Wildcats clinch Region 3-5A title championship
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Wildcat Brandon Heyward gets by a Lenoir City defender for a big gain Friday night. The ’Cats took a 30-12 home coming win while clinching the Region 3-5A champion- ship with the victory. - Barry Houchin
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Oak Ridge’s De’Jauvis Dozier gets upended after running over one Panther Friday night. - Barry Houchin
Oak Ridge won a Region 3-5A football championship Friday night.
The victory didn’t garner too many style points, but in the end, that really didn’t matter.
“Tonight was not our best game,” Wildcats Coach Derek Rang said after Oak Ridge brought its returning alumni a 30-12 homecoming victory over Lenoir City at Blankenship Field.
“It does feel good to win a region championship, but we’ve got to play better next week,” he said.
ORHS (7-2 overall, 3-0 in Region 3-5A) struggled to contain the Panthers’ single-wing offensive attack, particularly early as Lenoir City, one of the season’s true pleasant surprises, scored first when Trey Wilhite scored on a keeper from three yards out with 7 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter to make it 6-0 before the Wildcats blocked the ensuing extra point.
The Panthers (5-4, 2-1) are in the midst of their best season in quite some time, despite enduring a coaching change just before beginning summer practice Yet, they were in the hunt for a region title until falling to the Wildcats last week.
Oak Ridge, however, would take the lead with its first score of the contest.
Running back De’Jauvis Dozier tied the game with a 3-yard touchdown plunge with 2:38 to go in the first half. Kicker Eli Pearson added the PAT to give the Wildcats the slim 7-6 advantage they enjoyed at halftime.
The two teams slugged through a virtually even third frame as Dozier’s 4-yard run, followed by Pearson’s extra point, extended the Wildcats’ lead, with the score 14-6 with 8:10 remaining in the quarter.
The Panthers answered with just a minute to play in the frame when Wilhite threw a touchdown pass. He was, however, intercepted on the unsuccessful two-point attempt that would’ve tied the game, and the score was 14-12.
In the final frame, Oak Ridge was finally able to take control as its defense turned up the heat and Dozier scored his third touchdown of the night on a 10-yard scamper to make the score 21-12 with 8:39 left in the contest.
On the Panthers’ next possession, Oak Ridge’s Elijah Bradley came up with a sack before forcing Wilhite to intentionally ground the ball, netting the Wildcats a safety, making it 23-12 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats would add the exclamation point to their victory when Will Presley scored on a touchdown run with under three minutes to play.
Next up for the Wildcats: Oak Ridge will close out the 2023 regular season with a region tilt against Campbell County at Blankenship Field Thursday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. The Cougars enter the game with a 4-5 record. CCHS is 1-2 in region play.