in the third quarter.

[Read more…]

Basketball: Smith scores career-high 34 as Wildcats sweep Karns

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Marcus Smith (2) scored a career-high 34 points during an 82-65 win over Karns at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior guard Marcus Smith (2) scored a career-high 34 points during an 82-65 win over Karns at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge senior guard Marcus Smith scored a career-high 34 points as the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats swept Karns at home on Tuesday.

Smith also had eight rebounds and five assists during the 82-65 win over the Beavers at Wildcat Arena.

“I was really proud of Marcus,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

Eleven of his points were from the free throw line, where Smith was 11-of-15.

Oak Ridge senior guard JaVonte Thomas scored 18 points for the Wildcats (6-1, 3-0 District 3-AAA) and pulled down 10 rebounds. Senior guard Joe Kesterson added 10 points, with nine of those on three-point shots. Junior guard Isaiah Johnson scored eight, and sophomore forward Jeremy Miller had six points and 10 rebounds. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge at Clinton

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pictured above during a 54-28 win at Clinton on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, are Oak Ridge junior linemen Tyler Galloway (72) and Issair Franquez (70). (Photo by Barry Houchin)

Pictured above during a 54-28 win at Clinton on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, are Oak Ridge junior linemen Tyler Galloway (72) and Issair Franquez (70). (Photo by Barry Houchin)

 

After a week off earlier this month, the Oak Ridge Wildcats (8-1, 5-0 Region 3-5A) have had two more regional wins in the past two weeks: a 54-28 win at Clinton on Friday, October 12, and a 28-21 win at home against Powell on Friday, October 19.

Here are photos from the Clinton game by Barry Houchin. [Read more…]

Updated: After trailing Powell in first half, Wildcats take lead in second

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge trailed Powell in the first half on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, but took the lead and a 28-21 win in the second half.

Oak Ridge trailed Powell in the first half on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, but took the lead and a 28-21 win in the second half.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 20.

Oak Ridge trailed Powell in the first half on Blankenship Field on Friday but took the lead and a 28-21 win in the second half.

It was the second week in a row that Oak Ridge (8-1, 5-0 Region 3-5A) struggled in the first half but played better in the second. Last week, Oak Ridge led Clinton 24-21 at halftime but then scored 30 points in the second half to beat the Dragons 54-28.

The Wildcats will meet the only other undefeated team in the region, Fulton (also 8-1, 5-0), at 7 p.m. Thursday in Oak Ridge for the region championship. It’s the last regular-season game.

Powell (1-8, 1-5 after forfeiting six wins due to an ineligible player) had a 21-7 lead over Oak Ridge halfway through the second quarter on Friday. But the Wildcats narrowed the lead to 21-14 on a two-yard run by senior Jordan Graham with 1:20 remaining before halftime. The Wildcats then scored two more touchdowns in the second half while holding the Panthers scoreless. [Read more…]

Football photos by Houchin

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior quarterback Herbert Booker (13) scrambles during a 20-14 loss to Farragut on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

Oak Ridge senior quarterback Herbert Booker (13) scrambles during a 20-14 loss to Farragut on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

 

The Oak Ridge football team is 6-1 so far this season. Here are photos from some of their first seven games, courtesy of Barry Houchin.

Oak Ridge is off this week. They play next at Clinton on Friday, October 12. [Read more…]

Football: Oak Ridge Wildcats 6-1 so far this season

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats walk down the stairs at Jack Armstrong Stadium before a 41-12 win over Dobyns-Bennett on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats walk down the stairs at Jack Armstrong Stadium before a 41-12 win over Dobyns-Bennett on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

 

The Oak Ridge football team is 6-1 so far this season.

The Wildcats have had three wins and no losses in Region 3-5A. They have defeated Campbell County at home and West and Karns on the road.

Their other three wins were in non-regional games, with victories at Hardin Valley, at home against Dobyns-Bennett, and at Sevier County.

Their one loss, a non-regional game, was to Farragut on Blankenship Field.

All three games remaining in the regular season are regional games: Clinton (1-5, 0-2); Powell (6-1, 3-1); and Fulton (5-1, 2-0).

Oak Ridge is off this week. They play at Clinton on Friday, October 12. Their final two games, against Powell and Fulton, will be at home on October 19 and 25.

