Wildcats sink Admirals’ ship 35-3

October 11, 2023

In its last five games, the Oak Ridge High School football team has been away from home as it battled some of the area’s toughest completion.

Last week, the Wildcats concluded the road portion of its 2023 schedule with an impressive victory at Farragut.

In its final scheduled road trip of the campaign, Oak Ridge made the trip to West Knox County to renew acquaintances with one of its oldest rivals.

The Wildcats claimed the 35-3 victory Friday night at Bill Clabo Field.

The win avenged last year’s 24-0 loss to the Admirals at Blankenship Field.

Oak Ridge’s defense allowed the Admirals more than 200 yards of total offense over the first 24 minutes of the contest, but surrendered just three points. Ryan McCue kicked a 34-yard field goal to cap the Admirals’ first possession of the game with 2 minutes, 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

“Any time you hold a team like Farragut to three points, it’s great,” ORHS first-year Head Coach Derek Rang said. “Our defense played really well.

“Our secondary had their hands on the ball all night,” he said. “We had two interceptions and some deflections.

“Our defensive staff did a great job all week, getting our guys into the right positions.”

Defensively, Elijah Bradley, a senior defensive lineman, made things miserable for Farragut’s Cam Duncan, sacking the Admirals quarterback three times.

Duncan also lofted a pair of interceptions, as he was picked off by Pryce Davis and Ja’Rell Jimmerson.

In addition to his interception, Davis recorded seven tackles and one pass breakup.

Vashawn Nalls, the Wildcats’ leading tackler, came up with nine stops against Farragut (2-5), which has lost five consecutive games in a season for the first time since 2001.

Offensively, running back De’Jauvis Dozier posted another stellar performance as he carried the ball 25 times, amassing 144 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

“Dozier was Dozier,” Rang said.

Dozier scored the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard run that culminated the Wildcats’ first drive, which covered 74 yards and took four-and-a-half minutes off the clock.

After the Admirals pulled to within four, at 7-3, Oak Ridge (6-1) got a rushing touchdown from an unlikely source.

Sophomore quarterback Blaine Stansberry, scored on a run from 11 yards out.

After keeping Farragut at bay in the second stanza, Oak Ridge used a quick strike to extend its advantage to 21-3 with 3:52 to go until halftime.

Almani Rembert took an inside reverse handoff from Dozier and rumbled 80 yards for a touchdown to close out the scoring in the first half.

For good measure, the Wildcats made one more stand, stopping the Admirals on fourth down just before the break.

Oak Ridge dominated the second half as it continued to stifle the Admirals, forcing the two turnovers.

On offense, Dozier had a 43-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter, and Stansberry threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Heyward in the final frame.

Next up for the Wildcats: Oak Ridge will return home to face Bearden (5-2) Friday night.

The Bulldogs enter the contest on the heels of five consecutive wins after losing their first two games by a combined eight points to Class 3A state champion Alcoa and Class 5A state champion Knoxville West.

It will be the Wildcats’ first home game since their 35-21 victory over Powell on Thursday, Aug. 31.

“We’re looking forward to getting back home,” Rang said.

“Last time we played at Blankenship, it was in the summer,” he said. “Now the season’s changed as far as the weather.

“We went 4-1 in those road games and that’s pretty good, but it will be nice to play at home, and hopefully, we’ll have some home playoff games.”