There’s been plenty of changes to Orange football over the past year, but the Victory Bell will stay exactly where it’s been.
In a rivalry game postponed twice over the past month for weather-related reasons, the Panthers used a huge all-around game from junior running back Nate Sorrells to defeat Cedar Ridge 50-0 at Auman Stadium on Monday night.
The Panthers (2-7, 1-4 in the Central Carolina Conference) won its first home game of the season on Senior Night, where ten players won their final game at Auman Stadium. Among them was senior linebacker Jabari Albright, who earned time at running back in the second half and rushed for a career-high 92 yards and a touchdown.
The first varsity football game between the two crosstown rivals proved to be another frustrating night for the Red Wolves (1-8, 0-5), who gave the Panthers a tough junior varsity game last season when that was the only football team Cedar Ridge fielded. On Monday, the Red Wolves were held to 88 yard total offense and four first downs.
With the win, Orange retained the victory bell, awarded to the winner of the rivalry game which started 20 years ago when Cedar Ridge opened.
It was a night of firsts for Orange. Albright scored his first varsity touchdown, but it was senior safety DeAndre Jones who broke the game open. With nine seconds remaining in the first quarter, Cedar Ridge was in the midst of its best drive of the game when Jones intercepted a pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. Sorrells run on the 2-point conversion put the Panthers ahead 14-0.
After Orange’s defense opened the contest with a 3-and-out against the Red Wolves’ offense, Orange opened with a 8-play, 43-yard drive where Sorrells had runs of eight, seven and 19 yards. On 3rd-and-goal, freshman Jaylen Starks notched his first touchdown of the season for the opening score.
Early in the second quarter, Sorrells jump started a drive with a 16-yard gain on first down, followed by an 11-yard pass from Nunnery to senior Shaun Beasley to cross midfield. After Nunnery flipped a tap pass to senior A’mare Morgan for a 19-yard pickup around right end, Sorrells scored his first touchdown with a three-yard run.
On the next Orange drive, Sorrells found senior Wynston Brown on a halfback option for an 84-yard touchdown pass, the longest play from scrimmage for the Panthers this season. To end the first half, Orange defensive back Xandrell Pinnix picked off a pass, his first interception of the season.
Orange opened the second half with Sorrells scoring on a 62-yard run, just moments after he had a 18-yard carry on the first play from scrimmage in the half.
In the fourth quarter, Morgan recovered a fumble in Red Wolf real estate. That set up Albright’s first touchdown run of five yards, his first touchdown of his varsity career.
On its final drive, Albright broke free and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. DeAndre Brown added the two-point conversion for the final points of the night.
Cedar Ridge entered the game just three days after playing Walter Williams in Hillsborough on its senior night. Junior running back Tyler Fields had 58 yards rushing to lead the Red Wolves offense. The Red Wolves, who defeated East Chapel Hill in August, will face the Wildcats again at Dave Thaden Stadium on Friday night to close the season.
Orange, who had last Friday off, will travel to Eastern Alamance on Friday night to conclude the season. The Eagles have already clinched the CCC Championship after beating Northwood last Friday.
ORANGE 50, CEDAR RIDGE 0
CR–0 0 0 0-0
OR–14 14 6 16-50
ORANGE: Jaylen Starks 4 run (pass failed)
ORANGE: DeAndre Jones 75 interception return (Nate Sorrells run)
ORANGE: Nate Sorrells 3 run (run failed)
ORANGE: Wynston Brown 84 pass from Sorrells (Sorrells run)
ORANGE: Sorrells 62 run (run failed)
ORANGE: Jabari Albright 15 run (DeAndre Brown run)
ORANGE: Albright 35 run (D. Brown run)
RUSHING: CEDAR RIDGE 32-59: (Tyler Fields 14-58, Tom Crawford 7-25, James Este Wittinger 4-15, Rayshawn Page 1-(-5), Mason Cates 2-(-8), Keyshawn Mangum 2-(-12), team 2-(-14))
ORANGE: 26-311 4 TD (Sorrells (13-201 2 TD, Albright 4-92 2 TD, D. Brown 5-20, Starks 1-4 TD, W. Brown 1-2, Ty Walker 1-(-2), Hank Nunnery 1-(-6).
PASSING: CEDAR RIDGE (Crawford 2-8 27 yds 2 INT)
ORANGE: 6-12 156 yds TD (Nunnery 5-9 69 yds, Sorrells 1-1 84 yds TD, Walker 0-2)
RECEIVING: CEDAR RIDGE (Mangum 2-27)
ORANGE: (W.Brown 2-86 TD, A’mare Morgan 2-22, Crawford Farmer 1-37, Shaun Beasley 1-11)