Oak Ridge eyes glory in 6A debut
The 2024 season was the debut for Clinton Athletic Club tackle football. Registration for the 2025 season has been extended due to Clinton Optimist’s cancellation of the 2025 season. Other area youth programs have also extended registration.
But challenges are nothing new for the Wildcats, who boast one of the most tradition-rich programs in the Volunteer State.
Oak Ridge, the two-time defending Region 3-5A champion, won’t get the chance to capture another title in that league. The Wildcats have been reclassified and will compete in Class 6A this season, with third-year Coach Derek Rang leading the way against some of Tennessee’s top teams.
After a slow start in 2024, Oak Ridge finished 9-5, completed an undefeated region run, and advanced to the Class 5A semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Sevier County.
The Wildcats return a deep roster of starters from last season, including three-year starting quarterback Blaine Stansberry, and will be the first area team to open the season.
Oak Ridge kicks off by hosting Knoxville Halls at Blankenship Field on Thursday, Aug. 21.
That opener will be the first of three scheduled Thursday games for Oak Ridge in 2025, with additional matchups at Farragut on Oct. 23 and at defending region champion Maryville on Oct. 30.
Oak Ridge faces a stacked schedule, but will see familiar foes along the way.
Eight of the Wildcats’ 10 regular-season opponents reached the playoffs last year, with six finishing with winning records.
Only Clinton (3-8), Bradley Central (3-7), Hardin Valley Academy (1-9) and Farragut (4-7) finished below .500.
After hosting the Red Devils, Oak Ridge will make the short trip across the county to play at Clinton on Aug. 29. Last season, the Wildcats defeated the Dragons, who made the playoffs.
ORHS then travels to Loudon County to face Lenoir City (7-5 in 2024) on Sept. 6 before returning home to battle Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett in the final non-region contest.
League play opens at home against Cleveland on Sept. 19, a team that went 7-4 last season.
The next week, Oak Ridge visits Cleveland to face Bradley Central. On Oct. 3, Bearden (9-4 in 2024) visits Blankenship Field, looking to repeat last year’s win.
Following an open date on Oct. 10, Oak Ridge will host Hardin Valley in its final home game of the season. The Hawks have struggled in recent years.
On Oct. 23, Oak Ridge will travel to Bill Clabo Field to face Farragut in one of the state’s longest-running rivalries.
The Wildcats have won two straight in the series, but the stakes will be higher this season with region implications on the line.
Oak Ridge closes the regular season on Oct. 30 at Maryville, a program with multiple state championships, where the Rebels are expected to be strong again in 2025.
