OR Coach Derek Rang reaches 100 wins
The 2024 season has been filled with injuries and adversity for the Oak Ridge High School football team.
However, the Wildcats managed to win their second consecutive Region 3-5A Championship Friday night.
The Wildcats (5-4 overall, 3-0 in the region) claimed their second straight region title and will attempt to complete a perfect run through the regional slate when they head to Jacksboro to face Campbell County (2-7, 0-3) this Friday night.
Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang has guided the Wildcats to back-to-back region titles since arriving at the school two years ago. Last week, he reached a milestone victory when his team notched a 17-7 win over Lenoir City in Loudon County.
It marked the 100th win of his career.
Following the game, ORHS Principal Drayton Hawkins presented Rang with a plaque commemorating the achievement.
“It was kind of unexpected,” Rang said. “Everywhere I’ve coached, I wanted our team to be hard-nosed. You want your kids to be tough, and you want to push them a little bit, and you always want the kids to play hard.”