Heyward, Stansberry break records against East Hamilton

Wildcats run past Hurricanes, will host Clinton Friday night

November 8, 2023 by Ken Lay

On a night when its record book was re-written, Oak Ridge High School’s football team advanced to the second round of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs with a lopsided victory.

The Wildcats used a big second half to mash East Hamilton 49-22 on Friday night at Blankenship Field.

The Hurricanes, however, scored first, as they engineered a time-consuming drive. They used more than seven-and-a-half minutes, before ending with an 8-yard scoring dash by Jayden Haywood with 4 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter. That made the score 6-0, and the ensuing extra-point kick was blocked.

The Wildcats (9-2) came up empty on their first possession when Eli Pearson missed a field goal.

But early in the second stanza, ORHS took a 7-6 lead on a 3-yard touchdown plunge by De’Jauvis Dozier. Pearson added the extra point to give the Wildcats the lead.

In an evenly matched first half, East Hamilton (6-5) answered with a 23-yard field goal by Ethan Hixson with 4:59 left in the second stanza to help the Hurricanes regain the upper hand and take a 9-7 lead.

Then, Oak Ridge sophomore quarterback Blaine Stansberry began to break records. He would put the Wildcats ahead for good as he threw two long touchdown passes. He shattered two records previously held by Mitchell Gibbons.

Stansberry, now Oak Ridge’s single-season record holder for passing yards, threw a 54-yard scoring strike to Brandon Heyward. A short time later, he connected with Will Presley from 60 yards out to give the Wildcats a 21-9 lead with 2:23 left in the second stanza.

Stansberry said he knew the single-season record was in reach entering the contest against East Hamilton (6-5).

“I knew I only needed like eight yards coming in,” he said.

But that wasn’t Gibbons’ only record that the sophomore would shatter.

Stansberry was 10-for-20 through the air against the Hurricanes, amassing a school record 358 yards. He had three touchdown passes and two interceptions against East Hamilton, which pulled to within 21-16 with a touchdown just before halftime.

But after the game, it wasn’t about the records. It was about the next game, Friday’s second-round showdown against Region 3-5A and rival Clinton.

“I’ll probably go out to dinner with my guys,” Stansberrry said. “And that’s going to be about it. We’re going to the Waffle House, and then it’s all about Clinton.”

On the ground, Dozier led the way as he finished with 215 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

He was also on the receiving end of Stansberry’s final touchdown pass of the evening, an 80-yard strike.

Stansberry capped off the night with a 4-yard scoring plunge in the fourth quarter.

Heyward also set a school record for career receiving yards.

That mark was previously held by Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.

Now, the Wildcats will set their sights on the Dragons (5-6), who knocked off McMinn County.

“If you can’t get ready for this one, you might as well turn your stuff in,” Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang said. “Your goal tonight was to make East Hamilton put their pads up, and now, we want to make Clinton put their pads up.”