Photo Credit: Will Okun[/caption]To someone reading the stats, the Orange Panthers would have seemed to struggle mightily against cross town rival and fellow Big Eight conference member Cedar Ridge on Friday night. The Panthers managed to just get two first downs and run only 13 offensive games before lightning and rain forced the game to be called with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter.
However, it was the exact opposite, as the Panthers' explosive offense raced out to a 35 to 13 lead over the Red Wolves, which is where the score ended.
Orange was led by senior running back Tay Jones, who scored three touchdowns, including two rushing from eight and 73 yards, while also taking a 97-yard kickoff return to the end zone.
Jones would finish the game with 89 yards on just five carries, while the other Orange scores came on runs of 72 and 15 yards from Eryk Brandon-Dean and Mike Bolden respectively.
Jones' kickoff return fired up the Panthers following a Cedar Ridge opening drive that went 73 yards on five plays and was capped by a Peyton Pappas scramper from 12 yards out.
Following a Cedar Ridge three-and-out on the next possession, Jones followed his blocking around the right edge all the way to the end zone on his 73-yard run.
Cedar Ridge would answer on the following possession and again sustain a long drive as they went 77 yards on 10 plays, this time culminating with a five-yard strike from Pappas to a wide open Marquez Hunter.
Those would be the last points put on the board by Cedar Ridge; following a failed extra point, Orange took the first play from scrimmage to the end zone on Brandon-Dean's quick steps and elusive moves. This led to a 72-yard run to put the Panthers up 21 to 13.
After the Bolden touchdown and a fumble on the ensuing kickoff by the Red Wolves at the 24-yard line, the Panthers were looking to again score quickly. However, a pair of sacks, a penalty, and an incomplete pass led to 4th and 25 for the Panthers.
Orange would be able to convert though, as senior quarterback Garrett Cloer found Bryse Wilson across the middle for a 32-yard gain. Jones would take it in for a score on the next play, before the game would be stopped and eventually called.
Photo Credit: Orange Baseball website http://www.orangepanthersbaseball.com/id4.html.[/caption]The baseball team has had a fantastic season so far, winning all of their games except one against East Chapel Hill. They split series, winning the first game 5-2 but losing the second 4-5. Currently their conference record is 3-0 and overall record is 7-1.
The team played Northern Vance in the Big 8 opener which they won 6-0. Bryse Wilson and Jonah Neville both pitched and only allowed one hit. Wilson struck out nine players on the opposing team. Brad Debo had a triple. They won the next game against Northern Vance 15-0. Joe Piscitelli, Matthew Crabtree, and Debo all got three hits. Debo had four runs and Wilson had three runs.
The Panthers then played Cardinal Gibbons and won 8-5. The next game played against Cardinal Gibbons was suspended due to rain and darkness. The game ended with a tie, 4-4 in the fourth inning. They plan to finish the game April 9 at Cardinal Gibbons at 4:30.
The Hilltop Tournament starts April 3 and continues until April 5. The first two days will be held at Jordan High School but the third day is TBD. April 3, they will play Holly Springs High School but the other two days are TBD who Orange will play.
The severe ice storm that Orange and surrounding counties encountered left the baseball field at OHS in pieces, literally.
The ice storm hit Orange County with an unexpected combination of low temperatures, freezing rain, and snow. Without much of a heads up, there was no time to prepare.
Over the duration of the storm, ice accumulated on the net behind the backstop. After enough of the ice had built up, it started to pull on the support poles, causing them to snap. Since the support poles fell, they brought down the fence that they were also holding up. The chain link fence, brick wall, and the PA system were all damaged.
At the moment, the baseball team isn't doing anything to fix the damage, but it plans on repairing it all around the middle of April.
Senior Joe Piscitelli hits a line drive single during the Panthers 8 to 1 win over Graham.[/caption]Wednesday, March 5 the Orange High School Panther baseball team earned their second win of the season following an 8 to 1 victory over Graham. The win moved the Panthers to 2-0 on the season after defeating Eastern Alamance last week, while knocking Graham to 0-2.
The Varsity Panthers were lead by a strong pitching performance from junior Josh Kiehle. Kiehle tossed four innings, while only ushering four hits and one earned run, and striking out four. Sophomore catcher Brad Debo spoke about Kiehle’s performance, saying, “He[Kiehle] had good command and was hitting his spots and keeping guys off balance.” Orange also received good performances from juniors James Cunningham and Miles Acosta and senior Jonah Neville, who pitched one inning apiece and gave up no runs.
Orange was also strong at the plate, scoring eight runs on ten hits, while having a .357 team batting average and 6 different players drive in a run. Senior second baseman and leadoff hitter Joe Piscitelli went 2 for 2 while scoring 3 runs, and reaching base in all four plate appearances. Senior centerfielder Collin Pope and sophomore Bryse Wilson each had two hits and two RBI’s, while senior Matthew Crabtree, sophomore Cameron Mehl, and Wilson all hit a double.
