Wildcats look to move past top-ranked Greene Devils loss
Wildcat defenders Brandon Heyward (13), Brian Kelley (33) and Dallas Frendt (27) shut down a Greeneville attempt to cross the goal Friday night at Blankenship Field. (photo:Chad Steed Photography )
And with good reason.
The Wildcats committed six turnovers, including four early giveaways en route to dropping a 49-13 decision to Greeneville Friday night at Blankenship Field.
“If there’s ever a game you need to flush, this is it,” Cummings said. “You just can’t hand them 28 points and expect to compete. There’s no way. We’re too good for this.”
This game was decided early. The Greene Devils, the state’s top-ranked Class 4A team, opened a 28-0 lead in the first quarter after the Wildcats committed four turnovers in the frame.
Oak Ridge (3-4) forced Greeneville (8-0) to punt on its first possession, but the Wildcats muffed the punt. The Greene Devils recovered. They later took the lead when Carson Quillen scored on an 11-yard run two minutes into the first quarter.
And things would only get worse.
The Wildcats fumbled on their next possession on a botched handoff, and Greeneville’s Bryson Myers recovered the ball in the end zone and it was 14-0.
After the Greene Devils extended their advantage to 21-0, Oak Ridge fumbled again deep in its own territory. Greeneville recovered at the ORHS 11-yard line. Quarterback Brady Quillen would later connect with wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs to make it 28-0 with 4 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in the frame.
Greeneville scored again before the Wildcats finally got on the board midway through the second stanza when junior quarterback Ethan Garza connected with Brandon Heyward on a 56-yard strike.
David Wilson added the extra point to help Oak Ridge pull to within 35-7.
The Wildcats missed a scoring chance when Wilson’s field goal attempt went awry late in the first half.
Over the first 24 minutes, Oak Ridge managed just three first downs (all in the second quarter) and was held to just three rushing yards.
Cummings couldn’t hide his frustration after the loss, but noted that the Wildcats must get better quickly.
“You can’t fumble the ball. You’ve got to catch the ball,” he said. “You can’t muff a punt and you can’t throw interceptions. Tonight, we were an equal-opportunity screw-up.
“We’ve got to get back to work because we still have a chance to have a home playoff game.”
Oak Ridge will have a short week before its final regular-season home game. The Wildcats will host Karns in a key Region 3-5A tilt and Rivalry Thursday showdown.
“We’ve got to come back in Sunday, have what would be a normal Tuesday practice on Monday, practice on Tuesday and have a walkthrough on Wednesday and get their legs under them.”
After a scoreless third quarter Friday night, the Greene Devils scored when Carson Quillen intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Greeneville would extend its advantage to 49-7, before Oak Ridge’s Jai Hundley scored on a late 74-yard touchdown scamper.