Here is a summary of the first seven games. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge vs. Powell in boys’ district championship

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Josh Woods of Powell (12) is pictured above during the 60-58 District 3-AAA championship win over Oak Ridge at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Josh Woods of Powell (12) is pictured above during the 60-58 District 3-AAA championship win over Oak Ridge at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HALLS—Oak Ridge hadn’t lost a district game in four years, but Powell ended the Wildcats’ long 70-game win streak during the district championship at Halls last week. The Panthers outscored the Wildcats 14-9 in the final quarter for a 60-58 upset victory to win the District 3-AAA basketball championship at Halls High School on Saturday, February 17.

Here are photos from the game.
[Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Anderson County district semifinal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Marcus Smith (2) of Oak Ridge during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Anderson County at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Behind him is Seth Caldwell (4). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Marcus Smith (2) of Oak Ridge during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Anderson County at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Behind him is Seth Caldwell (4). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HALLS—The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play for a district championship against Powell at Halls tonight (Saturday, February 17). The Wildcats advanced to the title game by beating Anderson County 69-61 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Halls on Friday.

Here are photos from Friday’s game. We will try to add more photo captions as we can. [Read more…]

Wildcats play for district championship tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Levert Smith (5) of Oak Ridge during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Anderson County at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Levert Smith (5) of Oak Ridge during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Anderson County at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HALLS—The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play for a district championship against Powell at Halls tonight (Saturday, February 17).

The Wildcats (20-6) advanced to the title game by beating Anderson County 69-61 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Halls on Friday.

Powell (18-10) made it to the championship game with a 75-45 win over Karns in the other boys’ district semifinal game on Friday.

The Wildcats and Panthers also played in the district championship game last year, when Oak Ridge won 86-58.

On Friday at Halls, the Oak Ridge gained a 16-2 lead over Anderson County (20-12) in the first four minutes of the district semifinal, but the Mavericks then scored nine straight points to keep it close. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Farragut

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

 

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai'Reese Pendergrass (12) is pictured above at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai’Reese Pendergrass (12) is pictured above at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Here are photos by Luther Simmons from the Oak Ridge football game at Farragut on Friday, September 8. Oak Ridge was shut out 41-0. It was the third non-region game and the fourth game of the season. [Read more…]

Undefeated Eagles finish season 8-0, win league championship over Grace Christian

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

JMS Eagles Jack Replogle and Grace Christian Oct. 8, 2015

Jefferson Middle School quarterback Jack Replogle (18), an eighth-grader, runs for his second touchdown in a 30-14 middle school championship win over Grace Christian at Blankenship Field on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The undefeated Jefferson Middle School Eagles finished the football season 8-0 and won the league championship 30-14 at home against Grace Christian on Thursday. They were named Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference champions.

A week earlier, the Eagles won the city championship in a 52-0 win over Robertsville Middle School.

That means the Eagles were city champions, league champions, and undefeated this year. That gave jubilant JMS fans a reason to celebrate as they tried to recount the last season like this. It’s the best in a long, long time, Jefferson Middle School Coach Brian Wilson said.

It was the second time this year that the Eagles beat the Grace Christian Rams.

JMS eighth-grade quarterback Jack Replogle ran for two touchdowns on Blankenship Field on Thursday and three two-point conversions. [Read more…]

Jefferson Middle wins city championship in 52-0 blowout over Robertsville

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jefferson Middle Isaiah Johnson and Robertsville Middle Keyon Porter on Oct. 1, 2015

Isaiah Johnson (20) of Jefferson Middle School returned a Robertsville Middle School punt for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 24-0 lead at 4:05 in the first quarter. Here is being pursued by Keyon Porter (1) of Robertsville Middle School. Johnson also returned an interception a few minutes earlier for a touchdown in the first quarter of a 52-0 win over the Rams on Blankenship Field on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Five Jefferson Middle School football players scored touchdowns, and Eagles quarterback Jack Replogle ran for two and threw for one during a 52-0 blowout city championship win over Robertsville Middle School on Blankenship Field on Thursday.

Replogle wasn’t the only Eagle to score two touchdowns. Isaiah Johnson also had two. He returned an interception for a touchdown a few minutes into the first quarter, and he returned a punt for a TD about two minutes after that, giving Jefferson a 24-0 lead at 4:05 in the first quarter.

Three other Eagles scored touchdowns during the annual city championship on Thursday: Jonathan Ellis, Carson Hope, and Mitchell Gibbons. [Read more…]