Oak Ridge dominates East Hamilton
Wildcats win ticket to state semifinals with 30-6 victory
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Oak Ridge’s Damilyan Porter dives for extra yardage during Friday night’s playoff game against East Hamilton. The sophomore running back amassed 181 yards on 28 carries in the Wildcats’ 30-6 win. - ORHS Sports Media
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Oak Ridge junior quarterback Blaine Stansberry tucks the ball and runs during the Wildcats’ third-round TSSAA playoff game against East Hamilton. The Wildcats blew past the Hurricanes 30-6, and will face Sevier County High School on Friday night. - ORHS Sports Media
The road to the TSSAA Class 5A state championship will go through Oak Ridge.
The Wildcats worked their way to the semifinals with a dominant 30-6 road victory over East Hamilton Friday night in Ooltewah.
Oak Ridge, which has now won five consecutive games, will host Sevier County at Blankenship Field in the semifinals this week.
The Smoky Bears (13-0) advanced with a 24-17 double-overtime win over two-time defending state champion Knoxville West at Bill Wilson Field in Knoxville.
OR sophomore running back Damilyan Porter had a big night, rushing for 181 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. He also contributed in the passing game with five receptions for 41 yards.
“It means everything,” Porter said about returning to Blankenship Field for one final time in 2024.
Oak Ridge, which controlled the game early, led 9-0 at halftime. Junior kicker Eli Pearson converted three field goals, including a 26-yarder late in the first quarter, to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Pearson added two more field goals in the second quarter, a 37-yarder with 10:10 remaining, and a 28-yarder just before halftime after a 46-yard reception from junior wide receiver Will Pressley, who returned from injury.
“It was just business as usual,” Pearson said after his performance. “The line did a great job.”
Pearson, who also kicked three extra points, was praised by Coach Derek Rang.
“Eli is a big weapon for us and he’s a great kicker,” Rang said. “We have faith in Eli, and he’ll be a heavily recruited kicker next year.”
Oak Ridge’s defense, which had been dominant throughout the postseason, allowed its first touchdown in the final play of the game when East Hamilton’s Wyatt Miller scored on a 5-yard run.
The Wildcats forced two turnovers, with J.T. Gormley recovering a fumble and Tyree Porter recording an interception.
Porter’s three touchdown runs, covering 8, 14, and 5 yards, helped seal the victory in the second half.
The Wildcats (9-4) will play in the state semifinals for the first time since 2020.
Friday night’s game against Sevier County will be regionally televised, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
