From the moment Orange ran the Philly Special on the first play from scrimmage on Friday night, the Panthers dominated their crosstown rivals in the Battle of Hillsborough.
Orange junior Kyse Devore, in just his third start, threw for four touchdowns as rushed for another as the Panthers retained the Victory Bell with a 54-0 victory over Cedar Ridge during Homecoming at Auman Stadium. Orange captured its first home victory since they defeated Montgomery Central on September 8, 2023.
It was a night of milestones for the Panthers. For starters, Orange offensive lineman Kayshawn Farrington and Marshea Byrd were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. It was also the anniversary of the dedication of Auman Stadium, named for Glen Auman, who coached Hillsboro High School football to consecutive conference championships in 1959 and 1960.
In between the first and second quarters, Orange High’s 1969 3A State Championship Men’s Basketball team was honored. Last spring, the surviving members gathered for a daylong celebration at Orange High’s Auditorium, where they received championship rings 55 years after winning the title at Durham’s Sykes Gymnasium.
Cedar Ridge was without its top skill player, running back Isaiah Craig, who had consecutive 100-yard running games to open the year against East Chapel Hill and Northwest Halifax. The Red Wolves finished with five yards total offense and had to use quarterback Thomas McDermott on keepers for its few positive bursts of offense.
“It was a much-needed win,” said Orange coach DeVante Pettiford. “We’re in the closing stretch with three games left. If we win two of these last three, we stand a good chance of getting into the playoffs. Hopefully, this lights a fire under us and gets us rolling.”
Devore, whose younger brothers Ayden and Asher play at Orange Middle School, was pressed into emergency duty at quarterback three weeks ago after senior Hank Nunnery was injured late in the first quarter at Montgomery Central. It’s been a trial by fire. His opening two starts were against Western Alamance and Walter Williams, possibly the best two teams in the Central Conference.
On Friday night, Devore spread the wealth, delivering four touchdowns passes to four different players. He now has seven touchdown passes over the last six quarters.
“Kyse has a lot of confidence behind him,” Pettiford said. “It’s not just showing up on Friday. He’s putting the time in every week. He’s working hard at practice. He’s watched over four-and-a-half hours of practice over the past two weeks. The success you’re seeing is coming from the time he’s spent preparing.”
The first quarter dragged on amidst a flurry of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both teams. There were four penalties on the first three plays from scrimmage, but Orange broke the slog on its opening possession when Devore handed the ball to Kingston Purefoy-Farrington, who dropped it off to Hunter Albert, who flipped it back to Devote and aired it out for Kayden Bradsher for a 38-yard gain. On the next play, Devore found Purefoy-Farrington for a 39-yard touchdown.
The Panthers scored on all of its drives in the first half. On its second series, Ja’ki McDaniels returned after missing two games with an injury suffered at Montgomery Central and ripped off a 21-yard run. On the next play, freshman Owen Phillips hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass. The extra point from Will Cooper gave Orange a 13-0 lead.
Devore called his own number after Bradsher moved the ball into the red zone with a 20-yard gain. Devore scored his first varsity touchdown on a 2-yard carry.
Orange’s offense, defense and special teams all scored in the first quarter. After the Panthers’ defense forced a Red Wolf punt, Bradsher picked up a great block from Ty’lieq Jones and raced 79 yards for a touchdown with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter.
On the next Red Wolf drive, Hunter Albert picked off a pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Albert later scored on offense, catching a 42 yard pass from Devote to open the second quarter.
McDaniels would add a 39-yard touchdown pass from Devore to end the first half.
The second half was played with a running clock of 10-minute quarters. Orange senior Deandre Brown scored the only points of the fourth quarter on a six-yard run.
Cedar Ridge’s Matthew Asay had an interception in the second half.
ORANGE 54, CEDAR RIDGE 0
CR–0 0 0 0-0
ORA–34 14 0 6-54
ORA–Kingston Purfoy-Farrington 39 pass from Kyse Devore (kick blocked)
ORA–Owen Phillips 16 pass from Devore (Will Cooper kick)
ORA–Devote 2 run (Cooper kick)
ORA–Kayden Bradsher 79 punt return (Cooper kick)
ORA–Hunter Albert 15 interception return (Cooper kick)
ORA–Albert 42 pass from Devore (Cooper kick)
ORA–Ja’ki McDaniels 39 pass from Devore (Cooper kick)
ORA–Deandre Brown 6 run (kick failed)
RUSHING–CEDAR RIDGE (Thomas McDermott 11-10, Mason Hughes 1-1, Jordan Oliva 3-(-3), team 3-(-13).
ORANGE: Bradsher 2-21, McDaniels 1-20, Devore 3-18 TD, Brown 1-6 TD.
PASSING: CEDAR RIDGE (McDermott 3-12 7 yards, INT)
ORANGE (Devore 6-11 195 yards 4 TD, INT)
RECEIVING: CEDAR RIDGE (Gavin Stone 1-9, Olivia 1-1, Hughes 1-(-1))
ORANGE: (Albert 2-47 TD, Purefoy-Farrington 1-39 TD, McDaniels 1-39 TD, Bradsher 1-38, Phillips 1-36 TD)