Month: September 2019

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior tennis player Emma Williamson. The Orange women’s tennis team has won four straight matches after its 5-4 victory at Cedar Ridge, its first victory over the Red Wolves since the two teams became conference rivals in 2014. On Monday, Williamson won her match at #4 singles 6-0, 7-6 (7-5). Last Thursday, Williamson won her singles match at #3 singles against Roxboro Community School 6-0, 6-2. Then she teamed with Morgan Gwinn to earn a victory at #2 doubles 8-1. On Wednesday, Orange completed two wins over Vance County, by scores of 9-0 and 6-0. Williamson won her one-set singles match at #4 8-0. Williamson only started playing tennis two years ago, but has become one off the most reliable parts of Coach Justin Webb’s team, which is now in line for its first winning season in at least seven years. 

The Orange volleyball team handed East Chapel Hill its first conference loss of the season on Monday night. The Lady Panthers defeated the Wildcats 3-1 on scores of 25-27, 25-19, 25-12 and 25-20. It was Orange’s first win over East since the Wildcats joined the Big 8 Conference in 2017, ending a streak of four straight Wildcat wins. It also creates a three-way tie for first place in the loss column in the Big 8 Conference among East, Chapel Hill and Cedar Ridge, with Orange only a game back. Elizabeth Vosburg was one of the seniors who came up big after a disappointing loss to Chapel Hill on Thursday. Orange has three matches this week. They will travel to Southern Durham on Tuesday, then host Northern Durham on Thursday to complete the first half of a rigorous conference schedule.

it was quite a time for the Orange women’s tennis team to get its first win over Cedar Ridge since 2012. The Lady Panthers won at Cedar Ridge 5-4 on the Red Wolves’ senior night. Sophomore Jera Hargrove won a thrilling three-set match that ended in a 10-4 tiebreaker at #1 singles. Junior Lindsey Jouannet captured her match at #5 singles, then teamed with Sydney Allison to secure the victory at #3 doubles. Orange has won four in a row and is now 7-6 on the season. Orange hasn’t had a winning season in women’s tennis in at least seven years, but it’s on the verge of clinching it with six dual matches remaining before the Big 8 Conference Tournament. They will face Northwood in Pittsboro on Wednesday. 

It won’t feel like it, but this is the first full week of fall. It’s also the start of the 2nd half of volleyball, women’s tennis and men’s soccer seasons.

Cedar Ridge and Orange were both swept by teams from Chapel Hill last week. Against an unforgiving Big 8 Conference schedule, Orange faces East Chapel Hill tonight (Monday) to start a three-game week. After losing its first conference game to East Chapel Hill on Friday, Cedar Ridge will look to bounce back with its first-ever match against Vance County in Hillsborough on Tuesday. The Red Wolves travel to Southern Durham on Thursday.

Also on Monday afternoon, Cedar Ridge will host Orange for its senior night. It will be a special day for the Red Wolves’ Olivia Ward, who was a member of Cedar Ridge’s Big 8 Championship team as a freshman. The Red Wolves haven’t lost to Orange since the two teams became conference rivals in 2014.

On Friday, football will start conference play. Orange will host East Chapel Hill. Cedar Ridge will travel to Northwood in Pittsboro. Both games will kickoff at 7. Our coverage here on Hillsboroughsports.com starts at 6:45 with the C&R Ski Outdoor pregame show.

Without any further ado, here’s the Magnificent 7 from last week. It featured a dramatic first leg of the Hillsborough Derby between Orange and Cedar Ridge in men’s soccer. Despite losing to East Chapel Hill, it was still another strong showing from Cedar Ridge volleyball. And the Orange women’s tennis team won three dual matches.

As always, a reminder that two of these athletes will be named the Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week and the Orange Panther of the Week on Tuesday.

Nicholas Frank: Orange appeared set to win its third straight men’s soccer game at Cedar Ridge on Wednesday night. The Panthers led 3-1 with 19:00 remaining. But Cedar Ridge freshman Nicholas Frank scored two stunning goals within 47 seconds to even the match. Dean Allen found Frank on a through ball with 15:43 remaining, and Frank finished from 18 yards. Moments later, Reese Weaver created a turnover and found Erickson Thole, who hit Frank again for the equalizer. Frank also scored the game-winning goal in penalties as Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 4-3.

