Jeff Hamlin

When a high school football team starts its season every August, they hope to be successful.

Of course, that’s a relative term. For schools accustomed to winning, nothing less than a conference championship will do. Orange High has already gained a share of the Big 8 Championship.

That started with a solid foundation which was created in 2008, when Pat Moser was hired as head coach. After several disappointing seasons, Moser now has led the Panthers to four consecutive double-digit win seasons, a first in school history.

Cedar Ridge started this season thinking they would have a big name coach in its corner. Steve Johnson hired to replace Clay Jones, who wanted to focus on his duties as head basketball coach at CRHS.

Johnson fit the bill of a coach that could revive Cedar Ridge football, which hasn’t made the playoffs since reaching the 2-AA Eastern Regional Championship Game in 2010. He had won two state championships at Burlington Cummings, and had been an assistant for three others.

The hiring mirrored what Moser’s hiring at Orange in 2008. Both had coached previously in Alamance County, both had won state championships at their respective schools (Moser at Graham, Johnson at Cummings) and both resigned after health concerns.

Moser had time to recover. Evidently, Johnson did not.

Johnson suffers from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which causes fatigue and numbness. He suffered a setback just a few days in August workouts that sources close to the team remain tight-lipped about. Johnson abruptly turned the head coaching reigns over to offensive coordinator Scott Loosemoore. Weeks went by without the team even hearing from Johnson until he resigned in mid-September. He never coached a game at Cedar Ridge.

The hopes for building a new foundation had not only crumbled, but the Red Wolves were left scrambling to keep what they already had in place.

Loosemore was the third Red Wolves football coach in the last three years. A former head coach at Eastern Guilford and assistant at Elon and North Carolina A&T, Loosemore isn’t clear if he will get the permanent job.

During the 2000s, Cedar Ridge was the epitome of coaching stability. Longtime Stanford Middle School football coach Lou Geary built the program from the ground up starting in 2002. Eight years later, they played for the 2-AA Eastern Regional Championship under Joe Kilby.

It’s been particularly difficult for varsity players like quarterback Peyton Pappas, who had to work under three different coaches in three years.

Now, the Red Wolves are looking for a new path. Again. Exactly who will take them there is anyone’s guess.

For now, Cedar Ridge can only focus on Friday night when they face Northern Vance. A win will put their mark at 5-6, which should be good enough for a birth in the 3-A playoffs.

After the Vikings started the Big 8 portion of its schedule with a 35-34 victory over Oxford Webb, they’ve lost four straight.

By the time 2016 rolls around, Cedar Ridge will likely have to start over again. Pappas, Marquez Hunter (out for the Northern Vance game), Dahnte Scott, Lee Fields, Grady Pritchard and Tyreq Jennings are all seniors.

That’s all in the future. Cedar Ridge has a chance to start putting its new foundation in place on Friday night, and that starts with making the playoffs.

The Cedar Ridge Red Wolves boys soccer team will not only play in the 2nd round of the 3-A state playoffs, but they’ll have additional rest to prepare.

On Wednesday night, the Red Wolves defeated Northwood 2-0 in the 1st round. It was the third time this year that Red Wolves goalkeeper Brendan Boss posted a clean sheet against the Chargers.

Chris Walker scored the opener for the Red Wolves. Ivan Carbajal added insurance.

Cedar Ridge improves to 13-5-2 on the season.

Next up is the Cleveland Rams, champions of the Two Rivers Conference. Cleveland defeated Orange 3-1 in the opening round.

Carbajal and Boss talked about the Rams, the victory over the Chargers and how the team has grown under head coach Chris Walker.

Cedar Ridge Boys Soccer Players Ivan Carbajal and Brendan Boss Discuss Playoff Win over Northwood

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Cedar Ridge would rather be playing for a volleyball state championship this weekend. Alas, it won’t.

The Asheboro Blue Comets defeated the Red Wolves 3-1 on Tuesday night. It was Cedar Ridge’s first home loss of the year. It turned out to be a good night for underdogs in the 3-A regional finals.

In the 3-A Western Regional Final, 4th seeded South Iredell surprised 2nd-seeded West Henderson in four sets. The Blue Comets will meet the Vikings on Saturday at noon for the state championship in the Raleigh Convention Center.

