Month: September 2021

Over the summer, Orange senior kicker Darius Satterfield started his own fundraiser to fight against childhood cancer. All proceeds go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit fighting against childhood cancer one cup at a time. Satterfield was introduced to the idea of a fundraiser during a kicking camp in Tennessee over the summer. For every point that Satterfield makes this year, there will be more money raised. Through four games this season, Satterfield has raised $300. During the summer, Satterfield was invited to Kohls National Kicking Camp. He worked with former East Chapel Hill head coach Bill Renner, the father of former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner, on his technique. This year, Satterfield has run in a pair of 2-point conversions, including last week against Granville Central. To learn more about Satterfield’s fundraiser, go to @dsatt7 on Twitter.

Following a long, contentious day, the Orange County School Board voted not to shut down all high school sports in Hillsborough, but spectators will be limited to two people per player for the next two weeks in all sports. Furthermore, spectators will be required to wear masks and no concessions will be sold at games during that period.

On Monday, a report from the Orange County Health Department was released that recommended shutting down all sports for two weeks due to the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19. The recommendation came after a study by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which released a report last week that showed clusters among school sports teams accounted for 45% of all clusters in North Carolina middle and high schools.

However, Orange County Schools have reported just five cases of COVID-19 in its athletic departments this year. The Orange High volleyball team was forced to shut down for two weeks after its first game on August 17 against Jordan. They returned to action two weeks ago against Southern Alamance.

The proposal would have ceased all football activities from September 14-through-September 30, as well as offseason practices and workouts for men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and competitive cheerleading.

The measure also would have forced volleyball, men’s soccer, and cheerleading to operate on a limited basis with modifications for both the participants and the spectators in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

The agenda at the Orange County School Board meeting was largely unknown by the public until Monday morning. It quickly made the rounds online and led to immediate backlash against the school board and the Orange County Health Department. By late Monday afternoon, protestors gathered outside Gravelly Hill Middle School in Efland to denounce the measure. It spilled over into a public comment session during the meeting that lasted in excess of an hour and ranged in subject matter from COVID-19 to Black Lives Matters flags. Chairwoman Hillary McKenzie repeatedly warned onlookers in the audience who voiced disapproval while the board discussed the measure.

The meeting didn’t adjourn until 10:30PM.

Board member Brenda Stephens expressed reservations about shutting down sports, but not other extracurricular activities. She also harkened back to last month’s board meeting, when the board opted not to require vaccinations for students in order to play sports, as well as play in band, act in drama and participate in other extracurricular activities.

“I have a level of discomfort with a lot of this,” Stephens said. “I don’t feel comfortable singling out just the athletes. I just don’t.”

The Orange football team will play its Central Carolina Conference opener at Western Alamance on Friday night in Elon. Orange will have a home game against Walter Williams on September 24. The measure that restricts fans is slated to end before Orange’s homecoming game on October 8th against Person at Auman Stadium.

The two-week limit on spectators will have an impact for Cedar Ridge volleyball, which was expecting a huge crowd next Monday for its rematch against D.H. Conley, the defending 3A State Champions. The Red Wolves defeated the Vikings 3-0 in Greenville on August 22.

Cedar Ridge’s junior varsity squad, which is the only football team the Red Wolves are fielding this year, is scheduled to remain on the road for the next two weeks with trips to Person this Thursday night and to Orange on September 30. The Red Wolves next home game is slated for October 7 against Eastern Alamance.

School board member Will Atherton also expressed reservations about shutting down all sports for two weeks.

“I have a high level of discomfort with doing this,” Atherton said. “Especially since (the football teams) have already played four games. I’ve talked with many coaches and parents. I just don’t see any support this.”

Atherton did support fans wearing masks and social distancing.

“That is something we should be doing and protecting our citizens, as well,” Atherton said.

“There has been tremendous risk in the lack of masking and the lack of social distancing at football games,” said board member Sarah Smylie. “I think that’s something that has to be addressed if we want to run these things safely.”

