Month: September 2023

Cedar Ridge 3, Western Alamance 1: One-third of the way through the Central Carolina Conference slate, it appears that the center of volleyball is in Hillsborough once again this year.

After getting swept by Orange last week, Cedar Ridge has responded with three straight wins. The latest came on Tuesday night when the Red Wolves outlasted Western Alamance 3-1 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. It marked the first time that the Warriors took a set from Cedar Ridge since the two teams became conference rivals in 2021.

The Red Wolves (7-4, 4-1 in the CCC) won on scores of 25-9, 23-25, 25-21 and 25-18.

Cedar Ridge was never challenged in the first set behind a 17-4 run to start the frame. Senior Addie Reid had three blocks in the opening set, while Claire Hargett had three kills and two aces. Senior Graylinn Serge racked up kills on four of the last five Cedar Ridge points, including on set point.

The Warriors battled back from a 13-8 deficit in the second set to take the frame. A kill by freshman Reese Walker evened the set at 20-20. Avery Wilson had a key block to square things at 22-22, while junior Haley Clayton notched a kill to put the Warriors ahead,. Walker scored set point and evened the match off a block.

Cedar Ridge didn’t trail in the third set. Hargett had consecutive kills set up by senior Rachel Alverson to put the Red Wolves ahead 7-3. After Walker scored another block, Cedar Ridge went on a 5-0 run with Hargett serving. Hargett had an ace while Reid tallied an unassisted kill. Another point by Hargett put the Red Wolves ahead 19-11 and led to a Warriors timeout. Serge, Reid and Ellie Woolson had the final kills of the third set to put the Red Wolves ahead two-sets-to-one.

The third set had three early ties before the Red Wolves went on a 6-2 spurt to take a 15-10 lead. Sophomore Kayla Stoll stepped up for a big unassisted kill, followed by another finished form Hargett.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Walter Williams on Thursday night.

Orange 3, Southern Alamance 0: Orange stretched its streak to 20 consecutive sets won with a sweep of Southern Alamance on Tuesday night in Graham to remain undefeated in Central Carolina Conference play.

Sophomore Aubrey Jordan finished with eleven kills, while Ella Wimsatt finished with nine kills, five digs and three aces. Sophomore setter Katie Silcott had 17 assists, three kills and 18 digs as Orange won its ninth straight match.

Southern Alamance falls to 2-7, 0-3 in the CCC.

The Patriots were even with Orange at 13-13 midway through the first set. On a crucial point, Silcott made three digs during a long rally which ended with Jordan scoring off a spike from the outside post off a feed from Silcott to put Orange ahead 15-13. It remained tied 20-20 before Orange scored the final five points of the set, starting with a return by the Patriots that went long. Jordan scored off an assist, while Wimsatt had back-to-back aces. An attack by Southern Alamance was out to give Orange the set 25-21.

Wimsatt had five kills in the second set, but the Patriots jumped out to a 5-1 lead. That advantage was erased after a 5-0 Orange run that included an ace by Silcott and kills by Wimsatt and Ava Wilkerson, who finished with eight kills, three assists, a block and an ace.

Orange scored the final three points of the second set, ending with a kill by Wimsatt.

Jordan had five kills in the third set, where many Orange players had a chance to get off the bench. Seven different Orange players scored points in the final frame. Jordan spiked home match point off an assist from freshman Sawyer White.

Orange will host Roxboro Community School in Hillsborough on Wednesday night. The Lady Panthers swept the Bulldogs on Friday night in Person County.

For the first time in a Central Carolina Conference game, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team to a trip to Southern Alamance on Monday night.

While they maintained their undefeated record in conference play, they left Hanford Stadium south of happy.

The Red Wolves walked away with a scoreless tie against the Patriots. Cedar Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas came away with nine saves for his first clean sheet of the season. Galunas kept the Patriots from victory in the final minute of regulation. With 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Southern Alamance’s Ricardo Magallanes flicked a shot from 12 yards away that Galunas stretched and deflected over the sideline.

