Oak Ridge Today

Football photos: Oak Ridge and Campbell County

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Wildcats Tee Higgins Catch against Campbell County Oct. 30, 2015

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in a catch near the left sideline during a 45-6 win over Campbell County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge defense shut down Campbell County, and the Wildcats used an opportunistic offense and great punt returns in a 45-6 rout of the Cougars on Friday. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

See a story on the game here. See stats here.

Wildcats Darel Middleton against Campbell County Oct. 30, 2015

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Darel Middleton (9) stretches to catch a pass that was slightly overthrown by senior quarterback Logan Fadnek during a a 45-6 win over Campbell County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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Coaches agree: Oak Ridge peaking at right time, headed into playoffs

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Campbell County Cougars Oct. 30, 2015

The Oak Ridge Wildcats defense stifled the Campbell County Cougars’ running game on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, allowing only 33 yards rushing on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:15 a.m.

The two football coaches agreed: Oak Ridge is peaking at the right time, late in the season and headed into the playoffs.

After a decisive 62-6 win over Webb last week, the Wildcats celebrated a 45-6 rout of Campbell County on Friday on Blankenship Field. That win ensured Oak Ridge (9-1, 4-1 Region 3-5A) will play at home next week against Soddy Daisy, a Region 4 team, in the first round of the playoffs. The game starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 6, on Blankenship Field.

The Wildcats, the No. 2 seed, shut out the Cougars (5-5, 3-2) at home in the first half on Friday, October 30. The score at halftime was 45-0. Campbell County, the No. 3 seed, scored after Oak Ridge put in reserves in the second half.

“There is no doubt this is the best team we’ve played,” Campbell County Coach Justin Price said. “They’ve improved tremendously as the season went on.”

Since losing to Farragut 31-14 on September 4, Oak Ridge has outscored its opponents 327-75 in seven games. That’s an average of about 47 points per game for the Wildcats. [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…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge and Karns

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Wildcats Ka'Yon Waters and Adam Manookian and Karns Greg Tye on Oct. 2, 2015

Junior Ka’Yon Waters (31) and senior Adam Manookian (35) pressure Karns quarterback Greg Tye (12) during a 56-14 win for Oak Ridge on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

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. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

See a story on the game here.

See stats here.

Wildcats T.J. Allison and Karns Travis Blair on Oct. 2, 2015

Oak Ridge senior running back T.J. Allison (6) ran for 171 yards and four touchdowns during a 56-14 win at Karns on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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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…]

Photos: Oak Ridge and Sevier County football

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Wildcats T.J. Allison at Sevier County Sept. 24, 2015

T.J. Allison (6) had his second two-touchdown game this year in a 44-34 win over Sevier County on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Allison scored on one-yard and 10-yard runs. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was updated with more photos at 4:23 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.

Here are photos from the Thursday night game by Julio Culiat.

Wildcats Caleb Jackson at Sevier County on Sept. 24, 2015

Oak Ridge junior Caleb Jackson (25) had a touchdown for the Wildcats on a 57-yard catch from quarterback Logan Fadnek in a 44-34 win over Sevier County on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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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…]

Photos: Oak Ridge and Lenoir City football

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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)

 

Led by the three touchdowns of freshman Jordan Graham, the Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Lenoir City Panthers 55-15 on Homecoming Night at Blankenship Field on Friday. Here are photos from the Friday night game, with all but one by Julio Culiat. [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…]

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)

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Photos: Oak Ridge Wildcats and Clinton Dragons

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Chase Kimbro and Clinton Dragons

Oak Ridge junior linebacker Chase Kimbro (10), who had four tackles, one assist, and a sack, tackles Clinton senior quarterback Tyler Thackerson (8). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Friday night football game between the Oak Ridge Wildcats and Clinton Dragons at Blankenship Field was very well-attended, with the ticket line snaking around the lower parking lot at Blankenship Field and down Broadway. The Wildcats won 24-13 in the season opener. Here are pictures by Julio Culiat and John Huotari.

Oak Ridge Wildcats Adarius Simpson and Clinton Dragons

Oak Ridge sophomore Adarius Simpson (24) returns the football to the Clinton 45 after a Dragons field goal attempt was blocked by junior Wildcat Jaret Miner. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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Defense, TD passes to Higgins give Wildcats 24-13 win over Clinton

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Jordan Dunbar and Clinton Dragons

Senior quarterback Jordan Dunbar (14) ran for 27 yards on nine carries and six first downs against the Clinton Dragons on Blankenship Field on Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22.

Junior receiver Tee Higgins caught two touchdown passes, and the Oak Ridge defense prevented Clinton from scoring in the first half as the Wildcats beat the Dragons 24-13 in the season opener at home on Friday.

Oak Ridge also blocked a Clinton field goal attempt, sacked senior quarterback Tyler Thackerson five times, and scored a defensive touchdown on a high Dragon punt snap that rolled into the end zone. The Wildcats also forced Clinton to turn over the ball twice on downs, and Oak Ridge senior Brandon Nickle kicked a 24-yard field goal about halfway through the third quarter.

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said the Wildcats played well on defense, especially in the first half, but the offense made some mistakes, particularly in the first half, that have to be corrected before next week’s game against Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport. [Read more…]