The release from the Orange County Health Department also contained vaccination rates for various fall sports in the Orange County School District. The vaccination rate among football players in Hillsborough at 53%. Tennis and cross country have an 83% vaccination rate, which are the highest among fall sports. Soccer is at 73%. Volleyball is at 60%.

Women’s Tennis:

Orange 7, Cedar Ridge 2: After going years without beating its crosstown rival, the Orange women’s tennis team has now won three straight dual matches against Cedar Ridge.

Last Tuesday, the Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 7-2 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

The Lady Panthers won four singles matches and swept the three doubles matches to improve to 6-1, 2-0 in the Central Carolina Conference (a match against Williams on September 1 was suspended and will resume on September 27).

There were two marathon matches. At #2 singles, Orange sophomore Grace Pell went to a third-set tiebreaker against Cedar Ridge senior Patz Chloe. Pell prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), with Pell taking the 10-point tiebreaker 10-5 to improve to 6-2 on the season.

Tea Jones, last week’s Orange Panther of the Week, had another three-set match against freshman Ella Caltabiano. In the opening set, Caltabiano won 6-3. Jones bounced back to win the second set 6-3, and the 10-point tiebreaker 11-9.

At #3 singles, junior Jinkie Andrews defeated Hannah Shinnick 6-3, 6-4. Andrews later teamed with Erin Sollars for a win at #3 doubles 8-4. Erin Sollars won her match in singles 6-0, 6-2.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew, who won the Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week back in June, captured the #1 singles match over Finley White 6-3, 6-1. Freshman Adeline Cummings won Cedar Ridge’s other singles match over Orange freshman Shannon Sollars 7-5, 6-3.

Orange clinched the match at #1 doubles when White and Pell teamed to win 8-4.

Orange 8, Person 1: The Lady Panther improved to 7-1 with the win over the Rockets on Thursday in Hillsborough. Orange took five of the six singles matches to sew up the dual match.

Makayla Davis earned her third singles win of her varsity career at #3 singles, 6-1, 6-1.

White, Pell, Shannon Solars, and Isabelle Lynn also won for Orange.

In doubles: Jinkie Andrews teams with Tea Jones for a win at #1 doubles 8-1. Jones and Madelyn Horn won the most dramatic match of the day at #3 doubles by a score of 8-6. Erin & Shannon Sollars won 8-0 at #2 doubles.

Volleyball:

Cedar Ridge 3, Eastern Alamance 1: Cedar Ridge’s streak of 24 consecutive victorious sets came to an end against Eastern Alamance in Mebane on Thursday night.

The Red Wolves unbeaten streak didn’t end.

After the Eagles became the first team to take a frame from the Red Wolves 27-25 in the opening set, Cedar Ridge rolled 25-10, 25-12 and 25-12 to remain undefeated at 9-0. Cedar Ridge also maintained first place in the Central Carolina Conference at 4-0.

Cedar Ridge will host Western Alamance on Tuesday at Red Wolves Gymnasium, then travel to Western Alamance on Thursday.

Men’s Soccer:

Orange 3, Riverside 0: Just one week after losing to Riverside 3-0 at Linny Wrenn Stadium, Orange rebounded to defeat the Pirates 3-0 at Orange Soccer Park on Thursday night. Panther co-Captain Jasper Tell notched a goal for Orange, and also assisted on another goal by junior Bryan Membreno. Sophomore Enzo Bruhns, in his varsity debut after starting the season on the junior varsity squad, scored a goal that was assisted by freshman Konner Johnson.

Junior goalkeeper Connor McMurty posted the clean sheet for Orange, who improved to 3-5.

Women’s Golf:

Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough hosted its first Central Carolina Conference meet of the season last week. Western Alamance finished first in the team standings at 140 strokes. Eastern Alamance’s Emily Mathews had the top individual score with a 35 through nine holes.