Two 10-minute overtimes didn’t result in a winner, though the Patriots were the aggressors. With 7:10 remaining in the first overtime, Southern’s Curtis Evans struck the pot from 12 yards off a pass from Billy Clark. Cedar Ridge’s best chance in the overtime came with 5:58 remaining in the opening overtime when Edwin Huerta soared through the box for a header off a cross by Jonas Juarez. Huerta’s attempt sailed through the uprights at the overhanging goalposts.

In the second overtime, Galunas turned back a shot by David Alemon from 16 yards, the only shot on net by either team.

“I’m not happy with this tie,” said Cedar Ridge coach Chauncey Brummell. “We’re a talented team, a group of young individuals with skill and talent. They’re a special group this season and I feel that with all the talent and skill that these young men have, they just got to put it together and play like a team. And I didn’t see that. I see a lot of selfish play. I don’t see that togetherness. It’s never a good feeling to walk in and walk away with a tie with you feel like you’re the better team and you should have put it away.”

Cedar Ridge (5-1-2, 1-0-1 in the CCC) is 3-1-2 on the road this season.

In the first half, Cedar Ridge drew a foul , but Banchenko’s free kick from 26 yards sailed over the crossbar. The Patriots best chance to score in the first half came when Clark moved past Cedar Ridge’s left back along the flank into the box, but his shot from a tough angle banked off the side of the net.

The rest of the half consisted of shots from 25 yards or longer that flailed over the nets on both ends.

Cedar Ridge’s Alejandro Macero-Ramos prevenid Southern Alamance’s Alemon from getting a shot off from the box with 35:14 remaining in regulation. Magallanes played a long ball to Alemon, who wound up in a footrace with Cedar Ridge’s center backs with 20:12 remaining, but Galunas raced to the edge of the box to kill the threat.

“Erik stepped up for us in a big way,” Brummell said. “He saved us. Even in the loss to East Chapel Hill, he stepped up for us. I’m proud of him and I think he’s just going to get better for us as a keeper.”

For a team that’s looking to end a seven-year playoff drought, it wasn’t the performance that any of the Red Wolves wanted. With Orange coming up tonight for the first leg of the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium, Brummell wants to see increased focus as the Red Wolves look to end a three-game winless streak to the Panthers.

“I want us to come out and put this game behind us,” Brummell said. “I want to come together and play as a team. I want us to come focused and ready. Orange is a tough opponent. They always are. I know they know how we’ve been doing, so there’s a big reason for them to come out and obviously do well against us. We have something to prove. I don’t want other teams in our conference thinking “Cedar Ridge started 5-0-1. How did that happen?”

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior runner Gabriel Schmid. The most accomplished cross country competitor at  Orange High since the turn of the century, Schmid was honored at halftime of Orange’s football game against Montgomery Central on Friday night. Last November, Schmid won the 3A Cross Country State Championship at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. He finished with a time of 15:44.28, more then 15 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. He became just the second Orange individual state champion in men’s cross country, and the first to win at 3A. Two weeks ago, Schmid started his senior season with a win in Orange’s first Central Carolina Conference meet of the year at Person High School in Roxboro. Schmid finished at 18:39, some 46 seconds ahead of the nearest finisher. Orange won the meet. Last week, the Orange men’s cross country team won a meet at Lake Macintosh in Burlington. Once again, Schmid finished first at 18:34.0. The Panthers had eight of the top ten finishers to win the meet. As a sophomore, Schmid was a top runner for the Orange team that won the Mideast Regional championship for the first time in school history. Schmid is aiming to become just the 27th multi-time state men’s cross country champion in state history this November. While he isn’t busy running, Schmid has been a volunteer for the Efland Fire Department. Regardless of where Schmid goes from here, he will go down as one of the greatest athletes in school history.

Orange Panther of the Week: Gabriel Schmid

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As a sit down to write on the night of September 11, the natural reflex is to write about my memories of September 11.

