Oak Ridge survives scare to reach 8-0
Oak Ridge’s Wayne Gibson lunges for extra yards during the Wildcats’ home win over Hardin Valley on Friday night. Gibson started in place of the injured Damillyan Porter and rushed for 167 yards on 23 carries. (photo:Marley Zarazua | ORHS Sports Media )
The Wildcats (8-0 overall, 4-0 in Region 3-5A) fought off Hardin Valley Academy for a 21-10 victory on Senior Night at Blankenship Field.
Oak Ridge returned from a Week 9 open date with a win that kept its spotless season alive, but the performance didn’t exactly sparkle.
“We had been playing pretty well and we started the game pretty good,” Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang said. “We got out ahead 14-0, and we missed a couple of chances to make it 21-0.
“I think there was a little complacency, and we had to gut one out and find a way to win — and we did. But we’re going to have to play better moving forward.”
Things won’t get easier this week. Oak Ridge will travel to West Knox County on Thursday to face Farragut (2-6, 1-4) at Bill Clabo Field in a regionally televised Rivalry Thursday game. The Wildcats will look to avenge last year’s loss to the Admirals.
“I told the guys they’re going to be in a stand-alone game on Thursday, and it’s going to be on TV,” Rang said. “People from other schools will come to that game, and I’d want to play well in those kinds of games.”
The Wildcats jumped out quickly when quarterback Blaine Stansberry connected with Ja’Rell Jemerson for a 41-yard touchdown. Eli Pearson’s extra point made it 7-0 with 7:14 left in the first quarter.
Oak Ridge doubled its lead early in the second quarter when Wayne Gibson—starting in place of injured Damillyan Porter—scored on a 9-yard run. Gibson powered the ground game, rushing for 167 yards on 23 carries.
Hardin Valley answered before halftime.
Nic Rivers threw a 61-yard halfback option pass to Brody Lamb for a touchdown, and kicker Logan Holbrook’s extra point cut the margin to 14-7. Holbrook later added a 37-yard field goal to make it 14-10 at the break.
Stansberry, who completed 12 of 26 passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception, also rushed for 97 yards and a score on 18 carries. He capped Oak Ridge’s opening drive of the third quarter with a 1-yard keeper to seal the final margin.
Still, the Wildcats weren’t satisfied.
“We hated that first half and we just had to come out and run the ball because that’s what worked,” Stansberry said.
Defensive lineman Tim Walters agreed.
“Man, we just got to come back here on Monday and work harder and get better,” he said.
“We acted like we thought (Hardin Valley) was a trash team, and you can’t think that about any team.”