Orange had four players for its squad. Sarah Durham, who was an Orange Panther of the Week in 2020, had the top score for the Panthers with a 47. Durham had the sixth-highest score in the meet.

Cedar Ridge’s only representative was Olivia Aitkin, who shot a 52. Aitkin is a rare three-sport athlete. She is also a swimmer during the winter and is a starting centerfielder for the Cedar Ridge softball team.

Keshawn Thompson: It was a showdown between a former Orange Panther and a former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek on Saturday. The Campbell Fighting Camels, featuring former Orange linebacker Keshawn Thompson, faced off against the Elon Phoenix, which included former Cedar Ridge linebacker Adam Chnupa. The Phoenix defeated the Camels 24-23. For the second week in a row, Thompson led Campbell in tackles with nine. Last week, Thompson was honorable mention for Big South weekly football honors. Campbell is 0-2. They will face Presbyterian on Saturday in Buies Creek.

Adam Chnupa: Elon is now 1-1 after the victory over Campbell. Chnupa played special teams for the Phoenix in the win. Elon will travel to Appalachian State on Saturday.

Payton Wilson: In N.C. State’s loss to Mississippi State on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS, Wilson suffered a shoulder injury. Wilson did register his first sack of the season. He finished with three tackles. There’s no word yet on whether Wilson will miss any action. Mississippi State defeated N.C. State 24-10. The Wolfpack were deprived of its first road win against an SEC team since 1977.

Trenton Gill: Former Cedar Ridge punter Trenton Gill was too busy for the Wolfpack’s liking against Mississippi State. Gill had seven punts on Saturday night. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt. His longest was 55 yards. One of the punts was downed inside the 20-yard line. The Wolfpack will host Furman on Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

Rodney Brooks: After missing the opening game of the season for the Division II Livingstone Blue Bears, former Orange quarterback/defensive back Rodney Brooks made his season debut on Saturday. Savannah State, an FCS team, crushed Livingstone 50-6 at Theodore Wright Stadium in Savannah, GA. Brooks, a safety, had four tackles.

Bryse Wilson: On Sunday at PNC Park, the Washington Nationals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2. Wilson suffered the loss for the Bucs. In four-and-one-third innings, Wilson surrendered five runs off seven hits and two walks. Luis Garcia, Alex Avila and Lane Thomas honored off of Wilson, who is now 2-7 this season with a 4.97 ERA. The Pirates travel to Miami next weekend.

Kayla Hodges: After a tight loss to N.C. State, the Elon women’s soccer team rebounded with consecutive wins last week. On Thursday, the Phoenix defeated Gardner-Webb 2-0 at Rudd Field in Elon. Hodges started and played all 90 minutes. On Sunday, the Phoenix defeated American University at Reeves Field in Washington, D.C. Once again, Hodges played the duration of the game and fired one of Elon’s ten shots against the Eagles. Through seven games, Hodges is tied for the team lead with two goals. Elon faces Furman on Friday in its final nonconference game of the year.

Brittany Daley: Emory University’s women’s soccer routed Greensboro College 6-0 in Atlanta on Saturday. Daley played all 90 minutes at centerback for Greensboro. The Pride will travel to Bridgewater on Wednesday.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team has won two in a row. On Sunday, the Pacers defeated Ferrum 3-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Rogers started at wingback for Peace. On Wednesday, Peace defeated Johnson & Wales University 2-0 in Charlotte. It was Rogers’ 40th game for Peace. The Pacers are 2-2. They will travel to Brevard on Wednesday.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith College volleyball team won two out of three matches over the weekend. On Friday, Christopher Newport defeated the Avenging Angels 3-1 on scores of 25-18, 24-26, 25-23 and 25-12 at Weatherspoon Gymnasium in Raleigh. For the first time this season, Lucas didn’t start for Meredith. She did finish with two kills, 14 assists and five digs. The Avenging Angels won both of its matches on Saturday. They opened with a sweep of Guilford on scores of 25-17, 25-8 and 25-22 at the Hermann Athletic Center in Raleigh. Lucas came off the bench and had 16 assists and one dig. Meredith defeated William Peace 3-1. Lucas led the Avenging Angels with 25 assists and seven digs. Meredith is 5-3 and will play a doubleheader against Brevard and Maryville on Friday in Brevard.

