Oak Ridge Today

Photos: Oak Ridge and Webb

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Webb Brody Leonard Fumble and Wildcats Oct. 23, 2015

Webb fumbled four times in the second quarter, and Oak Ridge converted all four turnovers into touchdowns during a 62-6 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. Junior linebacker Kyndall Clark (54) had at least two of the fumble recoveries. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge scored on five turnovers by Webb in a 62-6 blowout win at Blankenship Field on Friday night. Junior wide receiver Tee Higgins scored three of the nine touchdowns for the Wildcats, all in the second quarter.

Here are photos by Julio Culiat. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge scores on five turnovers by Webb in 62-6 blowout

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Oak Ridge Jordan Dunbar and Webb Oct. 23, 2015

Oak Ridge senior quarterback Jordan Dunbar (14) scored the first touchdown for the Wildcats during a 62-6 blowout win over Webb on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 24, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1 a.m.

Oak Ridge scored on five turnovers by Webb in a 62-6 blowout win at Blankenship Field on Friday night. Junior wide receiver Tee Higgins scored three of the nine touchdowns for the Wildcats, all in the second quarter.

Webb fumbled four times in the second quarter on four consecutive possessions. Oak Ridge converted all four Webb turnovers, which were in Spartans territory, into scores. The Wildcats had a fifth touchdown after a turnover, an interception, in the third quarter.

Six different Wildcats scored touchdowns on Friday. Besides Higgins, they were senior quarterback Jordan Dunbar, senior running back Gavin Warrington, freshman running back Jordan Graham, sophomore running back Adarius Simpson, and sophomore quarterback Johnny Stewart.

Oak Ridge (8-1, 3-1 Region 3-5A) dominated in total yardage, picking up 480 yards to Webb’s 197. The Wildcats had 403 yards rushing, compared to 167 for Webb (4-4, 2-1 Class A, East and Middle).

“It was just a good all-around effort,” Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said. [Read more…]

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

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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…]

Wildcats rush for 500+ yards, Allison scores four TDs in 56-14 win at Karns

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Wildcats Darel Middleton and T.J. Allison at Karns Oct. 2, 2015

Senior running back T.J. Allison (6) scored four touchdowns, including two in the first quarter, during a 56-14 win over Karns on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Here, Allison runs for a 53-yard TD, his first of the night, behind the blocking of senior receiver Darel Middleton (9). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7 p.m.

KARNS—The Oak Ridge Wildcats rushed for more than 500 yards, and senior running back T.J. Allison scored four touchdowns in a 56-14 win at Karns on Friday.

With 514 yards rushing, it was the most productive running game for the Wildcats (6-1, 3-1 Region 3-5A) this season. Their previous high was 270 yards rushing against Sevier County on Thursday, September 24.

For the first time this year, the Wildcats had two runners with more than 100 yards rushing. Allison had 171 yards on 12 carries and four touchdowns, and freshman Jordan Graham, who went out with an ankle injury in the third quarter, had 163 yards on three carries.

Graham, who had a breakout performance against Lenoir City two weeks ago, has now picked up more than 100 yards in each of his last three games.

Friday was the least productive game through the air for the Wildcats. The Beavers held Oak Ridge to 75 yards passing, and for the first time this season, standout junior receiver Tee Higgins (two catches, 29 yards) did not score a touchdown. Higgins, a University of Tennessee commitment, was covered much of the night by senior Devin Harper, an Oklahoma State commitment who led Karns (1-5, 0-3) in rushing. [Read more…]

Wildcats score on four turnovers in 44-34 win at Sevier County

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Wildcats Jordan Graham and Sevier County on Sept. 24, 2015

Oak Ridge freshman Jordan Graham (30), who led the Wildcats in rushing, scores on a 74-yard touchdown run, widening the Wildcats’ lead to 37-20 at 9:19 in the fourth quarter in Sevierville on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat) 

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:09 p.m.

SEVIERVILLE—Oak Ridge scored three touchdowns and a field goal on four turnovers by Sevier County in a 44-34 win in Sevierville on Thursday.

The Wildcats added three more touchdowns without the help of turnovers to maintain their game-long lead over the Smoky Bears in a televised game on Hardin-Robertson Field.

Sevier County, which fought to stay in the game until the end, had more total yards than Oak Ridge, 441 compared to 379. The Smoky Bears had almost twice as many first downs, 19 to 10. But the Wildcats (5-1, 2-1 Region 3-Class 5A) converted two interceptions and a fumble recovery into touchdowns, and a third interception led to a field goal.

“We won the turnover battle big time,” Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said. “Our defense played well all night.” [Read more…]

Wildcats freshman scores three TDs in 55-15 win over Lenoir City

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Wildcats Jordan Graham Touchdown and Panther

With UT Coach Butch Jones watching from the sidelines, Oak Ridge freshman running back Jordan Graham (30) runs for his third touchdown, a 60-yard sprint, in a 55-15 win over Lenoir City on Homecoming Night at Blankenship Field. Blocking at right are senior Darel Middleton (9) and junior Tee Higgins (5). Middleton and Higgins both had TD catches on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:15 p.m. Sept. 19.

Wildcats freshman running back Jordan Graham scored three touchdowns, including one on the opening kickoff return and another in front of University of Tennessee Coach Butch Jones, during a 55-15 win over Lenoir City on Homecoming Night at Blankenship Field on Friday.

“It was a great experience,” Graham said. He gave credit to his teammates and their blocking for setting up his first three Wildcats touchdowns.