After capturing the Big 8 Conference, district and sectional championship, the Red Wolves end the season with a mark of 24-4. They had won 17 straight before Tuesday’s loss, but they accomplished more than any other Cedar Ridge team since moving up to 3-A.

Senior Courtney Eckmann discussed the loss to the Blue Comets and what she will remember from her senior year.

Cedar Ridge Senior Courtney Eckmann Discusses Senior Year

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Cedar Ridge Volleyball Coach Charlie Oakley Talks about the 3-1 loss to Asheboro in the 3-A Eastern Regional Final.

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State tournaments can be a cruel thing. Especially when the stakes are high.

On Tuesday night at Cedar Ridge High, two volleyball teams entered the 3-A Eastern Regional Final on 17-game winning streaks. Cedar Ridge had romped through the Big 8 Conference undefeated, not having lost a set since October 8. Asheboro roared through the Mid-Piedmont Conference, having lost just one set in its first four playoff matches.

Somebody’s season had to end. And Cedar Ridge’s number proved to be up.

The Blue Comets defeated the Red Wolves 3-1 to win the 3-A Eastern Regional Championship at Red Wolves Gymnasium on scores of 25-23, 25-23, 23-25 and 25-23. Cedar Ridge ends the season 24-4.

Vollyeball isn’t supposed to be a sport of the elements. Its indoors, thus it’s climate controlled. At least it’s supposed to be.

Not on Tuesday night. The standing room only crowd representing both schools constantly tried to drown the other out with chants. The mild November night led to a sultry, humid gymnasium that forced the  players to constantly trade balls before serves because the moisture had built up. Reporters from six different newspapers were stationed at courtside.

It was heat. It was intensity. It was something that Cedar Ridge, with all of two seniors, wasn’t used to.

“It’s hard to get over the hoopla,” said Cedar Ridge coach Charlie Oakley. “The crowd, the photographers, and the newspaper reporters. They handled it better than we did. We came out nervous. Asheville is a great team and they deal with it.”

No team led any set by more than five points. When Asheboro needed points, they turned to the serve of Destinee Goldston. In the fourth set, there were 13 ties and eight lead changes. Asheboro got the ball back after a kill by Salem Davidson. Goldston served consecutive points to give the Blue Comets a 24-23 lead. Asheboro took the win after Goldston’s serve led to a Red Wolf set error, sparking a wild celebration by the Blue Comets players.

Cedar Ridge had a season-high 23 attacking errors. Meg Anderson finished with 12 kills, while Asha Barnes had 11. Lily Henry finished with 19 assists.

The Blue Comets roared out to a 2-0 lead. In the first set, Asheboro jumped out to a 9-5 lead before Cedar Ridge mounted a 7-1 run to even the match at 16. Asheboro came back with seven straight points, all of them from the serve of Goldston. Davidson spiked home set point.

The second set was tied nine times, but Asheboro led most of the way behind kills from senior Ballie Gordon and 6’2 junior Megan Banker.

Cedar Ridge’s only set win came in the third. Meg Anderson scored the kill off an assist from Henry to make the match 2-1. The Red Wolves were three points away from forcing a 5th set, but it was not to be.

Afterwards, seniors Barnes and Courtney Eckmann embraced and shared tears and final memories. They had just played their final game together at Cedar Ridge.

The tournament can be cruel, leaving behind only memories. The good news for Cedar Ridge is the memories they leave behind this year are pleasant ones that will last forever.

The Cedar Ridge Red Wolves will get a home playoff match for the first round of the state playoffs. They’ll be facing a familiar face, as well.

Cedar Ridge will go against Northwood on Wednedsay night at Red Wolves Stadium. Kickoff is at 6.

The Red Wolves went 1-0-1 against the Chargers during the regular season. Starting goalkeeper Brendan Boss posted two clean sheets, including a 2-0 win on September 23. Seniors Ivan Carbajal and Lachlan McGrath scored goals for the Red Wolves in that victory.

In the rematch in Pittsboro on October 19, the two sides played to a scoreless draw. The Red Wolves outshot the Chargers 14-8, including three shots each from Carbajal and Trenton Gill. Boss made five saves to post the shutout.