If you missed a little at Auman Stadium on Friday night, you missed a lot.

There was a career night from a senior running back, Orange’s first shutout win in three years, their starting quarterback threw his first varsity touchdown pass and there was a 37-yard touchdown pass from a tight end who is usually a cross country runner.

Needless to say, Orange’s first win of 2021 had its memorable moments. The Panthers (1-3) crushed Granville Central 47-0 at Auman Stadium. Senior running back Omarion Lewis rushed for a career-high 174 yards and two touchdowns, breaking his previous mark of 124 yards in his varsity debut against South Granville in 2019.

Senior Jared Weaver, who had played cornerback in Orange’s first three games, got his first start at quarterback. Weaver finished 4-for-4 for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

“I was happy for him,” said Orange Coach Van Smith. “He missed last spring and part of the summer. He got behind and it took him a while to get enough reps in. It was a good change of pace. The offense clicked for us and I was happy for him and the whole team.”

It was Orange’s first shutout win since they defeated East Chapel Hill 54-0 on September 21, 2018. Orange’s defense held Granville Central (0-4) to minus-19 yards. Central could only muster one first down and didn’t cross midfield.

Orange scored 14 points off turnovers. After Braden Homsey recovered a fumble, Lewis scored his first touchdown on a 28-yard scamper around right end with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter.

The Panthers piled up 402 yards total offense, easily eclipsing its previous season-high of 290 yards against Chapel Hill.

“We ran the ball really well,” Smith said. “We got outside and on the edge. Our backs got some good blocking from the offensive line. They sealed the edge and guys got on the second and third level. They were making the right cuts and knew when to get a foot on the ground and cut up the field. And when you run effectively, that opens up the passing game.”

Orange established its ground control game on its first series, a 10-play, 69-yard drive. The Panthers offensive line controlled the pace so thoroughly, they didn’t even face a third down. After Lewis rushed for 13 yards to invade the red zone, sophomore Nate Sorrells scored his second touchdown of the season with a five-yard run across the left corner of the end zone. Darius Satterfield ran a two-point play up the middle and Orange led 8-0 to start the rout.

Weaver had his first career touchdown pass when he found junior wingback Ronald Cooper on a 32-yard pass in the second quarter. After Jackson Wood picked off a pass, Cooper added another touchdown on a four-yard scamper to conclude the first half.

Before Wood’s interception, Kameron Harshaw had back-to-back sacks against Central quarterback Luke Sharon.

“Kameron caught fire,” Smith said. “He’s probably the fastest defensive lineman off the ball that we’ve had, particularly from the nose guard spot. When he catches fire, he’s awfully hard to block. He started making plays and that fired him up even more. He’s a good kid and I was happy for him.”

Lewis started the second half with a gorgeous 39-yard touchdown run with 10:16 remaining in the third quarter. The final touchdown came when Weaver found senior tight end Nick Pell, who ordinarily runs cross country. In fact, Pell passed up competing in the Friday Night Lights meet in Kernersville, one of the biggest in the state, to play football on Friday night. Pell comfortably hauled in the first varsity pass of his career, which was also his first touchdown.

Smith has had a soccer player kick a game-winning field goal with a conference championship on the line. Has he ever had a cross country runner catch a touchdown pass?

“I’ve never had a cross country runner play for me,” Smith said.

Orange will travel to Western Alamance to open Central Carolina Conference play next Friday.

