Science Hill stuns Oak Ridge late
Wayne Gibson pushes through the Science Hill defense to gain a first down for the Wildcats. (photo:ORHS Sports Media )
The Wildcats, who opened the year with nine straight wins, were eliminated from the playoffs after a 35-31 loss to Science Hill at Blankenship Field.
The defeat came just a week after Oak Ridge’s 34-0 loss to Maryville in the Region 2-6A championship game.
Oak Ridge (9-2) appeared poised to advance after taking a 24-14 halftime lead.
The Wildcats never trailed until the final minute, when Hilltoppers quarterback Lane Clement threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brayden Austin to put Science Hill (8-3) ahead for good.
The Wildcats still had one final chance. Quarterback Blaine Stansberry launched a desperation heave from the Science Hill 31-yard line that appeared to land in the hands of wide receiver Adam Washington amid a crowd of players. But officials ruled an interception, ending Stansberry’s standout high school career and sealing the Hilltoppers’ victory.
“Obviously in a 6A playoff, we knew every game was going to be so critical,” Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang said. “They just made a few more plays than we did. It’s a disappointing way to end the season.”
Both teams traded momentum in a dramatic, high-scoring contest. After a scoreless first quarter, Oak Ridge broke through when Dylan Woody blocked a Science Hill punt, recovered the ball and returned it four yards for a touchdown. Kicker Eli Pearson’s extra point made it 7-0 with 11:13 left in the second quarter.
The Hilltoppers responded with a long touchdown pass from Clement to Branson Newberry, but Oak Ridge answered quickly. Stansberry connected with Malik Howard for two touchdown passes to push the Wildcats’ lead to 21-7. Pearson then drilled a 39-yard field goal as time expired in the half, sending Oak Ridge to the locker room ahead 24-14.
Science Hill turned the tables in the third quarter when Darren Hill blocked a Pearson field-goal attempt and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-21.
Stansberry extended Oak Ridge’s lead again with a 7-yard touchdown run, but Clement delivered two more fourth-quarter scoring strikes to lift Science Hill to the comeback win and end the Wildcats’ season on their home field.