Then it dawned on me that it’s been 22 years now and this is a high school website. None of the students who read were alive that. They can’t relate to a country that wasn’t nearly as divided back then as it is now.

At the risk of sounding old (like that’s new), the fact America could be the subject of a foreign attack was unheard of in 2001. I worked at WDNC/WCHL, two radio stations inside Durham Bulls Athletic Park when the attacks happened. When the second plane went into the World Trade Center, my General Manager informed me I would have to go in the control room, interrupt regular programming, look at the video on a monitor airing CNN and describe them to our audience.

It was surreal and I wish I could remember what I said, but I honestly can’t. But here’s what I do remember.

That night, Republicans and Democrats who served in Congress stood together on the White House steps and sang “God Bless America.” After the attacks, the content of people’s character really did matter more than the color of their skin.

For about three weeks.

As another birthday comes up for me later this month, I regret time goes by so quickly. As much damage as the last few years have done on optimism, I hope at some point in my life, America will be that united again.

So, let’s get to what we’re here for. The Magnificent Seven for week three, ranging from August 27-through September 2. The best performances from Orange and Cedar Ridge athletes in no particular order.

1. Gabriel Schmid, Orange, Sr.: The defending 3A State Cross County champion continued a strong start to his final season in Hillsborough. He won the opening meet of the season at Person High on August 30 with a time of 18:39. It was a full 46 second ahead of the nearest competitor. Orange, the two-time defending CCC champions, won the opening meet over Cedar Ridge, Person and Southern Alamance.
2. Naomi Dyreng, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: Dyreng, who won three regional championships at the 3A Mideast Outdoor Track and Field Championships last spring, finished first for the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country meet in a quad-meet against Orange, Person and Southern Alamance. Dyreng finished with a time of 22:35. Her teammate, Abigail Klaitman, came in at 22:50 as the Cedar Ridge women captured the meet in Roxboro.
3. Claire Hargett, Cedar Ridge, Soph.: The Cedar Ridge volleyball team opened its CCC scheduled with win over Person and Cedar Ridge. Hargett had 14 kills, 15 digs and one ace in the Person win. In Graham, Hargett had a dig when the Patriots were serving on set point that ultimately tied the opening set. Hargett would finish with 13 kills and 19 digs as the Red Wolves swept the Patriots inside of a sultry Patriots Gymnasium.
4. Ava Wilkerson, Orange, Soph.: Orange continued its long road swing with wins over Jordan and Western Alamance. Wilkerson had ten kills and five blocks for the Lady Panthers against the Falcons in Durham. She followed with eleven kills, a block and an ace in the sweep of Western Alamance, the Lady Panthers’ CCC opener in Elon.
5. Jonam Juarez, Cedar Ridge, Sr.: Juarez scored the game-winning goal with 3:13 remaining as the Red Wolves men’s soccer team battled back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Seaforth 3-2 in Pittbsoro. Juarez finished with two goals, the first of his varsity career as Cedar Ridge remained undefeated. Giovani Yanez also had a goal for Cedar Ridge.
6. Shannon Sollars, Orange, Jr.: Sollars won three matches for the Orange women’s tennis team against Western Alamance and Walter Williams. Against the Warriors, Sollars defeated Reagan Williams 6-1, 6-4. Later in the night, Sollars teamed with her sister, Erinn, to defeat Amelia Weaver and Williams 8-3. Against Williams, the Sollars sisters defeated Abigail Brown and Lindley Oler 8-5.
7. Catherine Ballenger, Cedar Ridge, Sr. The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team won its opening CCC match with a 8-1 win at Southern Alamance on August 30. Ballenger won her singles match over Ava Lynch 6-0, 6-1. In doubles action, Ballenger teamed with Ella Caltabiano to defeat Paicey Cameron and Madalyn Corbett 8-1. Ballenger has won seven matches overall this year.

There’s no football at Roxboro Community School. Their Friday night lights are inside a gymnasium.

