Oak Ridge Today

Wildcats beat Karns 56-28; three ‘big’ district games remain

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Karns Beavers

Jaleel Luster, right, a junior running back, was one of six Oak Ridge Wildcats to score during a 56-28 win over the Karns Beavers on Friday. (Photos by Julio Culiat)

Note: This story was last updated at 10:47 a.m.

Six players scored eight touchdowns as the Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Karns Beavers 56-28 on Blankenship Field on Friday.

It was the third time this season that the Wildcats have scored more than 50 points.

Coach Joe Gaddis said the Wildcats (5-2, 4-1 in the district) played well on offense, but he was troubled by a few passes the defense allowed when Oak Ridge was in control of the game.

“We don’t want to give up those long touchdowns,” Gaddis said. [Read more…]

Wildcats QB ties school record with five touchdown passes in 57-28 victory

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Ted Mitchell Reception

Junior wide receiver Ted Mitchell catches a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jaylin Henderson near the end of the first quarter during the 57-28 homecoming victory against the Gibbs Eagles on Friday. (Photo courtesy Julio Culiat)

Oak Ridge quarterback Jaylin Henderson threw a record-tying five touchdown passes as the Wildcats rolled over the Gibbs Eagles 57-28 during a homecoming game at Blankenship Field on Friday night.

Oak Ridge (4-1, 3-0 in the district) had eight touchdowns total as they scored on drive after drive and kept the Wildcats band busy playing touchdown tunes.

Junior wide receivers Ted Mitchell and Brandon Bonds each had two touchdown catches in the first half, and senior Michael Baker caught one in the second. [Read more…]

Two sacks prove critical in Wildcats’ 600th win

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Ted Mitchell

Ted Mitchell, a junior wide receiver for the Oak Ridge Wildcats, tries to go around a defender for the McMinn County Cherokees on Friday at Blankenship Field.

Two sacks late in the fourth quarter proved critical in the milestone 600th win for the Oak Ridge Wildcats on Friday.

The Wildcats (3-1) were leading 28-19 with less than three minutes to play, but the McMinn County Cherokees had driven downfield and were threatening to score with 2:32 left in the game.

But the Cherokees’ drive stalled with back-to-back sacks by two Oak Ridge defenders, sophomore linebacker Gavin Warrington and senior defensive end Kyler Jones. The Cherokees (1-4) were pushed back from a second-and-7 at the Oak Ridge 18 to a fourth-and-long at about the Oak Ridge 38. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge pulls aways from Halls in second half, finishes 37-6

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After what the coach called a sloppy start, the Oak Ridge Wildcats became more focused in the second half and opened up a wide lead over the Halls Red Devils on Friday, finishing with a 37-6 victory.

The Wildcats (2-1, 2-0 District 3-AAA) scored first on a 51-yard pass play from quarterback Jaylin Henderson to junior wide receiver Jiminquas Johnson halfway through the first quarter at Dink Adams Field in Halls. [Read more…]

Gaddis returns to Oak Ridge in 51-14 win over Clinton

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Jaylin Henderson and Clinton Defender

Oak Ridge quarterback Jaylin Henderson is pursued by Clinton Dragons linebacker Shane Hooks during a 51-14 victory for the Wildcats at Blankenship Field on Friday.

Oak Ridge Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis returned to Blankenship Field on Friday with a 51-14 win over the Clinton Dragons.

The Wildcats, who started and stuck with senior Jaylin Henderson at quarterback this week after trying three quarterbacks last week, are now 1-1.

“I am definitely happy,” Gaddis said after the lopsided victory. “We’re going to do this a bunch more.” [Read more…]

Wildcats play first home football game tonight

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Farragut Admirals

The Oak Ridge Wildcats play their first home game of the 2013 season against Clinton at 7:30 p.m. today at Blankenship Field. It’s also Former Wildcat Night. The Wildcats are pictured above playing the Farragut Admirals last week.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats play the Clinton Dragons in their first home game of the 2013 season at 7:30 p.m. today (Friday) at Blankenship Field.

It’s also Former Wildcat Night, and organizers said they hope to have a large group of former players walk down the steps at Jack Armstrong Stadium. They will meet at the top of the steps at 6:46 p.m. and, led by former player Jackie Pope, walk down the steps at 6:55 p.m. [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…]

Oak Ridge Wildcats open 2013 football season at Farragut tonight

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Coach Joe Gaddis at Wildcat Day

Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis leads a pep rally last week, one week before the season opener against Farragut.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats open their 2013 football season at 7:30 p.m. today (Friday) at Farragut.

It’s the first game for returning Coach Joe Gaddis, who came back to Oak Ridge in March after 15 years away. Gaddis led Oak Ridge to its last state championship in 1991, and his 119-24 record here is the best in the school’s history.

Still, the Wildcats could have their work cut out for them tonight. During a pep rally last week, Gaddis said Oak Ridge has lost the last six of seven games to Farragut. But Oak Ridge also played the Admirals in last year’s season opener, and the Wildcats won 28-24. [Read more…]

Workers repairing sinkhole under Oak Ridge soccer field

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Oak Ridge High School Soccer Field Sinkhole

Workers are repairing a 13-foot sinkhole under the soccer field at Oak Ridge High School.

Workers are repairing a 13-foot sinkhole under the Oak Ridge High School soccer field.

It started as an 18-inch hole two weeks ago, said Allen Thacker, Oak Ridge Schools maintenance and operations supervisor. A section of the field “fell out,” and water was observed at the bottom.

Workers dug down about eight feet and found water running in, Thacker said. [Read more…]

Jaguars eliminate Wildcats from state tournament

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The Southwind Jaguars opened up a wide lead in the fourth quarter and eliminated the Oak Ridge Wildcats from the state basketball tournament in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday.

The final score at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro was 69-47.

[Read more…]

No guarantees, but Gaddis plans to win every game

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Meet and Greet for Joe Gaddis

Several hundred people listen to Joe Gaddis during a Thursday evening reception for the returning Oak Ridge Wildcats football coach.

He can’t guarantee that the Oak Ridge Wildcats will win every game this fall, but returning football coach Joe Gaddis said he plans to.

Gaddis said he and his staff will revitalize fan support and increase the number of players. They will also rebuild confidence and excitement in the football program, Gaddis said during a Thursday evening reception at Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Arena.

We’re bringing it back, Gaddis told a few hundred people at the reception. Some of them wore T-shirts that said Gaddis’ Gang.

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Defense, team effort propel Wildcats past Sevier County to state tournament

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Jaylin Henderson of the Oak Ridge Wildcats

Jaylin Henderson scores with about two minutes left in the first half, helping to lead the Oak Ridge Wildcats to a 61-45 win over the Sevier County Smoky Bears in a sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Monday.

Defense and a team effort propelled Oak Ridge past the Sevier County Smoky Bears on Monday, sending the Wildcats basketball team to the state tournament for the first time since 2007.

The final score was 61-45.

Oak Ridge (28-5) will find out who they play in Murfreesboro next week during a drawing on Saturday.

[Read more…]