Ty Corbin: Cedar Ridge’s goalkeeper earned the victory against Orange with back-to-back saves on Orange’s final two penalty attempts. Corbin also made a huge save in the first overtime session, which was the only major chance by either team to score after regulation ended. Corbin, who is also a lacrosse player, earned his third win of the year.

Cameron Lloyd: Yes, it’s cliche by now. But Lloyd becomes the first three-time inductee into the Hall of Awesome after two stellar games against Bartlett Yancey and Northern Durham. Against the Knights, Lloyd had 17 kills, 12 aces and ten digs as Cedar Ridge defeated Northern for the first time since becoming Big 8 rivals. In Monday’s sweep of Bartlett Yancey, Lloyd had 13 kills, one ace and four digs. Plus, she celebrated her birthday last week.

James McAdoo: The Orange football team fell short against Riverside on Friday night. It was also Orange’s best effort of the season. McAdoo, playing his second game after getting injured in a scrimmage against Person, had a team-high seven tackles. In the 2nd quarter, he stripped the ball away from Riverside quarterback Landon Sledge, and Will Torain dove on the loose ball. It led to a touchdown from Machai Holt. In the third quarter, McAdoo recovered another fumble, again leading to a touchdown from Holt.

Emma Williamson: The Orange women’s tennis team swept Vance County in back-to-back matches on Wednesday, then defeated Roxboro Community School 8-1 on Thursday. Williamson won her lone match at #4 singles against the Vipers 8-0. On Thursday, she won her match against Roxboro Community in straight sets. She also teamed with Morgan Gwinn at #2 doubles to win 8-1.

Lottie Scully: A sophomore enshrined into the Hall of Awesome for the first time, Scully had a team-high nine kills in Orange’s 3-0 win over Northwood on Tuesday night at Panther Gymnasium. Scully also had ten assists, two digs and an ace as the Lady Panthers improved to 7-4 before Thursday’s game against Chapel Hill.

Elliott Sikes: On Monday night, the Orange men’s soccer team defeated Vance County 10-1. Sikes came away with his first hat trick against the Vipers. Sikes also had two goals against Hillside in a 7-1 Panther victory on September 3.

Hillsboroughsports.com is expanding its reach for 2019 to focus on Stanford, Gravelly Hill and Stanback Middle Schools.

Middle schools are the foundation where high school sports are built on. We would love to hear from parents who keeps statistics for their children’s games, regardless of the sport. For the fall, we’re particularly interested in football, volleyball, boys soccer and cross country. If you would like to send results, please email hamlin37@hotmail.com.

We plan to continue coverage through the winter to include boys and girls basketball, as well as wrestling. And of course, there’s always baseball, softball, boys lacrosse and women’s soccer in the spring.

Gravelly Hill: The Gravelly Hill Grizzlies football team won its first game of 2019 last Wednesday. Gravelly Hill defeated Northern Middle School out of Roxboro 36-32. The Grizzlies led 12-8 at halftime, but Northern scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 32-20 lead into the 4th quarter.

Gravelly Hills responded with consecutive touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Crawford Farmer threw three touchdowns. Tyler Beeman, Derek Yanko and Malachi Poole each had a receiving touchdown. Mason Cates scored a rushing touchdown. Beeman also had an interception.

Gravelly Hill, which lost to Southern Middle School in the opening week of the season, is 1-1. They will host the combined team from Phillips/Smith Middle Schools on Wednesday.

Stanford: The Stanford Chargers won its first football game of the season against Culbreth last week at Chargers Stadium. Stanford dropped its opener to Smith/Phillips. Stanford will travel to Northern Roxboro on Wednesday for a 4:45 kickoff.

There would many more sports that took place at all three middle schools last week, but this is all we have records for. So again, please send us middle school results to hamlin37@hotmail.com so we’ll have a more comprehensive column this week. We plan on making this a feature every few days, if possible.

