Month: October 2017

Photo Courtesy of Dave Lindaman 

Dave Doeren was at one end of the sideline at Auman Stadium on Friday night. Larry Fedora was at the other.

Bryse Wilson was in the tenth row with his father Chad and mother Tracey, fresh off a long season with the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League.

The stars were out for Orange vs. Northern Durham, but Panthers Coach Van Smith wasn’t focused on that at kickoff. He just wanted to break the Ag Day Curse.

Ag Day is a tradition dating back over 50 years at Orange. It falls on the first Friday in autumn, and Smith dreads it by now. It’s a day full of sunshine, leisure, fun and games for students during the school day, which doesn’t always lead to positive results when his football team takes the field later that night.

“Every year I’ve been here, we’ve started horrible on Ag Day,” said Smith.

This year, Payton Wilson made sure there would be no letdown.

The senior opened the game with a 92-yard kickoff return, leading to Marvante Beasley’s 8-yard touchdown run only 21 seconds into the game.

For that moment, Smith didn’t dread Ag Day.

“All three phases, we started out fantastic,” said Smith. “I couldn’t be more proud.”

It didn’t stop there. The Panthers would roll to a 21-0 start and hold off Northern Durham 31-14 in front of a jam-packed crowd at Auman Stadium on Friday night.

Beasley finished with 133 yards on 21 carries. Junior Hunter Pettiford, who entered the game as the 2nd leading tackler on the team, rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown in his first substantial action at running back this year.

The Panthers made a season-high five interceptions, including two from senior safety Corban Kenion. Ryan Sellers, Eryk Mercado and Milton Purcell also had picks as Orange defeated Northern for the fifth straight time.

It was the first time the two teams met as conference rivals since 2000, when they were in the 4-A PAC-6.

The Orange defense held Northern to 135 yards and 14 points, both season-lows for the Knights, who had its five-game winning streak come to an end.

Orange could have easily led 21-0 by the end of the first quarter. The Panthers went on a 13-play, 90-yard drive tht swallowed up most of the first quarter clock, but Wilson was stuffed on a Northern goal line stand on 4th-and-goal from the 2.

Sellers made an Interception at the line of scrimmage. Paired with a Northern personal foul penalty, the Panthers started a drive at the Northern 20-yard line, but came away empty after a missed field goal

With 3:30 remaining in the first quarter, Kenion picked off Northern quarterback Brycen Jackson at the Knights 27-yard line. On the next play, Pettiford scored a touchdown on his first carry since the season-opening Northern Nash game.

After Orange’s defense forced a three-and-out, Wilson converted a 3rd-and-12 with a 12-yard run around right end. Four plays later, Beasley scored his 2nd touchdown on a 20-yard off tackle play.

Northern’s only offensive touchdown came with 7:53 remaining in the first half when Jackson found Zhameer Uqdah, who stepped out of two tackles on an eleven-yard scamper.

In the third quarter, the Knights trimmed Orange’s lead to 21-14 after freshman middle linebacker Anthony Freeman picked off a Wilson pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown.

Orange remained composed and used strong running by Beasley to extend the lead. Beasley started the drive with a 23 yard burst, accompanied by a horse collar penalty to advance to the Northern 32-yard line. Francisco McKinley kicked a 26-yard field goal to put Orange ahead 24-14.

Northern didn’t get another first down. Orange rode out the clock with a 9-play, 60-yard drive where Pettiford had carries of 17 and 16 yards. Wilson scored on a three-yard keeper, his only touchdown of the game.

ORANGE 31, NORTHERN DURHAM 14

Northern- 0   7    7    0-14

Orange-   14  7    0   10-34

O-Marvante Beasley 8 run (Francisco McKinley kick)

O-Hunter Pettiford 27 run (McKinley kick)

O-Beasley 20 run (McKinley kick)

N-Zhameer Uqdah 11 pass from Brysen Jackson (Hunter Malsch kick)

N-Anthony Freeman 16 interception return (Malsch kick)

O-McKinley 26 Field Goal

O-Payton Wilson 3 run (McKinley kick)

RUSHING: NORTHERN DURHAM: 17-41 (Daylon Felton 11-21, Patrick Harris 4-18, Jackson 2-13, team 1-(-1).

ORANGE: 51-254 (Beasley 21-133 2TD, Pettiford 8-77 TD, Wilson 19-43 TD, Morgan Paschall 2-2, team 1-(-1)

PASSING: NORTHERN 13-29 82 yards TD, 5 INT (Jackson 12-28 75 yards, TD, 5 INT; Felton 1-1, 7 yards)

ORANGE: 7-10 80 yards, INT (Brendan Huss 5-7, 53 yards, INT; Wilson 2-3 27 yards, INT)

RECEIVING: NORTHERN (Uqdah 6-40 TD, Felton 4-16, Alon Fallen 1-11, Jer’ald Brown 1-9, Jaylon Chestnut 1-8)

ORANGE (Sebastian Flores 3-32, Kendall Whitted 2-(-3), Wilson 1-41, Paschall 1-10)

The Orange defense made five interceptions against Northern Durham on Friday night at Auman Stadium. Senior Corban Kenion made two of them, a career high. Ryan Sellers, Eryk Mercado and Milton Purcell made the other picks as the Panthers improved to 5-1.

Orange Senior Safety Corbin Kenion Talks Two Interceptions vs. Northern Durham

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Orange linebacker/Running Back Hunter Pettiford scored a 28-yard touchdown on his first carry on Friday night against Northern Durham. Pettiford finished with a season-high 77 yards on 8 carries. Senior wide receiver Sebastian Flores made three receptions for 32 yards. Flores has made receptions in three consecutive games.