The Panthers lead the entire game and Graham’s only threat came in the sixth inning. The Red Devils were one swing away from making it a one run game when Cunningham pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Debo, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI single, says the team can still improve, saying, “We just want to get better everyday and win games.” The Panthers play on Saturday at home against Corinth Holders with the first pitch scheduled for 2 pm.
Photo Credit: Will Okun.[/caption]Friday, November 8, the Orange High School Panther football team defeated Rocky Mount 31 to 3 in the first round of the NC 3AA playoffs. The win came one week after the Panthers suffered their first loss of the season against Southern Durham, and moved the team to 11-1.
Orange’s defense recovered from giving up 55 points against Southern Durham, to hold an explosive offense to just 229 yards from scrimmage, and one field goal. The defense was helped by a fast start from the offense and junior quarterback Garrett Cloer, who found Artrell Stewart for a 44 yard touchdown with eight minutes left in the first quarter.
Cloer would finish the game with two touchdowns and 280 yards, while completing 10 of 20 passes. Orange junior running back Tay Jones also played a big game on offense, accounting for 117 total yards of offense and three touchdowns, while breaking several Gryphon tackles.
Despite beginning three drives in Panther territory in the first half, Rocky Mount was unable to get anything moving on offense. Rocky Mount quarterback Joshua Carter was pressured all night, contributing to him finishing with just 62 yards and completing 8 of 24 passes. Carter was also sacked seven times by the relentless Panthers front seven. The lone score for the Gryphons was scored by kicker Micah Varnell on a 34 yard field goal in the second quarter.
Sophomore linebacker Bryse Wilson, who had eight tackles and two pass deflections against Rocky Mount, spoke about some of the changes the team made after the Southern Durham game, saying, “We [Orange] put in a new speed defense and changed our man coverage.”
The Panthers would lead at halftime by a score of 21 to 3, and would score one more touchdown on a 26 yard touchdown run by Jones. The final points of the night came on a 32 yard field goal by senior Brad Barbee.
Wilson also says the team is prepared for their second round opponent Cleveland, saying, “We expect a lot of running. They have a good running back and a good running quarterback.”
Orange will be on the road for the second round, as the Panthers travel to Clayton to take on the number three seeded, 9-3 Rams of cleveland High School. The game will begin at 7:30 pm.
Tay Jones scores a 93 yard touchdown during Orange's 55 to 41 loss to Southern Durham. Photo Credit: Mr. Okun[/caption]Friday, November 8, the Orange High School football team suffered their first loss of the 2013 season, in a 55-41 shootout against Southern Durham. With the win Southern Durham earned the Big Eight conference championship and moved to 9-2 on the season and 7-0 in conference, while the loss put the Panthers at 10-1 and 6-1.
The previously undefeated Panthers began the game on defense, and were able to stall a Southern drive at the Orange 14 yard line, after Southern failed to convert on fourth down. Orange however was unable to stop the Spartans after this, as on their next possession, Southern Durham junior quarterback Kendall Hinton put the first points on the board on a 36 yard rushing touchdown. That was just the start of the scoring that occurred on Friday night.
Hinton, a junior, would finish with 428 yards and five touchdowns through the air, while also picking up another 128 yards and one touchdown rushing. The majority of Hinton’s passing yards went to Maurice Trowell, who caught eight passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns for the Spartans, and Derrick Mason who caught 10 for 157 and also brought in two touchdowns.
The Spartans would also score on their next three possessions and would take a 27 to 0 lead over the Panthers with 11 minutes left in the second quarter. The Orange offense would manage to put 13 points on the board by halftime on two Tay Jones touchdowns, a 93 yard rush, and a 29 yard pass for junior quarterback Garrett Cloer, but would trail at the end of the first half by a score of 34 to 13.
Cloer would end the game with 288 passing yards, which mostly came in the second half, and three touchdowns. While Jones, a junior running back, would finish with 119 yards and one touchdown on seven rushes, to go along with his 29 yard touchdown reception.
Orange sophomore linebacker Bryse Wilson credited Southern Durham’s start to speed and strategy, saying, “They [Southern Durham] were very fast! And they [Southern Durham] were replacing our blitz’s.” Wilson also spoke about some of the adjustment’s the Panthers made at half time saying, “On defense we put in our speed package and on offense we were able to pick up their blitz, and throw the ball.”
Those adjustment’s would pay off, as the Panthers’ came out in the second half and scored on their first possession on a five yard Patrick Pettiford run. The score would cut Southern’s lead to just 14. However, the teams would trade touchdowns on their next two possessions, including a 70 yard pass from Cloer to receiver Ky Muller, and a Pettiford four yard run that would make the game 48 to 34 at the end of the third quarter.
