Month: August 2017

Hunter Pettiford scored on a 16-yard touchdown run on Friday night as Orange defeated Eastern Alamance 27-13 in a scrimmage at Auman Stadium. After two years on the JV team with periodic appearances on the varsity squad, Pettiford will likely be a regular skill position player this season for the Panthers, who starts the season next Friday at Northern Nash.

Orange Running Back Hunter Pettiford Discusses Eastern Alamance Scrimmage

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In front of a packed crowd on Wednesday night at Orange football practice field, the Panthers had a solid scrimmage against South Granville. Marvante Beasley scored two touchdowns, while quarterback Rodney Brooks threw to Kendall Whitted for a 37-yard score. Brendan Huss, who started at quarterback, scored a touchdown on the opening possession with a 3-yard scamper.

Orange Football Coach Van Smith Talks What Worked, What Didn’t in South Granville Scrimmage

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For the many that gathered at Orange Football practice field on Wednesday night for the Panthers’ first football scrimmage of 2017, they may not have recognized the team that ended last season in the 2nd round of the state playoffs against Havelock.

Former head coach Pat Moser was probably at a pond somewhere in Graham fishing. The double wing offense, which had been synonymous with Orange football in 1998, was nowhere to be found. Stone Edwards, a stalwart on the defensive line for the past three years, was in Nashville preparing for his freshman season at Vanderbilt. Last year’s starting quarterback, Jackson Schmid, now hangs his hat at Division III Wheaton College in Illinois.

What was remaining has been well documented. Payton Wilson, the #2 outside linebacker in the country who committed to UNC in May, received snaps at quarterback and wide receiver on offense. Marvante Beasley, who rushed for 1,040 yards in 2016, fresh off a summer of training camp visits to schools like Virginia Tech and Appalachian State. Defensive end Ryan Sellers, who led a powerful Orange defense that yielded just three touchdowns in the 2016 regular season, anchoring the defensive line with Noah Rogers and Daylan Alston.

In a 140-play scrimmage, Orange out scored South Granville 6 touchdowns to 3. Each team had 15 offensive plays. Orange scored twice on each of its first two possessions. Senior Brandon Huss started at quarterback, alternating with Rodney Brooks throughout the scrimmage. Huss scored the opening touchdown on a 3-yard run, which was set up after a long catch-and-run by wide receiver Eryk Mercado.

Later on the same drive, Brooks was inserted at quarterback and threw to Hunter Pettiford to move into Viking territory. Beasley scored on a 33-yard run on the next play.

Brooks later threw to senior wide receiver Kendall Whitted for a 38-yard touchdown. Beasley scored two touchdowns.

South Granville, running a triple option attack, scored on its opening possession. They also scored on an interception return for a TD.

Orange will return to action at Auman Stadium on Friday night at 7:00 against traditional scrimmage opponent Eastern Alamance. Next Friday, the Panthers travel to Rocky Mount to face Northern Nash for the season opener, which you can hear on HillsboroughSports.com starting at 6:45.

Coming off an 8-11-1 season in 2016, the Orange boys soccer team starts its season on Monday against might Carrboro at Jaguars Stadium. Rising senior Jamar Davis led the Panthers last season with 20 goals and six assists. Omar Landeros will provide leadership at midfield as Orange contends with a bigger and better Big 8 conference, which added East Chapel Hill, Northern Durham and Hillside during the summer.

Orange Midfielder Omar Landeros Prepares for Powerful Carrboro

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It will be a young Cedar Ridge boys soccer team that takes the field on Monday night in the season opener at Durham School of the Arts. The Red Wolves lost nine seniors from last year’s team, including leading scorer Trent Gill, who scored 16 goals, midfielder Elmer Trujillo, who scored six goals, and Rene Castellanos. In 2016, the Red Wolves finished 10-6-4 overall, 7-3-2 in the Big 8, behind only Chapel Hil. One player who is returning is senior center back Henry Mellor, who will guide the back line for head coach Chris Walker.

Cedar Ridge Center Back Henry Mellor Prepares for Season Opener

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In his junior season, Marvante Beasley rushed for 1,040 yards and 13 touchdowns. Now, in a new offense with his third quarterback in three years, Beasley is now focusing on his biggest year yet as Orange looks to win its 3rd consecutive Big 8 Championship.

Orange Running Board Marvante Beasley Discusses his Goals for his Senior Season

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Really, it wasn’t much of a summer vacation for Ryan Sellers. The senior defensive end led Orange with 15 sacks last season. Then he played on another conference championship team with Orange basketball, where he was a reserve forward. Sellers discussed playing AAU basketball this summer, plus preparing for his final year on the gridiron.

Orange Defensive End Ryan Sellers Talks What he did on his Summer “Vacation.”

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Last season, Orange defensive tackle Noah Rogers finished with eleven sacks and 48 tackles. He also started on an offensive line that blocked for 3,037 rushing yards. Rogers starts his senior season this week when Orange scrimmages South Granville on Wednesday at Auman Stadium in Hillsborough.

Orange OT/DT Noah Rogers Gets Ready for a New Season

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