No. 5 Oak Ridge Hands Cleveland Fifth Straight Loss
OAK RIDGE — Cleveland’s tough schedule continued Friday night, and so did its frustrations. Facing a fifth consecutive ranked opponent, the Blue Raiders fell 35–7 to No. 5 Oak Ridge, dropping to 0–5 for the first time in the program’s 60-year history.
The loss surpasses the team’s 0–4 start in 1997, when Cleveland recovered to win five of its last six. First-year head coach Chris Brown now faces another challenge next week as unbeaten Tyner Academy, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, visits Benny Monroe Stadium.
Oak Ridge (5-0, 1-0 Region 2-6A) didn’t take long to flex its strength. Quarterback Blaine Stansberry hit Will Pressley on a 43-yard touchdown strike in the opening quarter, then the Wildcats erupted for three more passing scores in the second. Stansberry connected with Malik Howard and Damillyan Porter on 24-yard tosses, and Pressley hauled in another from 20 yards out to make it 28–0 at halftime.
Porter added an eight-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, triggering the mercy-rule running clock. Cleveland finally broke through later in the period when junior quarterback Kason McGowan found Kyree Scott on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Sloan Bolaños added the extra point for the Blue Raiders’ lone score.
McGowan was responsible for nearly all of Cleveland’s offense, completing 15 of 23 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, while also leading the team in rushing with 18 yards. Scott caught four passes for 50 yards, and Kyreece Westfield added seven grabs for 62.
Oak Ridge, meanwhile, spread the wealth. Stansberry finished with 200 passing yards and four touchdowns, while Porter powered the ground game with 113 rushing yards and also caught a TD. Pressley scored twice on three receptions for 75 yards, and both Howard and Jareel Jemerson topped 50 receiving yards apiece.
The Wildcats totaled 324 yards of offense to Cleveland’s 165, and will now prepare for a crucial showdown with Bradley Central (4-1, 2-0) next Friday in a battle of Region 2-6A contenders.
Final Score
Cleveland 7
No. 5 Oak Ridge 35
The loss surpasses the team’s 0–4 start in 1997, when Cleveland recovered to win five of its last six. First-year head coach Chris Brown now faces another challenge next week as unbeaten Tyner Academy, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, visits Benny Monroe Stadium.
Oak Ridge (5-0, 1-0 Region 2-6A) didn’t take long to flex its strength. Quarterback Blaine Stansberry hit Will Pressley on a 43-yard touchdown strike in the opening quarter, then the Wildcats erupted for three more passing scores in the second. Stansberry connected with Malik Howard and Damillyan Porter on 24-yard tosses, and Pressley hauled in another from 20 yards out to make it 28–0 at halftime.
Porter added an eight-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, triggering the mercy-rule running clock. Cleveland finally broke through later in the period when junior quarterback Kason McGowan found Kyree Scott on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Sloan Bolaños added the extra point for the Blue Raiders’ lone score.
McGowan was responsible for nearly all of Cleveland’s offense, completing 15 of 23 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, while also leading the team in rushing with 18 yards. Scott caught four passes for 50 yards, and Kyreece Westfield added seven grabs for 62.
Oak Ridge, meanwhile, spread the wealth. Stansberry finished with 200 passing yards and four touchdowns, while Porter powered the ground game with 113 rushing yards and also caught a TD. Pressley scored twice on three receptions for 75 yards, and both Howard and Jareel Jemerson topped 50 receiving yards apiece.
The Wildcats totaled 324 yards of offense to Cleveland’s 165, and will now prepare for a crucial showdown with Bradley Central (4-1, 2-0) next Friday in a battle of Region 2-6A contenders.
Final Score
Cleveland 7
No. 5 Oak Ridge 35