Boss has five shutouts on the season.

Chris Walker discusses Wednesday’s game against the Chargers in the video below.

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For the 2nd time in three years, the Orange Panthers are in the 3-A state playoffs.

The Panthers travel to Clayton tonight to face the Cleveland Rams, champions of the Two Rivers Conference. Cleveland is 16-3-1 on the season, 8-1-1 in conference play.

Orange is coming off a loss to Northwood in a match to determine the third seed from the Big 8. Instead, the Panthers earned a wildcard spot. The Panthers enter the game 10-9-2, 6-5-1 in the Big 8.

Orange Soccer Players Lionel Reid-Shaw and Chandler Compton discuss the Panthers in the playoffs in the video below.

Orange Soccer Player Lionel Reid-Shaw and Chandler Compton discuss the Panthers playing in the 3-A

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It may not have been the most climatic finish for Orange, but a share of a conference championship will suffice.

The Panthers romped past Oxford Webb 42-0 on Friday night to finish the regular season 10-1, 5-1 in tbe Big 8. With the win, Orange clinches a share of the Big 8 Championship.

Now, the Panthers wait to see what happens next week with Southern Durham and Northwood, each of whom can tie Orange for first in the Big 8 with a win in their respective season finales.

Southern, who defeated Cedar Ridge 60-3 on Friday, also finishes the regular season against Webb next week.

Northwood defeated Northern Vance on Friday 35-6. Chapel Hill travels to Pittsboro next week to face the Chargers.

If Northwood, Orange and Southern all finish 5-1 in the league, then there will be a drawing to determine the top three seeds for the 3-AA state playoffs. The pairings will be announced next Saturday.

The potential drawing will certainly hold more drama than Orange’s game against the Warriors did on Friday. It was a runaway from the beginning.

Quarterback Jackson Schmid opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown pass to Drew Lemaster.

In the second quarter, Lemaster completed a 95-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Schmid tossed his 2nd touchdown pass of the half to Cody Evans from 7-yards away, increasing the Orange lead to 21-0.

In his final regular season football game, Bryse Wilson opened the 2nd half with a 70-yard touchdown run. On the next drive, Wilson scored on an 18-yard run to make it 35-0.

Schmid ended the scoring with a 1-yard plunge on a quarterback sneak.

After going without a touchdown in Orange’s first two games of the year against Person and Northern Durham, Lemaster has now scored touchdowns in nine consecutive games.

Now, after 11 straight weeks of games (12 including the scrimmage against Eastern Alamance on August 14), the Panthers can heal up and prepare for the playoffs.

Skill has taken them to six straight wins and a share of a conference title, but luck probably will determine where their next game will be played.

Our Orange Panther of the Week is senior golf star Amanda Hill. Amanda played for the 3-A state individual championship earlier this week. Amanda led Orange in a meet earlier this year, shooting a 47 in a meet featuring Cardinal Gibbons and Chapel Hill. Amanda loves golf, staying at Occoneechee Golf Course almost daily during the spring and summer. Congratulations to Amanda as she moves on to college.

Orange Panther of the Week: Amanda Hill

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Though the recent past indicates otherwise, the Orange Panthers don’t have the richest football tradition.

They went 15 years without a winning season from 1993-2007. Their 2008 playoff birth was the first in 17 years.

Before the dark era of Panther football, some rich names played under a series of head coaches that varied in quality.

Alvis Whitted, Class of 1993, was a wide receiver and kick returner. While he had numerous shining moments on the gridiron and track, unquestionably his most infamous came on a rainy Monday night at Chapel Hill High in 1992. With Orange trailing 10-3 in the fourth quarter, Whitted handled a reverse on a kickoff return that caught CHHS totally off guard. With speed that would earn him state championships in the 100 and 200 meters, no Tiger could stop Alvis.

But the rain could.

Whitted slipped and fell at the 1-yard line.

Right on cue, quarterback Mark Pounds fumbled a snap on the subsequent play that the Tigers recovered. Ultimately, the CHHS won and went to the playoffs. It was the first of 17 straight years that the Panthers would miss the postseason.