When the Orange volleyball team’s bus rolled down Highway 157 on Friday night, they were greeted by a group of students who packed the opposite end zone bleachers facing them. It makes for an intimidating sight to hit towards, but Orange once again proved they were up for the task.

Sophomore Ava Wilkerson finished with 13 kills and seven digs while Aubrey Jordan added 15 kills as Orange swept Roxboro Community School on scores of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-19. Senior Ella Wimsatt added eleven kills and seven digs, while sophomore setter Katie Silcott had 35 assists, three aces and five kills as Orange won its ninth straight match.

The victory completed a span of two wins over Person County teams in two nights for Orange (10-3). On Thursday, the Lady Panthers swept Person in Hillsborough.

RCS opened with leads in the first and second sets. RCS (7-4) jumped ahead 7-3 lead following a kill from Peyton Hogan and an ace from Vivi Carcamo. Orange evened the set after a kill from Wimsatt set up by Josie Crawford. There were eleven ties in the opening set, the final one coming when Wilkerson smashed a point off an assist from Silcott. Orange finished the fame with the final four points, ending with a kill by Jordan, an ace by Silcott and a return by the Bulldogs that went wide on set point.

After conceding the opening two points in the second set, Orange reeled off six in a row, ending with a Wimsatt ace. Jordan and Wilkerson each had two kills in the run. Wilkerson had seven kills overall in the second as the Lady Panthers opened up a 14-10 lead following another Wimsatt ace. The Bulldogs’ Baylee Long scored a point to reduce Orange’s lead to 15-13. An ace by Abby Silinski concluded an 7-3 Orange run to put the Lady Panthers ahead 21-16, but the Bulldogs responded with four in a row, capped by a kill from sophomore Peyton Hogan. Wilkerson ended the run with a kill, then followed with an ace to make it 24-20. RCS sent a return out on set point to put Orange ahead 2-sets-to-nothing.

The third set was the only one that Orange led wire-to-wire. Blessiny Deronette had a block for Orange, followed by an ace from Silcott to make it 5-1. RCS’ Hogan, Long and Jenna Hogan each had kills in succession to reduce the Orange lead to 10-9. Five Orange players had kills in the final set for Orange, led by Jordan with five. Orange had a 7-1 run to take a 24-17 lead, which included two kills each from Jordan and Silcott. Jordan ended the night with a kill on match point assisted by Silcott.

Orange has had ten of its last eleven matches on the road. They will play away from Hillsborough again on Tuesday night (tonight) when they face Southern Alamance in Graham. Orange returns home to face Roxboro Community School in a rematch Wednesday night.

Women’s Tennis: Orange 9, Person 0: Ten different players saw action for Orange in a sweep of Person on Thursday at Panther Tennis Courts.

Sophomores Molly Kruse and Kyla Mehl each won two matches on the night, where singles matches consisted of one set to ten games. Kruse defeated Amaya Hargrove 10-0. Mehl shutout Hailey Martin 10-0. Kruse and Mehl teamed at #1 doubles to defeat Annie Adcock and Danni Brown 8-1.

Erinn Sollars won at #1 singles over Adcock 10-0. Shannon Sollars defeated Brown 10-0 at #2 singles. Makayla Davis rolled past Maria Scott-Dubbusco 10-0. At #6 singles, sophomore Casey Robinson won over Jordan O’Grady 10-1.

At #2 doubles, Adelyn Alvis and Evelyn Over defeated Dubbusco and Hargrove 8-0. In the most competitive match of the day, at #3 doubles, Madeline Dutton and Isabella Panek teamed to defeat Martin & O’Grady 7-6, winning a seven-point tiebreaker 7-0.