Graham, who ended with more than 100 yards rushing, started the scoring on a 91-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game. He initially fumbled the ball, but he recovered his own fumble and raced to the Panther end zone, first making defenders miss and then outrunning them.

Graham, a small, fast 14-year-old, scored again at 5:51 in the second quarter, sweeping around the right side of the offensive line after a toss from senior quarterback Jordan Dunbar, weaving through defenders in the center of the field, and running 59 yards to score inside the left pylon, making it 21-8. [Read more…]

Wildcats have first shutout, roll over Mavericks 41-0

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Wildcats Tee Higgins Mavericks Sept. 11, 2015

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) had two touchdowns against Anderson County in a game that started Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, but was suspended because of lightning, and then resumed Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Higgins has seven touchdowns this season, leading all Wildcats. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:45 p.m. Sept. 15.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had their first shutout of the football season, rolling over Anderson County 41-0 in a game that resumed Monday after being suspended because of lightning on Friday.

For the third time this year, junior receiver Tee Higgins had two touchdown catches. He has a total of seven this year, leading all Wildcats.

Oak Ridge senior running back T.J. Allison, who hadn’t scored before Friday, had two touchdowns on Friday and Monday, including his first touchdown catch of the season.

Senior running back and safety Gavin Warrington also scored his first touchdown of 2015, and so did senior running back and defensive back Davon Middleton. [Read more…]

Delayed for lightning, OR-AC game will resume Monday, will be free

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Wildcats Davon Middleton and Mavericks on Sept. 12, 2015

Oak Ridge senior running back Davon Middleton (32) picks up a big first down on a fourth-and-2 near the Mavericks’ end zone, setting up a touchdown catch by Wildcat T.J. Allison in the first quarter at Anderson County High School on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Friday night football game between Oak Ridge and Anderson County was delayed because of lightning, and it will resume at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Anderson County High School.

It will be free and start where it ended, with Oak Ridge leading 7-0 at 1:28 in the first quarter, Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis said Saturday.

He said lightning was last spotted at about 9:30 p.m. Friday at ACHS. A 30-minute delay is required each time lightning is spotted, meaning the game could not have restarted any earlier than 10 p.m.

But if officials had observed more lightning before the restart, they would have had to wait another 30 minutes, Gaddis said.

“It kept happening over and over,” he said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge drops from top spot to No. 7 in weekly football poll

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins TD Catch and Farragut Admirals

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in his first touchdown catch, a 37-yard reception, at 6:47 in the first quarter at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Also pictured is Farragut defender Justin Kirkendall (3). The Admirals won 31-14. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats dropped from number one to number seven in the Associated Press’ weekly football poll in Tennessee.

The Wildcats (2-1) fell six spots in Class 5A after losing to Farragut 31-14 at Bill Clabo Field on Friday.

Sevier County (3-0), which will play Oak Ridge in Sevier County on Friday, September 24, moved up to number three from number four.

See the complete poll results as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel here.

The Wildcats play at Anderson County at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 11.

Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis will discuss last week’s game and this Friday’s game during Coaches Corner at 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 9) at Pizza Inn in Oak Ridge.

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…]

Photos: Oak Ridge and Dobyns-Bennett

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Defense at Dobyns-Bennet Indians

The Oak Ridge defense stops Dobyns-Bennett quarterback Cole Maupin (6) during a 17-14 win for the Wildcats in Kingsport on Friday. Wildcats making the stop are Gavin Warrington (11), Jamalcolm Henderson (53), Kyndall Clark (54), and Adam Manookian (35). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

KINGSPORT—A tipped pass intercepted by the Oak Ridge defense at their own 11-yard line with less than three minutes to play saved a 17-14 win for the Wildcats at Dobyns-Bennett on Friday. See the story here.

Here are pictures by Julio Culiat and John Huotari.

Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins and Dobyns-Bennett

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) led all Wildcats in receiving with 136 yards on seven carries, four first downs, and one touchdown at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

Tipped, intercepted pass saves 17-14 win for Wildcats at Dobyns-Bennett

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Defense at Dobyns-Bennet Indians

The Oak Ridge defense stops Dobyns-Bennett quarterback Cole Maupin (6) during a 17-14 win for the Wildcats in Kingsport on Friday. Wildcats making the stop are Gavin Warrington (11), Jamalcolm Henderson (53), Kyndall Clark (54), and Adam Manookian (35). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m. Aug. 29

KINGSPORT—A tipped pass intercepted by the Oak Ridge defense at their own 11-yard line with less than three minutes to play saved a 17-14 win for the Wildcats at Dobyns-Bennett on Friday.

Before the tipped pass and interception, the Indians had blocked a Wildcats punt at the Oak Ridge 33 and driven to the Oak Ridge 10. The Wildcats were ahead by three, but Dobyns-Bennett had a chance to tie the game or even take the lead.

But with 2:39 to play, Wildcats senior defensive end Alex Alcorn blocked a pass by Indians quarterback Cole Maupin, and senior linebacker Adam Manookian intercepted it, shifting the momentum from Dobyns-Bennett back to Oak Ridge.

After the interception, two big runs by senior quarterback Jordan Dunbar helped the Wildcats (2-0) get the football into Dobyns-Bennett territory, where Oak Ridge was able to let time run out at the end of the fourth quarter.

“It was definitely a nail-biter,” Manookian said. “They were so close to the end zone.” [Read more…]