In a hard fought game, Riverside defeated Orange 28-26 at Linny Wrenn Stadium in Durham on Friday night. Despite the loss, it may have been Orange’s best effort of the year. Machai Holt scored two touchdowns, while defensive end James McAdoo recovered a fumble and forced another. Enjoy highlights of the game from Shayne Thompson of Thompson Team Films

Rodney Brooks: After a year at Fort Union Military Academy, 2018 Orange graduate Rodney Brooks made his four-year college debut for Division II Livingstone last week. Brooks, who plays safety, had a tackle in the Bears’ 27-16 victory over Elizabeth City State University at Alumni Memorial Football Stadium in Salisbury. On Saturday, Livingstone improved to 3-0 with a 21-7 win over Allen University. Brooks was a safety, cornerback and quarterback for the Orange football team who was a member of three Big 8 Conference Champions from 2016-18. He also played right field for the Orange baseball team in 2017, which had a stunning run to the 3rd round of the 3A State Playoffs. Brooks’ high school athletic career ended after he suffered a torn ACL playing quarterback against Riverside in 2017.

Payton Wilson: Though he didn’t start, Wilson served as a reserve linebacker in N.C. State’s 34-23 win over Ball State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday night. Wilson made four tackles. Wilson, a redshirt freshman, has 16 tackles through four games.

Trent Gill: Against Ball State, Gill had limited punting duties for the Wolfpack since State scored 34 punts. Nonetheless, Gill had three punts for an average of 51 yards per boot. One was downed inside the 20-yard line. Gill also had six kickoffs, five of which went for touchbacks. Saturday’s game was the nonconference finale for N.C. State. They will start ACC play at Florida State next Saturday.

Keshawn Thompson: The FCS Campbell football team defeated Davidson 31-29 at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek. Thompson, a redshirt sophomore from Orange, assisted on three tackles. Campbell won off a 50-yard field goal from Colin Gary as time expired.

Jack Schmid: Schmid saw action for Division III Wheaton College on Saturday. The Thunder defeated Illinois Wesleyan 24-10 at McCully Stadium in Wheaton, IL. Wheaton is 2-0.

Natalie Chandler: The 2017 Orange graduate is a member of the UNC women’s soccer team. Chandler was named to the 2018-19 ACC Academic Honor Roll. Now a junior, Chandler played in UNC’s 8-0 victory over UNLV in the Duke Nike Classic at Koskinen Stadium in Durham. Chandler helped Orange to the 2nd round of the 3A State Playoffs in 2016 and 2017.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team split two matches last week. The Phoenix defeated Hampton 8-0 at HU Soccer Complex in Hampton, VA on Sunday. Hodges started at wingback and was credited with a shot on goal. On Thursday, UNC Greensboro defeated the Phoenix 4-3 at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro. Again, Hodges started and had a shot on goal. Elon is 6-2-1. They will host UNC Wilmington in its Colonial Athletic Association opener on Thursday at Rudd Field in Elon.

Taylin Jean: The 2018 Cedar Ridge graduate posted her first clean sheet as Division II Limestone defeated Lander University at Saints Field in Gaffney, SC on Wednesday. Jean made five saves to post the shutout. On Saturday, Belmont Abbey defeated Limestone 4-0 at Alumni Field in Belmont, NC. It was the first time Limestone lost a Conference Carolinas match in over three years. Jean made seven saves in the loss. The Saints are 2-3, 0-1 in Conference Carolinas.

Jordan Rogers: William Peace University defeated Brevard College 1-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The Pacers improved to 2-3-1. Rogers, a sophomore who graduated from Orange in 2018, started at wingback. On Tuesday, the Pacers played to a scoreless tie against Randolph College at Wildcat Stadium in Lynchburg, VA. Rogers, who has moved to the defensive backline, also started. Rogers has started all six of the Pacers matches this season.

Lionel Reid-Shaw: The Division III Dickinson men’s soccer team defeated Swarthmore 4-0 in its Centennial Conference opener in Swarthmore, PA on Saturday. The Red Devils ended a four-game losing streak. Reid-Shaw, a senior, started at centerback. It was his sixth game of the season. Dickinson is 3-4.

