Wildcats’ perfect run ends in Maryville
Oak Ridge’s Malik Howard looks to evade a Maryville defender during Friday night’s game. Howard has been a consistent offensive threat for the Wildcats throughout the season. (photo:Kyla Carter | ORHS Sports Media )
But on a cold evening at Jim Renfro Field, longtime powerhouse Maryville made sure that dream froze in its tracks.
The Rebels dominated from start to finish, blanking the Wildcats 34-0 to secure the Region 2-6A title.
Maryville (9-1, 6-0) controlled every phase of the game, handing Oak Ridge (9-1, 5-1) its first loss of the season.
“There was nothing competitive about the game,” Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang said. “We just didn’t have it tonight. It was pretty ugly. We got whipped — at the line of scrimmage, everywhere. It was a four-quarter beatdown.”
The Wildcats, in their first season competing in Class 6A, had cruised through their first nine games. But the Rebels’ physical play overwhelmed them.
“We played a really weak schedule from top to bottom,” Rang said. “Unfortunately, tonight we just got our brains beat in.”
Oak Ridge’s offense sputtered from the start, managing just 13 total yards in the first half and finishing with negative rushing yardage.
Senior quarterback Blaine Stansberry completed 8 of 16 passes for 56 yards and threw one interception as the Wildcats mustered little momentum.
Despite the humbling loss, Oak Ridge’s strong season continues. The Wildcats earned the No. 2 playoff seed from Region 2 and will return home to Blankenship Field for a first-round Class 6A playoff matchup against Science Hill (7-3) on Friday.
“It’s always bad when you lose the last game of the regular season,” Rang said. “But we just have to flush it. The coaches will be coaching their butts off this week. We don’t have much time to fix things — the playoffs start now.”