Wildcats find overtime magic against Halls
Oak Ridge cornerback Ezra Wilson goes airborne to get a hand on a pass from Halls’ Carson Pearce during the Wildcats’ 16-13 overtime victory over the Red Devils. (photo:ORHS Sports Media )
But the victory certainly didn’t come easily.
The Wildcats needed overtime — and a clutch connection between a backup quarterback and his receiver — to edge Knoxville Halls 16-13 at Dinzle “Dink” Adams Field in North Knox County.
It wasn’t always pretty on a hot, steamy night as the defenses took center stage and players on both sides battled cramps and injuries. In the end, backup quarterback Kipton Feagan engineered the game-winning drive.
Facing a 13-10 deficit and fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line, Feagan lofted a pass to Zayden Williams in the back corner of the end zone to give the Wildcats the thrilling victory while starter Brody Sparks watched from the sideline with an injury.
It was a play Feagan had to make after a similar pass fell incomplete on the previous snap.
“I knew that we had to get into the end zone, and I knew where I was going with it,” Feagan said. “We would go to Blankenship (Field) and practice that play in the summer. We must’ve run that play a hundred times.
“The game was close when I came in, and I knew that I had to step up, make plays and be a leader tonight.”
In overtime, Halls won the toss, threw conventional wisdom out the window and elected to take the ball first. The Red Devils took their first lead of the game when Zander Williams kicked a field goal.
On fourth down during Oak Ridge’s possession, the Wildcats could’ve opted for a potential game-tying field goal. Coach Derek Rang, however, took a gamble — one that would pay off in dramatic fashion.
“I didn’t know how much longer we were going to be able to play,” Rang said. “Both teams were getting tired, and so I decided to go for it. If it doesn’t work, it was on me, but if it works, I’m going to give credit to everyone else. Kipton knows this offense, and he knows what to do.
“We had a feeling coming down here that this was going to be close.”
The Wildcats ultimately had to come from behind, but they controlled the first 24 minutes and took a 10-0 lead into halftime.
Oak Ridge opened the scoring late in the first quarter when Kyler Sachs kicked a 19-yard field goal with 1 minute, 49 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to 10-0 in the second quarter on a short touchdown run by Damillyan Porter, who battled cramps throughout the contest.
Halls pulled within 10-7 in the third quarter before Williams tied the game with a field goal late in regulation, setting the stage for Feagan and the Wildcats’ overtime heroics.
Next up for the Wildcats: Oak Ridge will play its home opener Friday night when longtime rival Clinton comes calling. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Blankenship Field.