ORANGE 47, GRANVILLE CENTRAL 0

GCHS–0 0 0 0-0

OHS–14 13 13 7-47

OHS–Nate Sorrells 5 run (Darius Satterfield run)

OHS–Omarion Lewis 28 run (kick failed)

OHS–Ronald Cooper 32 pass from Jared Weaver (Satterfield kick)

OHS–Cooper 4 run (kick blocked)

OHS–Lewis 39 run (Satterfield kick)

OHS–Nick Pell 37 pass from Weaver (kick failed)

OHS–Jabari Albright 1 run (Satterfield kick)

RUSHING: GRANVILLE CENTRAL: 18-(-51) (Ashton Applewhite (1-(-1), C.J. Alston 1-(-2), team 1-(-2), Ethan Kelly 1-(-7), Ryan Johnson 7-(-9), Luke Sharon 7-(-30).

ORANGE: 44-307(Lewis 15-174 2 TD, Sorrells 12-62 TD, Albright 4-24 TD, Cooper 5-21 TD, Nate Hecht 4-12, Jackson Wood 2-5, Jaki McDaniels 1-7, Connor Ray 1-2).

PASSING: GRANVILLE CENTRAL 5-13 13 yds INT (Sharon 5-10 13 INT; Alson 0-3)

ORANGE (Weaver 4-4 95 2 TD)

RECEIVING: GRANVILLE CENTRAL (Taisean Hester 3-19, Keandre Washington 1-7, Johnson 1-6)

ORANGE: (Pell 1-37 TD, Cooper 1-32 TD, Ray 1-20, Jake Wimsatt 1-6)

It was a night of first in Orange’s 47-0 win over Granville Central on Friday night at Auman Stadium. Senior Jared Weaver had his first varsity start at quarterback. He threw his first touchdown pass at the varsity level and finished 4-of-4 for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Junior running back Ronald Cooper caught his first touchdown pass, a 32-yarder, from Weaver. Later, Cooper added his first rushing touchdown on a four-yard run in the second quarter. In the second half, tight end Nick Pell caught his first pass in a varsity football game. Naturally, it was a 37-yard touchdown pass from Weaver. Pell is a cross country runner who passed up running in the Friday Night Lights Festival in Kernersville, one of the biggest meets in the state, just so he could play football. Orange put up a season-high in total offense in the win over Granville Central. Orange will venture into Central Carolina Conference play next week against Western Alamance in Elon.

Orange earned its first win of the season on Friday night at Auman Stadium. The Panthers held Granville Central to minus-19 yards total offense in a 47-0 win. Orange senior defensive tackle Kameron Harshaw came up with back-to-back sacks in the second quarter. Coming into the game, Harshaw was tied for the team lead with eight tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Connor Ray added to his total of four tackles for loss as Orange earned a victory to end a four-game losing streak. It was Orange’s final game before play in the Central Carolina Conference begins next week. Harshaw and Ray have been regular performers for the Panthers on defense the past two years. Next week, the Panthers will travel to Elon to face Western Alamance in its conference opener. Orange will go for its first road win since they defeated Northern Durham last March.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior tennis player Tea Jones. This season, Jones is 6-0 in singles action, even though this is her first year as a full-time starter under head coach Justin Webb. On August 26, Jones defeated Carrboro’s Caitlin Cabell 10-8. To start the season, Jones knocked off Carrboro’s Julianna Curry 8-3 as Orange started the season with a dual math victory over the Jaguars. Recently, Jones has worked overtime to get victories for the Lady Panthers. Last week in Orange’s Central Carolina Conference opener, Jones defeated Western Alamance’s Sarah McLaughlin 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. Then on Tuesday, Jones knocked off Cedar Ridge freshman Ella Caltabiano 3-6, 6-3, 11-9. On Thursday, Orange defeated Person 8-1 at Orange Tennis Courts. Jones teamed with fellow senior Jinkie Andrews to win at #1 doubles 8-1. Orange is 7-1 overall, 3-0 in the CCC. After its win over Person, Orange will travel to Pittsboro to face Northwood on Tuesday. They will host Riverside and Roxboro Community next week in Hillsborough.