Orange is 5-3, 2-2 in the Central Carolina Conference. They will step out of CCC action to host Roxboro Community School in Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

Photo Courtesy of Salisbury University

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Seagulls went 2-1 during the Garnet Invitational in Swarthmore, PA over the weekend. On Friday, the Salisbury defeated Arcadia inside Tarble Pavilion (25-16, 25-19 and 25-18). Altieri had 16 assists, two digs and one ace. On Saturday, Salisbury went the distance in a 3-2 win over Bowdoin (25-18, 25-10, 24-26, 18-25 and 15-11). Altieri finished with four kills, 17 assists, one ace and ten digs. Later, Swarthmore defeated Salisbury 3-1 (14-25, 27-25, 25-15 and 25-23). Altieri finished with eleven assists, one kill, two aces and four digs. It was the Seagulls first loss of the season. Salisbury is 5-1.

Lottie Scully: In her first match of the year, Scully returned for the Binghamton Bearcats volleyball team for the Lehigh Invite in Bethlehem, PA. On Friday, Binghamton defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 3-2 on scores of 19-25, 25-17, 25-27, 25-21 and 15-8. Scully had 20 assists, four digs, and two aces. On Saturday, Binghamton defeated Lehigh 3-0 (25-23, 25-19 and 25-17). Scully finished with a team-high 20 assists, nine digs and two aces. Delaware State defeated Binghamton 3-1 in the final match of the event (25-21, 28-26, 21-25 and 25-18). Scully finished with 23 assists, four digs and two aces. Binghamton is 6-4.

Cameron Lloyd: The Bucknell volleyball team finished non conference play with a win over Cleveland State. In the Cleveland State Tournament, the Bison opened with a wild 3-2 win over Akron where they rallied from two sets downs win (13-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-22 and 15-13). Lloyd had seven kills, nine digs, and two aces. On Saturday, Harvard defeated Bucknell 3-0 (25-16, 28-26 and 25-23). Lloyd had three kills, six digs and one ace. Bucknell defeated Cleveland State 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23 and 15-13). Lloyd had ten kills, 18 digs and an ace. Bucknell is 4-5 and will start its Patriot League schedule against Army on Friday.

Cameron Lanier: For the second time this year, a former Cedar Ridge volleyball player when against her former head coach when Elon defeated North Carolina Central at the Schar Center on Sunday. Lanier, who was a middle blocker on the Red Wolves 2021 3A State Championship team, faces Central assistant Fiona Cunningham. Lanier had ten kills and five digs. The Phoenix swept the Eagles (25-22, 25-22 and 25-22) in the finale of Phoenix Volley for Unity. On Friday, Elon swept Western Carolina (25-19, 25-20 and 25-23). Lanier had seven kills, two digs and an ace. Elon will start play in the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association) on Saturday against Hofstra.

Grace Young: The UNC Asheville volleyball team finished 2-1 in the Queens Fall Classic at the Levine Center in Charlotte. On Sunday, the Bulldogs defeated South Carolina State 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-19) Young had three digs and an ace. Last Tuesday, Western Carolina swept UNC Asheville (25-13, 25-21 and 25-18). Young played one set and had two digs. UNC Asheville is 5-5 and travels to Georgia Southern on Tuesday.

Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke team went 1-3 in the UC Invitational in Charleston, West Virginia over the weekend: On Friday, the Braves defeated Fayetteville State 3-2 at Wehrle Athletic Arena (25-23, 22-25, 25-11, 21-15 and 15-9). Carter played two sets and had one kill and four digs. Millersville defeated UNC Pembroke 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-14). In four sets, Carter had four kills, one ace, one assist and 21 digs. On Saturday, Gannon swept UNC Pembroke (25-17, 25-18 and 25-8). Carter finished with six digs. Charleston (West Virginia) swept the Braves (25-14, 25-18 and 25-8). Carter had one kill, two aces and six digs. UNC Pembroke is 4-4 and will face Lenoir-Rhyne on Thursday night.

Allie Wilkerson: Over the weekend, Division III Averett University participated in the Case Western Reserve University Tournament in Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University swept Averett (25-20, 25-20 and 26-24). Wilkerson had five kills. On Saturday, Mount Union swept Averett (25-21, 25-19 and 25-12). In three sets, Wilkerson had three kills and one dig. Allegheny College swept Averett 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-20). Wilkerson finished with four kills, one ace, one block and two digs. Averett is 3-4.

