Wildcats fall short at Jefferson County
Oak Ridge’s Damillyan Porter looks for open field in the Wildcats’ away game against Jefferson County on Friday night. (photo:Addison Fuller )
A late-game fumble on a potential game-winning drive sealed their fate as Oak Ridge eventually dropped a 34-31 decision to the Jefferson County Patriots in Dandridge.
Jefferson County (1-0), celebrating its 50th anniversary season, darted out to a fast start, opening a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Patriots scored two early touchdowns: Dakoda Haun caught a 37-yard pass from quarterback Mason Henderson, and Shawn Jackson added a 26-yard touchdown run.
The Patriots dominated the opening frame, racking up 187 yards of total offense while the Wildcats managed just seven yards.
Jefferson County continued its onslaught in the second quarter, expanding its lead to 21-0 just three seconds into the frame on a 4-yard scoring plunge by Skylar Thomas. Thomas, who rushed for 265 yards on 32 carries, scored three touchdowns to open the 2024 football season.
ORHS coach Derek Rang, now in his second season at the helm for the Wildcats, said his team was lackluster early in the contest.
“You get down 21-0, and it was like we were shell-shocked,” Rang said. “We came out flat and lethargic.”
The Wildcats (0-1) eventually found their spark, rallying to pull within 21-17 by the end of the first half.
Oak Ridge found the end zone in the second quarter when quarterback Blaine Stansberry connected with sophomore tight end Malik Howard on a 13-yard scoring strike with six minutes remaining until halftime. Eli Pearson added the ensuing extra point, making the score 21-7.
And the Wildcats were far from finished.
Stansberry then launched a 66-yard touchdown pass to Will Pressley, and Pearson closed out the first half with a field goal to make it 21-17.
Rang was pleased with his team’s resilience.
“Our guys fought back, and we made some big plays to get back in the game,” he said.
The Wildcats took the lead in the third quarter when sophomore running back Damillyan Porter scored on a 1-yard plunge approximately four minutes into the frame. Pearson’s PAT made it 24-21.
Thomas responded with a 42-yard touchdown run for the Patriots, making the score 27-24 after Jefferson missed the extra point.
Oak Ridge regained the lead when Stansberry lofted a 64-yard scoring strike to Pressley, giving the Wildcats a 31-27 advantage.
Thomas closed out the game’s scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left in the third.
The Wildcats had a chance to win late, but a lost fumble on the Jefferson County 10-yard line with two minutes left sealed their fate.
Next up for the Wildcats: Oak Ridge will have a bye in Week 2 and will return to action against Powell on Sept. 6. The Panthers lost to Anderson County 28-25 on Thursday and will host Farragut on Friday night.