Three words: Oak Ridge Football
Wildcats will open the Derek Rang era
BRANDON HEYWARD
The Wildcats parted ways with Scott Cummings after just one season.
Now Derek Rang takes the reins and Oak Ridge, which reached the TSSAA Class 5A quarterfinals, will look to improve upon the 7-6 record it posted in 2022.
ORHS’s league, Region 3-5A, will have a bit of a new look in 2023 as Powell has departed
The Wildcats, however, have Powell on their schedule as the longtime rivals will collide in Week 3 (Aug. 31) in a Rivalry Thursday tilt at Blankenship Field.
ORHS will open the first season of the Rang era against Jefferson County on Friday, Aug. 18. The Patriots, who are coached by former Vol Spencer Riley, reached the playoffs last season and finished 7-4.
Oak Ridge will have a bye in Week 2 before playing the Panthers (11-3 in 2022) in Week 3. Powell defeated the Wildcats twice last season, capturing a 30-14 victory in the regular season and nabbing a 43-13 win in the playoffs.
In Week 4 (Sept. 8), Oak Ridge opens region play at Karns. The Wildcats topped the Beavers at home last season, 56-28.
Karns will have a new head coach as Brad Taylor recently resigned after seven years. The last two years, Taylor guided the Beavers to the playoffs. Lee Warren has been named interim head coach for the team, which went 7-4 in 2022.
On Sept. 15, Oak Ridge will head south to play McMinn County. The two teams met in the playoffs last season, with the Wildcats winning a 13-12 thriller on the road.
Oak Ridge returns to region competition on Sept. 22 when it pays a visit to longtime rival Clinton. The Dragons were 5-5 last season, but they were winless in league play and missed the playoffs. Oak Ridge won last year’s meeting, edging the Dragons 21-14.
The Wildcats continue their stretch of five consecutive road games on Sept. 29 as they head to Fountain City to take on Knoxville Central at Dan Y. Boring Stadium. The Bobcats went 7-5 and made the playoffs last season.
ORHS plays Farragut at Bill Clabo Field on Oct. 6 in one of the area’s longest-running rivalries. The Admirals, coached by Eddie Courtney, went 9-3, reaching the second round of the Class 6A Playoffs last season.
The Wildcats will play their final three regular-season games within the friendly confines of Oak Ridge.
They host Bearden on Oct. 13. They’ll look to avenge last year’s 14-10 loss to the Bulldogs in West Knoxville.
Bearden won seven games and made it to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2022.
Lenoir City comes calling on Oct. 20. The Panthers had their best season in some time last year, going 4-6 but narrowly missing the playoffs. Oak Ridge topped LCHS 33-13 in 2022.
On Thursday, Oct. 26, ORHS hosts Campbell County. Oak Ridge trounced the Cougars 41-6 last year. CCHS made the playoffs and went 5-6 in 2022.