Melissa Benkowitz: Division III Franklin & Marshall went 2-2 last week. On Wednesday, the Diplomats swept DeSales (25-19, 25-18, 25-13). Benkowitz played three sets and had four kills and four digs. #11 New York University defeated Franklin & Marshall 3-1 on Friday in New York City (25-21, 27-29, 25-23 and 25-21). Benkowitz played two sets. On Saturday, Springfield swept the Diplomats in Montclair, NJ (25-23, 26-24, 25-18). In two sets, Benkowitz had two kills and two digs. Later that day, Franklin & Marshall swept Montclair State (25-21, 25-18 and 25-8).

Ashlyn Davis: Davis made her debut for the Division III University of Lynchburg last week. Davis played one set in the Hornets 3-1 win over Dickinson (25-21, 25-19, 9-25, 25-19) in Harrisonburg, VA.

After the Montgomery Central Timberwolves scored 151 points over its first three games, they sauntered into Auman Stadium with a 3-0 mark on Friday night. But the Orange Panthers were up to the challenge and shutout the Timberwolves 22-0 in Hillsborough. It was a standout game for freshman Kayden Bradsher, who scored all three Orange touchdowns. In the first quarter, Bradsher delivered his first varsity touchdown off an option pitch from quarterback Hank Nunnery. In the second quarter with Orange leading 6-0. Immediately after the score, the Panthers forced the first of five Timbervolves turnovers in the game when Jayden Medley recovered a fumble inside Montgomery real estate. Medley went into the game with 16 tackles and two sacks through the Panthers first three games. In the second quarter, Nunnery found Bradsher on a crucial 3rd-and-goal in the left corner of the end zone. Bradsher would score his third touchdown off a 29-yard pass from Nunnery in the third quarter. The Panthers were able to win a battle of field position because of punter Tyler Narold, who delivered several solid punts that forced the Timberwolves to start drive in the shodow of their own goalposts. Narold capped off the night in style with an interception on the final Central offensive play. Orange goes into Central Carolina Conference portion of its schedule with a 2-2 record. They will travel to David Wade Stadium to face Western Alamance next Friday night.

Orange football’s Kayden Bradsher, Jayden Medley & Tyler Narold discuss win over Montgomery Central

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The joyous crowd had all gone home and the Montgomery Central visitor’s bus had just faded away into the darkness when DeVante Pettiford walked up the empty bleachers.

In his heart, the young Orange football head coach is still defensive oriented. Shutouts don’t come as often inside Auman Stadium as they used to, so he wanted to savor this one as long as he could.

With a rare moment of solitude, he pulled out his phone and took a shot of the scoreboard that read “Orange 22, Visitors 0” before athletic director Jason Knapp shut down the lights.

During a week where his team could barely hold practices outside because of the oppressive heat, Pettiford was concerned that Montgomery’s split back offensive system would give his team fits.

Instead, Pettiford’s Panthers put together its most complete performance in its final non-conference game, holding the Timberwolves to a season-low 95 yards total offense in a 22-0 win at Auman Stadium.

In the midst of the stifling defense, promising Orange freshman Kayden Bradsher had his coming out party, scoring three touchdowns. His opening rushing touchdown from 12 yards out with 4:17 remaining in the first quarter put Orange ahead for good.

“He is a pure athlete no matter what he does,” Pettiford said of Bradsher. “Football, basketball and baseball, he’s just a pure talent. In our first jamboree (in Siler City), he had a great catch for a touchdown. I saw it then. Let’s look past all the talent. Kayden is a leader. I have seniors that won’t speak up. Kayden speaks up.”

Bradsher was Orange’s leading receiver with a career-high six catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

The Panther defense forced five turnovers, the first of which came on a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Jayden Medley, who pounced on the ball coughed up by quarterback Aidan Goodman. Orange had several opportunities to add on to its 6-0 lead throughout the first quarter, starting drives in Timberwolf real estate twice to no avail.

