Oak Ridge avenges 2023 playoff loss, defeats Clinton 48-21
Oak Ridge’s Ja’rell Jemerson (9) escapes the grasp of Clinton’s Lucas Butz (14) during Friday nights homecoming game at Blankenship Field in Oak Ridge. The Wildcats won the game 48-21. (photo:Tony Cox )
This time, however, it meant a little more to the Wildcats. After suffering a second-round loss to Clinton in the 2023 TSSAA Class 5A playoffs, Oak Ridge was eager to settle the score.
The Wildcats didn’t disappoint, cruising to a 48-21 victory after overcoming an early deficit and putting on an offensive showcase in the second quarter.
The win not only avenged last season’s playoff exit, but also served as a homecoming night triumph at Blankenship Field.
Oak Ridge quarterback Blaine Stansberry reflected on last season’s loss.
“It left us with a really bad taste,” he said. “Losing on our home field, we knew that we needed to come back out there and show our home crowd what we could do.”
And show them they did.
Stansberry completed 10-of-19 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 31 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Junior wide receiver Will Pressley caught five passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Damillyan Porter anchored the Wildcats’ rushing attack, amassing 151 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Clinton (2-4, 1-1 Region 3-5A) struck first when Jaylon Benjamin connected with Bryson Maddox on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Emanuel Ortiz added the extra point, giving the Dragons a 7-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first quarter.
The Dragons’ early momentum didn’t last long. Oak Ridge (3-2, 2-0) tied the game early in the second quarter when Stansberry threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Pressley. Porter followed up with a 39-yard rushing touchdown, putting Oak Ridge ahead 14-7.
Although Clinton tied the game at 14-14 with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Benjamin to Maddox, the Wildcats stormed back with two more touchdowns before halftime. Jermichael Howard ran in from 7 yards out, and Stansberry followed with a 2-yard plunge, giving Oak Ridge a 28-14 lead at the break.
Clinton briefly closed the gap to 28-21 in the third quarter, but Oak Ridge’s offense was too much. Stansberry threw two more touchdown passes — one to Pressley and another to Malik Howard — before Rush Douglas capped the night with a 31-yard touchdown run.
Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang praised his team’s effort in the intense game.
“I’m proud of the way they came out and got this win against their rival on our home field,” he said. “Rivalries are like that, but I’m just excited that we made a few more plays than they did.”
Next up, the Wildcats will host Knoxville Central (3-3) at Blankenship Field. The Bobcats are coming off a 34-0 shutout win over South-Doyle.