Orange’s Hunter Pettiford & Sebastian Flores Discuss Win Over Northern Durham

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Another challenge in the rear view mirror for the Orange JV Football team. The Panthers took another step toward an undefeated season by beating Northern Durham 30-0 at Durham County Stadium on Thursday night. Defensive lineman James McAdoo make a tackle for a safety for the 2nd straight week.

Orange’s James McAdoo, Owen Brimmer, Elliott Woods and Tyse Oldenburg Discuss JVs 30-0 Win Over Nor

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In a rebuilding season, there have been signs of hope for the Cedar Ridge boys soccer team.

On Monday night, for instance, the Red Wolves defeated Northwood 2-1 to complete a season sweep of the Chargers. Freshman striker Dean Allen scored the opener in the first half. After Northwood tied the game before halftime, junior wingback Cameron Koehler scored the game-winner.

Chapel Hill defeated Cedar Ridge 9-0 on Wednesday night.

The Red Wolves face Orange in the Hillsborough Derby at Orange on Monday night at Panthers Soccer Field. Orange captured the first matchup at Red Wolves Stadium 4-1 last month.

Photo by Dave Lindaman 

Volleyball season can be a fickle thing.

Students and coaches keep themselves busy during the summer traveling from location to location for various league across the southeast. All along, their waiting for August to roll around so high school season finally starts.

Then it finally arrives in August….for seven intense weeks. And then it comes to a sudden end, starting the cycle all over again.

The Orange volleyball team finished its home slate with a senior night victory over Southern Durham 3-0 on Thursday night at Jim King Gymnasium. Orange wasn’t seriously challenged in any of the sets, winning 25-11, 25-14 and 25-4.

It was the final home match for seniors Faith Foushee (a tri-Captain), Elly Wilson, Bailey Lucas (another Captain), Avery Riley, and tri-Captain Caroline Compton.

Lucas ended her home career with seven kills, five assists, one dig and one ace. Riley recorded five aces, three kills and a dig. Compton had two aces, two kills, eleven assists and three digs. Wilson registered three aces, two kills and seven digs. Foushee had five digs, two aces, one kill and one assist.

Junior Liz LaNier had five kills and five aces for the Panthers. Freshman Chloe Riley came away with four aces on a strong serving night. Sophomore Elizabeth Vosburg had a season-high five aces. Another sophomore, Kaitlyn Werden, finished with seven assists.

The win bolsters Orange’s record to 13-8, which guarantees a winning season. The Panthers are 6-7 in the Big 8 with its regular season finale coming up Tuesday against Northern Durham at Poe Gymtorium.

There are bigger goals for the Orange Boys soccer team aim to tackle before autumn ends, but its 8-0 victory over Hillside at Russell Blount Stadium on Wednesday night did guarantee one thing.

It will be Orange’s first winning season since 2010.

The Panthers improved to 11-3-2 with its eighth straight victory. Bryan Torres and Drew Jagentenfl each scored two goals as the Panthers remain tied for first place in the Big 8 with identical 8-1 records.

R.J. Pherribo opened the scoring for the Panthers with a goal in the 12th minute. In the 23rd minute, senior Jamar Davis added insurance with another marker. With 19:03 remaining, Torres added a goal from the top of the box. Jagentenfl notched his first goal with 13:14 remaining in the first half.

Torres, Jagentenfl and Luke Wiesbaden each scored in the 2nd half.

The blowout over Hillside came two days after arguable the biggest regular season win in Orange history, a 2-1 victory over East Chapel Hill at Orange soccer field. That victory propelled the Panthers into a first-place tie with East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill.

Malcolm Phillips scored the opener off a penalty with 25:11 remaining in the first half. East Chapel HIll got the equalizer from Osvin Ordonez-Gonzalez from ten yards away off a feed from Taylor Greeno.

Moments later, Davis scored the game-winner off a breakaway. Goalkeeper Noah Miller made several key saves down the stretch.

Orange will host Cedar Ridge on Monday night.

For the first time since 2006, at least, the Orange volleyball team has swept a season series from Riverside.

The Panthers defeated the Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday night at Jim King Gymnasium in Hillsborough on scores of 26-24, 25-12 and 25-22.

Senior Avery Riley had seven kills to lead the Panthers, who bolstered its state playoff chances by improving 12-8 overall. Sophomore Emma Clements had six kills and six aces, while senior Caroline Compton added five aces and ten assists. Clements also had eleven digs and six kills.

Kaitlyn Werden added six kills and two digs.

The Orange junior varsity earned a 2-0 win over the Pirates.

On Tuesday night, Chapel Hill swept the Panthers 3-0. In the process, the Tigers clinched at least a tie for the Big 8 Championship by improving to 14-0. Chapel Hill is two games ahead of East Chapel Hill with two conference games remaining.

Sophomore Kaya Merkler had 13 kills for the Tigers, while Courtney Zwikker (daughter of former UNC center Serge Zwikker) had registered seven kills.

For the Panthers, senior Bailey Lucas had six kills, twelve assists and two digs. Emma Clements finished with two aces, six kills and 15 digs.

On Thursday night, Orange will commemorate senior night against Southern Durham. It will be the final home game for seniors Faith Foushee, Avery Riley, Carolina Compton, Elly Wilson, and Baily Lucas.