Orange won a battle of field position thanks to punter Tyler Narold, who enjoyed a big all-around night. Late in the second quarter, Narold blasted a 47-yard punt to pin the Timberwolves back to its 6-yard line. After a sack by DeAndre Brown for a six-yard loss, Orange quarterback Hank Nunnery found running back Nate Sorrells for a 40-yard gain off a swing pass, tackled at the doorstep of the goal line. On 3rd-and-goal from the Timberwolf 3-yard line, Nunnery extended the play long enough to find Bradsher in the left corner of the end zone. Harold’s extra point gave Orange a 13-0 halftime lead.

Montgomery Central (3-1), who scored a combined 151 points in wins over J.F. Webb, Carrboro and East Chapel Hill, was held to ten yard total offense at halftime.

“I actually was a bit worried because we weren’t able to practice outside all week,” Pettiford said. “We practiced in the gym every day this week and I was worried because this is a different style of offense. They have some option, they have some veer-type tendencies. You never know how it’s going to be until its full speed. I think taking that time back grew the hunger within us and got us more locked in.”

Montgomery Central got into its only offensive rhythm at the outset of the second half when they morphed into a wishbone offense, leading to consecutive first down runs by running back Brandon Powell. They advanced to the Orange 31-yard line before Narold nearly picked off a pass in the end zone. After Powell was tackled by Daylin Ford and Brown for three yards on 3rd-and-15, Goodman lost the ball as he attempted to throw on the run. Jaylin Starks recovered the fumble.

With Orange leading 13-0, it appeared the Panthers had squandered another chance to extend its lead after Brown was wrestled down for no gain on 3rd-and-10. In a bizarre sequence, Narold punted the ball out of bounds at the Montgomery 3-yard line, but the Timberwolves were called for a personal foul while the ball was rolling dead, extending the Orange drive. On 4th-and-4, Nunnery found Bradsher along the near sideline at the 20-yard line. Bradsher split between two linebackers up the field and raced into the end zone for his third touchdown.

Orange forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter. Garrett Sawyer picked off an Andrews pass with 11:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. After the Timberwolves Jayshawn Stewart recorded a fumble, a Montgomery snap slipped through punter James Andrews hands for a safety, extending the Orange lead to 22-0.

Narold picked off a pass on the Timberwolves final offensive play.

“This was assignment football tonight,” Pettiford said. “Last week (against Vance County), we made dumb mistakes. Our defensive line wasn’t attacking. We had the wrong shoulder pulls. We didn’t flow. We made day one mistakes. This week, we honed in on those things that we fixed and we locked in. When everybody does their job, tonight is the outcome.”

ORANGE 22, MONTGOMERY CENTRAL 0

MC–0   0    0   0-0

OR–6    7     7    2-22

ORA–Kayden Bradsher 12 run (kick failed)

ORA–Bradsher 3 pass from Hank Nunnery (Tyler Narold kick)

ORA–Bradsher 29 pass from Nunnery (Narold kick)

ORA-safety, ball snapped out of end zone.

RUSHING: MONTGOMERY CENTRAL 32-35 (Brandon Powell 10-62, Nytavis Powell 12-23, Jayshawn Stewart 1-2, Aidan Goodman 5-(-26). team 4-(-22).

ORANGE: 22-46 TD (Nate Sorrells 12-25, Jaylan Starks 5-6, Bradsher 1-12 TD, DeAndre Brown 4-3)

PASSING: MONTGOMERY CENTRAL (ANDERSON 4-12 56 Yards INT, Noah Rodriguez 0-1)

ORANGE (Nunnery 14-25 166 2 TD, INT)

RECEIVING: MONTGOMERY CENTRAL (Brandon Weiss 2-5, RaRa Jemison 1-50, N. Powell 1-1)

ORANGE: (Bradsher 6-58 2 TD, Sorrells 3-57, Daylin Ford 3-24, Brandon Cummings 2-27)