’Cats rushing game too much for Golden Eagles
Cummings prepared for Rhea County’s Wing-T
The Oak Ridge Wildcats used the running game to send Rhea County home empty handed in the first round of the TSSAA 5A playoffs Friday night. Jai Hundley carried the ball nine times for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the 36-17 first-round win. (photo:Chad Steed Photography )
That didn’t prevent the Wildcats from defeating Rhea County 36-17 Friday night in the first round of the playoffs.
Last week, as the Wildcats prepared for the Class 5A playoffs, the flu bug ran through the program, causing several players to miss practice time as ORHS prepared to face Rhea County.
“At one point last week, we had 21 players miss practice, including 10 starters,” Wildcat Coach Scott Cummings said after his team defeated the Golden Eagles at Blankenship Field.
“(Junior quarterback) Ethan Garza didn’t practice until (Thursday), and that was really just a walkthrough.”
Garza struggled, going 6-for-14 for 151 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
But the Wildcats would prevail thanks to its two-pronged rushing attack.
Senior Jai Hundley had nine carries, amassing 149 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
Junior De’Jauvis Dozier had 63 yards and scored a touchdown as he toted the ball 10 times.
Dozier’s 32-yard touchdown scamper gave the Wildcats (6-5) a 6-0 lead with 4 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the opening frame. David Wilson added the extra point to extend Oak Ridge’s advantage to 7-0.
His touchdown represented the only scoring of the opening frame.
The Golden Eagles (2-9) would answer early in the second stanza when quarterback Kaleb Martin scored on a 1-yard plunge to knot the contest, 7-7.
It was apparent from the outset that Rhea County Coach Mark Pemberton, formerly coach at Knoxville Catholic and Rockwood, wanted to shorten the game by implementing a Wing-T offense, an attack that has helped his teams achieve success in the past.
Rhea County had used the I-formation in recent games, but came out in the Wing-T against the Wildcats, a look that Cummings thought his team might see.
“I knew Coach Pemberton was probably going to do that and I told our kids and our coaches that,” Cummings said. “I was really pleased with the adjustments that (defensive coordinator Robert) Ayers made.”
The Wildcats regained the lead a short time later on a 48-yard scoring dash from Hundley. The Wildcats then had a two-point conversion on a run by Brandon Heyward to give them the 15-7 lead they enjoyed at halftime.
After the break, the Golden Eagles pulled to within 15-10 when Cole Ruehling kicked a 39-yard field goal. But Rhea County wouldn’t come any closer.
Hundley’s 18-yard run made it 22-10 before Oak Ridge’s Grayson Hope recovered a Golden Eagle fumble that was forced by senior Tyler Pickens.
A short time later, Garza threw a 43-yard scoring strike to Elijah Rogers, who finished with 93 yards on three receptions.
Hundley capped the Wildcats’ night with a 62-yard touchdown run to make the score 36-10 before Rhea County added a late touchdown.
Hundley said the win over the Golden Eagles was notable.
“These kind of wins are special because you know that next week is not promised,” he said. “It meant a lot to our seniors.”