Lilli Henry: The 2017 Cedar Ridge graduate helped the Methodist volleyball team win its first match of the season on Saturday. The Monarchs defeated Regent University 3-0 at the Riddle Center in Fayetteville. Henry finished with 17 assists, four aces, three digs and one kill. On Tuesday, Roanoke College defeated Methodist 3-2 in Salem, VA. Against the Maroons, Henry had 22 assists and eleven digs. The Monarchs are now 1-8.

Bailey Lucas: On Friday, the Division III Meredith College volleyball team defeated Roanoke College 3-2 at the Cregger Center in Salem, VA. Lucas played one set for the Avenging Angels. Meredith is 6-5.

From 2013-to-2017, the Orange football team won 24 consecutive non-conference games. Five of them were against Riverside.

After a 3-8 season in 2018, Orange has lost nine of its last ten nonconference games. Not only that, but shortly after walking into Linny Wrenn Stadium in Durham, they felt something that an Orange team hadn’t felt in a long time.

The feeling of being overlooked. And maybe a hint of disrespect.

After a decade largely spent as a sleeping giant, Riverside has become the hottest team in Durham. Four days after the Pirates defeated Orange last November, the Pirates topped Jordan to win the Triangle 8 Championship, its first since 2002.

Coming off its first win over Northern Durham since 2013, Riverside’s noncoference finale against Orange received enough votes from local high school fans as one media outlet’s game of the week.

The days of Orange’s three consecutive Big 8 Championships from 2015-17 seemed to have faded from the memories of local journalists and fans, many of whom treated the Panthers as an afterthought in Friday’s game. Especially compared to Riverside’s 3-1 start where they averaged 40 points per game.

That wasn’t lost on Orange’s coaches in the days leading up to Friday night’s game, and certainly not in the moments before kickoff. And while the final result wasn’t precisely to Orange’s liking, it led to easily the most inspired Panther effort of the season.

In the end, Riverside junior quarterback Landin Sledge threw for four touchdowns and 286 yards as the Pirates defeated Orange 28-26 at Wrenn Stadium in Durham. Sledge’s 12-yard touchdown to Quentin Freeman early in the fourth quarter was the game-winner as the Pirates (3-1) won its nonconference finale.

Sledge, a junior, now has 21 touchdowns against only two interceptions this season. In all five of Riverside’s games, he has at least four touchdown passes (he had five against Person).

Orange (1-3) got a late touchdown pass from Wyatt Jones to Daniel Champion, which came after deliberations by the officials that lasted in excess of one minute. Nigel Slanker’s extra point cut Orange’s deficit to 28-26, but the subsequent onside kick went out of bounds with :14 remaining.

After watching his defense hold Riverside to a season-low 285 yards (including minus-1 yard rushing), Orange coach Van Smith appeared more eager to play another four quarters instead of content to call it a night. His postgame interview lacked the fervor of your average Ric Flair promo from the 1980s, but only slightly.

“When I walked up to this stadium tonight, nobody gave us a chance to win this football game tonight,” Smith said, firing off his words at the pace of a machine gun. “If they want to strap up again and play tomorrow, I’m ready right now. I’m so dadgum excited how far we’ve come in a few weeks, I’m ready to play again tomorrow if we have to.”

Orange succeeded in taking away Riverside’s running game in the first half. Pirates running back Dante McCall, who averaged 86 rushing yards per game, was held to a season low four yards. By Riverside’s final drive of the second half, they eschewed running plays out of a standard spread set and simply employed Sledge out of an empty backfield with five wide receivers for most of the rest of the game.

It worked. After falling behind 13-6 late in the first half, Riverside scored back-to-back touchdowns to lead the rest of the way. On their final possession of the first half, Riverside went 71 yards in four plays. Sledge hit Cory Jones for a 23-yard touchdown pass, then found Isiah Jones for the two-point play to put the Pirates head 14-13 going into the locker room.

