Wildcats rout Panthers before 6A gauntlet begins
Oak Ridge’s Will Pressley races down the sideline after hauling in one of his two touchdown catches during the Wildcats’ 56-6 road win over Lenoir City on Friday, Sept. 4. Pressley finished with two receptions for 92 yards, both going for scores. (photo:Kyla Carter | ORHS Sports Media )
The Wildcats rolled past Lenoir City 56-6 in Loudon County on Friday night.
But Coach Derek Rang knows the easy part of the schedule is over.
“This was fun, but we’ve started the season by playing three (Class) 5A teams,” Rang said after his squad dismantled the Panthers. “From here on out, it’s going to get a lot tougher because everybody left on our schedule is a (Class) 6A school. I told the guys to enjoy this one.”
Oak Ridge (3-0) certainly did. The Wildcats darted out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter.
Quarterback Blaine Stansberry set the tone, finding Will Pressley on a 64-yard strike to make it 14-0 midway through the frame. After Ja’Rell Jemerson intercepted a pass, Stansberry connected with tight end Malik Howard from 28 yards out to extend the advantage. Damillyan Porter capped the quarter with a 69-yard touchdown run.
The onslaught continued in the second quarter as Howard and Jemerson each hauled in scoring passes to push the margin to 42-0 at halftime.
The lopsided margin meant that the majority of Oak Ridge’s starters didn’t see the field after the second half. But the stars had some gaudy numbers in the first two quarters.
Stansberry went 8-for-8 for 292 yards and five touchdowns.
Pressley finished with two catches for 92 yards and two scores.
Howard had three receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Jemerson grabbed two passes for 77 yards and a score. Porter carried six times for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Backup quarterback Kipton Feagan added a touchdown in the second half as Oak Ridge piled up 502 yards of total offense. The Panthers fell to 0-3.
The Wildcats will now brace for a tougher challenge. Oak Ridge hosts longtime rival Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett in a non-region clash Friday at Blankenship Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