Pettiford, the other half of Orange’s running back duo, finished 78 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while also catching a 76 yard touchdown pass.
The fourth quarter would not show a touchdown until Pettiford’s 76 yard catch from Cloer that came with three minutes left, which made the score 48 to 41 and cut Southern’s lead to under 10 points for the first time since the first quarter.
However that wouldn't last long as Southern would score the final points of the night, on a 44 yard pass from Hinton to Trowell that secured a 55 to 41 Southern victory.
Wilson believes that the loss will prepare Orange for the playoffs, saying, “We[Orange] will know how to keep up with the speed and we will see that we can lose, so I think we will come together more as a team in the playoffs.”
As for what Wilson’s playoff expectations are, he said, “I think that all of our games will be tough, but I think we will end up playing Southern Durham again in the regional semi-finals, and beating them.”
The Panthers’ will begin the North Carolina 3-AA playoffs on Friday, November 15, as the number six seed against 8-3 Rocky Mount. This game will at home, and will began at 7:30 pm.
The Panthers’ defense continued its dominance over opposing offenses by intercepting Cedar Ridge quarterback Peyton Pappas four times. Sophomore Bryse Wilson intercepted one of the passes, while junior AJ Bradsher accounted for the other three interceptions and a fumble recovery in just his first varsity start. Bradsher spoke with the Herald Sun about his interceptions and said, “They just came to me, I didn’t think much.”
Head Coach Pat Moser also spoke with the Herald Sun about Bradsher’s performance, saying, “Three interceptions and a fumble recovery, and did you see the one he stuck with one hand? That was an amazing play. This kid has been waiting his turn and he had a great game. I’m very proud of him. He’s a great kid. He’s worked hard in the weight room and he’s done what we asked him.”
Orange’s offense was also a bright spot, with seven different players scoring touchdowns, including two each from running back duo Tay Jones and Patrick Pettiford. Quarterback Garrett Cloer again showed his accuracy, while throwing for 126 yards and five touchdowns on only seven passes. In total the Panthers gained 483 yards on offense, with 357 of them rushing.
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Quarterback Garrett Cloer prepares to throw a pass. Photo Credit: Will Okun[/caption]
Photo Credit: Will Okun[/caption]On Friday, October 4 the Orange High School Panther football team earned their sixth win of the season, defeating Northern Vance 56 to 0. The team played in front of a packed crowd as the school held its annual Homecoming game. It was also the 50th anniversary of the school opening.
Orange received another efficient game from junior quarterback Garrett Cloer who threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns, while completing nine of eleven passes. Senior Patrick Pettiford accounted for three Panther touchdowns, two while rushing for 71 yards, and another receiving.
The Panthers’ defense proved strong again with their third shutout of the season, while returning a fumble for a touchdown. The Panthers also played well on special teams receiving a 67-yard punt for a touchdown from senior JD Brooks, and a blocked punt by sophomore Bryse Wilson.
The Panthers next play on Friday, October 11 against cross-town rival Cedar Ridge at 7 pm.
Photo credit: Mr. Okun[/caption]Friday, September 6, the Orange High School Panthers football walked off the field with a 38 to 0 win over Riverside High School in Durham, NC. This moved the Panthers to 3-0 on the season after defeating Roxboro Person and North Durham, 40 to 7 and 42 to 15 respectively.
The team is led by junior quarterback, Garrett Cloer, who has already thrown for 471 yards and has had ten touchdowns in his first year as Orange's varsity starter. Also leading the team will be the running back duo of senior Patrick Pettiford and Junior Tay Jones. The two have combined almost 600 yards rushing and five touchdowns, and have also caught another four touchdown passes. The Panthers have also had a very strong defense, none of the 22 points scored against the team in their first three games have occurred while the starting defense was on the field.
Sophomore Bryse Wilson, who starts at linebacker, said that his goal for the team this season is to simply “go undefeated and win the state championship.” Wilson also spoke highly of his teammates, “They are all hard working and have the will to win.” Wilson, who has been playing football since the age of six says that the football team's success will have a positive impact on the school, “It gives the school more confidence and more of a will to come out and support not only the football team but also other sports.”
Wilson also says that the team embraces a rough style of football, “We like to play a smash mouth kind of game in order to open up the passing. On defense we are told to get to the ball and be angry when you get there.” He also states that being a Panther means something both on and off the field, “It means that when you are walking up and down the halls you are not only representing yourself, but also the team and coaches.”
Orange football had an excellent 2012 season, finishing 11-3 and making it to the semifinals of the 3A State Playoffs before losing to the eventual state champions, Havelock High School.
The next Panthers home game is September 13 at 7 pm against Graham High School. The team has asked all students to sit in the student section and wear white at the game. To learn more about the team and players, visit their website http://ohsfootball.weebly.com/index.html.