In a chippy game where the two teams combined for 240 penalty yards, Sledge found Cory Jones for a 60-yard gain on 2nd-and-13 after a holding penalty backed the Pirates up. Following three straight incompletions, Sledge hit Isaiah Jones for a 15-yard touchdown on 4th-and-10. Caleb Bowers extra point put Riverside ahead 21-13.

Orange’s defense, which forced four turnovers in its win over Williams last week, forced three more on Friday, leading to 14 points. Late in the third quarter, senior defensive end James McAdoo recovered a fumble after a botched Riverside snap.

“I thought James McAdoo had a motor that didn’t stop,” Smith said. “It was his second game this season and he wouldn’t quit. I think that has been missing.”

Senior Machai Holt ran around right end for his third touchdown of the season. Orange attempted to tie the game, but Wyatt Jones’s pass to Zyon Pettiford was wide.

Sledge found Freeman for the game-winning score on the next drive.

“It was like playing a freaking all-star team” Smith said of Riverside. “Good gracious. They had a 6-foot-5 receiver lining up against my 5-foot-6 cornerback. That means something.”

Riverside opened with a 12-play, 67-yard drive that took 5:47 off the first quarter clock. Sledge found Isaiah Jones for a 26-yard gain to break into the Orange red zone. Consecutive stops by Orange’s Khaleb Smith and Caulin Fransler forced a 4th-and-goal from the three, when Sledge found Isaiah Jones again for a 3-yard score.

Orange, on its first possession of the game, took up the rest of the first quarter clock with a 12-play, 52-yard drive, which was kept alive after Riverside was called for roughing the passer on 4th-and-6. Slanker kicked a 30-yard field goal to mow the Pirate lead in half.

The Panthers won a battle of field position to even the game in the second quarter. Following a Riverside punt that was nearly blocked, Holt ran around right tackle for ten yards. It ended when Slanker kicked a 33-yard field goal.

On the next Riverside drive, McAdoo stripped the ball away from Sledge, and Orange’s Will Torain pounced on the loose ball.

On a third-and-goal, Holt followed the blocks of Juan Navarro and Robert Bray into the end zone to give Orange its only lead of the night late in the second quarter.

For the second week in a row, Orange couldn’t continue drives when its defense gave them opportunities. The Panthers were 3-of-13 on 3rd downs after going 3-of-12 in the Williams’ win.

As Orange ventures into its Big 8 opener against East Chapel Hill next Friday, time will tell if the emotion of Friday night was a one-night stand or something that can propel Orange to its glory days that may not be as far in the rear view mirror as some would believe.

RIVERSIDE 28, ORANGE 26

RIV–Isaiah Jones 12 pass from Landin Sledge (kick blocked)

ORA-Nigel Slanker 30 FG

ORA-Slanker 33 FG

ORA-Machai Holt 2 TD (Slanker kick)

RIV-Troy Jones 23 pass from Sledge (Sledge to I. Jones)

RIV-I. Jones 13 pass from Sledge (Caleb Bowers kick)

ORA-Holt 1 run (pass failed)

RIV-Quinton Freeman 12 pass from Sledge (Bowers kick)

ORA-Daniel Champion 20 pass from Wyatt Jones (Slanker kick)

RUSHING: Riverside 19-(-1 yard) (Sledge 7-8, Dante McCall 7-4, Devin Smith 2-(minus 2), fumble 2-(minus-10), team 1-(minus 1)

ORANGE: 36-116 2 TD (Omarion Lewis 13-55, Holt 13-46 2 TD, Jones 2-9, Elliott Woods 4-6, Jake DeFranco 1-1)

PASSING: RIVERSIDE (Sledge 18-24 286 yards 4 TD, INT)

ORANGE: (Jones 10-25 156 TD, INT)

RECEIVING: RIVERSIDE (I. Jones 7-110 2 TD, Freeman 6-62 TD, Smith 3-31, T. Jones 2-83 TD)

ORANGE: (Holt 3-45, DeFranco 2-63, Woods 2-9, Champion 1-10 TD, Zyon Pettiford 1-14, Khaleb Smith 1-8)