After a career at N.C. State playing under Mike O’Cain, Whitted was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997. Six years later, his career peaked, winning an AFC Championship with the Oakland Raiders. He even played in Super Bowl XXXVII, falling to Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Whitted’s classmate, Damon Scott, was a three-year varsity starter at OHS. He was the tailback for Orange’s only playoff victory of the 90s, a win at Greenville Rose in 1991. After leaving Hillsborough, he became an FCS All-American at Appalachian State. He’s the 2nd leading rusher in school history and a member of the university’s 75th anniversary team.

Of course, the natural lineage between Orange High and Appalachian State is current Mountaineer head coach Scott Satterfield, who led a (brief) revival of Panther football in 1990. The previous three Orange teams won a combined eight games. It likely would have been more if Satterfield hadn’t suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury against Eastern Alamance, the first game of his junior year.

In 1990, the combination of Satterfield, Scott and tight end Kevin Wright paced the Panthers to a 7-3 record, good enough for a three-way tie for 2nd in the PAC-6 conference behind Northern Durham. That season, the PAC-6 had only two playoff slots allotted, and the Panthers stayed home from the playoffs after losing a draw to Northern Vance (Chapel Hill came up with a short straw, as well).

Before Satterfield, Scott and Whitted, there was defensive lineman J.R. Bolden, class of 1988. He immediately grabbed the attention of UNC Head Coach Mack Brown, who had just transplanted himself in Chapel Hill in 1988 after going 6-6 in Tulane. Bolden would play in the Shrine Bowl. He endured the jokes and jeers (often from UNC’s own fan base) of consecutive 1-10 teams, the dog days of Brown’s tenure. His senior year culminated in a Peach Bowl victory over Mississippi State.

Satterfield. Scott. Whitted. Bolden.

There was also Walter Boyd, Class of 1988 who signed with Lou Holtz and Notre Dame. And Marc Latta, a former OHS school class president who would win his own Peach Bowl at N.C. State.

And none of them won a conference championship.

They were victims of bad timing—and Ken Browning.

Indeed, Orange, just like the usual array of challengers to throne, were mired in the dominance of the Northern Knights, who won or shared every PAC-6 Championship from 1984-2001. Browning was the head coach for ten of them, leaving Northern to become an assistant at UNC after winning the 1993 4-A state championship.

Which is why tonight is so important for the Panthers.

After Orange’s 41-19 victory over Chapel Hill last week, Panther coaches and personnel weren’t focused on the result. Athletic Director Ernie Price and head coach Pat Moser got word from a trainer of a final score from Durham: Northwood 28, Southern Durham 26.

How stunning was that development? It was the Spartans’ first loss as a 3-A team in Big 8 Conference regular season play. A 22-game conference winning streak was over. It was Southern’s first conference loss since September 14, 2012, when they fell to Hillside 18-13 in the 4-A PAC-6. The last time Southern lost a conference game to anyone except Hillside was 2008 (another rainy night triumph for Chapel Hill, 10-0).

The attitude on the Orange sideline was a mixture of joy and concern. The Panthers suddenly needed one win over a last-place Oxford Webb team to win a share of the Big 8 Conference championship.

But what about the potential three-way tie for first in the Big 8? It seems most likely that Northwood, Southern and Orange will share the title.

Orange opened the Big 8 with a home loss to the Spartans. They followed with five straight wins, most importantly a soggy 14-0 win at Northwood the week after the Southern loss. Before last week, Orange seemed resigned to its fourth straight runner-up finish. It may not bring a conference championship, but at least the Panthers would likely earn a home game for the 1st round of the state playoffs.

Northwood’s upset changed all that. A three-way tie for first would require another drawing next Friday night (which is Orange’s bye week). A top six seed in the playoffs? Two potential home playoff games? That’s on the table. So is a bottom six seed that could lead to an opening round road game.

Draw the number 3 and the Panthers may not see Auman Stadium again until next September against Riverside.

For now, all of that is hypothetical. Tonight, Orange faces Oxford Webb in Granville County. Forget that the Warriors have lost five straight and have given up 133 points in its last four games. The bottom line is Orange can become a conference champion for the first time in 2008, and only the third time since 1978.

The playoffs can wait. To earn something that so many Orange greats never achieved is enough to play for.