Wildcats take advantage of reps at Knoxville Classic
Rang: ‘We wanted to give our kids a chance to get out in the sun and have a little fun’
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Trenton Javins finds some running room after making the catch in the Wildcats’ 7-on-7 matchup against Hardin Valley Academy last Thursday. - Tony Cox
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Blaine Stansberry led the passing attack for the Wildcats during last week’s Knoxville Classic. The junior quarter-back broke the single-season passing record in 2023. - Tony Cox
Oak Ridge High School’s football team hit the gridiron late last week in the Knoxville Classic 7-on-7 Tournament.
The Wildcats played five games at Powell High School and had some success.
But Coach Derek Rang wasn’t concerned about wins and losses or even final scores.
“We used this as more of a tool,” said Rang, who begins his second season as the Wildcats’ head coach.
“We wanted to give our kids a chance to get out in the sun and have a little fun.
“We played five games and we gave our kids a chance to get some reps,” he said.
“What you do in 7-on-7 is not what we do, but if you’re a team that throws 50 or 60 times a game, and we have a few of those in the area who do that, then it is important for your preparations.
“We also got the chance to give our younger guys some reps, and that’s important because we don’t have a lot of seniors this year.”
The Wildcats will look to have a balanced offensive attack in 2024.
“We want to score points through the air, but we also want to score on the ground, and we’re going to look a little bit different this year,” Rang said. “We don’t have a lot of seniors, and this year we’ll use a lot of receivers.
“Also, our quarterback, Blaine (Stansberry), can run the football,” he said. “We didn’t showcase that last year because we didn’t have to. But we’ll use him as a dual threat this year. We’re looking for some pieces and we’re trying to find our identity.”
Defensively, 7-on-7 also has a different dynamic.
“In 7-on-7, it’s normal to use seven defensive backs, and you’ll never do that in a real football game,” Rang said. “In a real game, you’ll use five defensive backs in a nickel package.”
Linemen shine in Knoxville Classic: While offensive and defensive linemen do not compete in 7-on-7 competition, the Powell High School tournament features the lineman challenge.
The Wildcats’ offensive linemen finished third in the lineman challenge.
“We were really proud of our offensive line for the way they competed in the lineman challenge,” Rang said. “They did a really good job in their various events.
“But we’ll know more when we put on the pads, and we have three scrimmages against Fulton, Maryville and Science Hill.
“Those will be three big games against three good teams, and Science Hill has gotten some new players who transferred in.”