Wildcats’ win marks first 7-0 start since 2014
Tobja Walters (14) recovers a fumble as Kayden Stuart (0) cheers the possession in a Wildcat win over Bearden Friday. (photo:Kyla Carter | ORHS Sports Media )
The Wildcats (7-0 overall, 3-0 in Region 2-6A) started fast and cruised to a 34-7 victory over Bearden in a league matchup Friday night at Blankenship Field.
With the win, Oak Ridge snapped a four-game losing streak in the long-running series against the Bulldogs (0-6, 0-4) and opened a season 7-0 for the first time since 2014.
This one was over early. The Wildcats jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
Senior quarterback Blaine Stansberry scored on a 4-yard run, and kicker Eli Pearson’s extra point made it 7-0 with 9:21 left in the opening frame.
A short time later, Pearson booted a 37-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 10-0.
Inside the final 30 seconds of the quarter, Stansberry connected with tight end Malik Howard for a 28-yard TD pass to make it 17-0.
Stansberry and the Oak Ridge offense kept rolling in the second quarter. The quarterback finished 16-of-25 passing for 217 yards and two touchdown passes, both to Howard. The second came on a 1-yard strike. Pearson added another field goal midway through the quarter — a 32-yarder — to push the lead to 27-0.
Oak Ridge’s final touchdown came on its most explosive play of the night, an 88-yard run by Wayne Gibson that stretched the margin to 34-0 and triggered a running clock for much of the second half.
“That was a big run, and he cut it back and got some good blocks downfield,” Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang said. “Instead of blocking (a defender) in the back, they used a shield and escorted him into the end zone.
“We were able to come out here and take care of business. Bearden is struggling,” Rang said. “They had some people leave, but Coach (Brad) Taylor is a good coach, and he’s embracing the rebuild. When I first started coaching, he was at Bearden, and they were good — they went to the state semis.”
The Bulldogs scored with 1:12 remaining to erase the shutout.
“The running clock helped the second half go quickly,” Rang said.
Next up: Oak Ridge has a bye this week and will return to action Oct. 17, hosting Hardin Valley (3-4, 1-3) at Blankenship Field.
“The bye week comes at a good time for us,” Rang said. “We’ll get away from football for a bit, then come back and start our second season.”