Cedar Ridge High School

Cedar Ridge’s 20-19 win over Chapel Hill on Friday night wasn’t just its first varsity win in 765 days. It also showed how persistent this team has grown over the past two months. The Red Wolves trailed until its final possession. But Isaiah McCambry, K.J. Barnes and several big plays by the Cedar Ridge defense wouldn’t let the Red Wolves lose on Homecoming night. Here are the 12 plays that led to Cedar Ridge’s long-awaited 1st win under head coach Torrean Hinton.

1. Zachary Holmes make a key tackle on 3rd-and-12.

Chapel Hill jumped out to a 13-0 lead, but Cedar Ridge’s defense held the Tigers to only six points in the final three quarters. The Tigers tried to mount a drive in the second quarter to go ahead 19-0, but on a 3rd-and-12, Cedar Ridge defensive tackle Zachary Holmes sniffed out a screen pass and forced a punt with a solid tackle.

2. Isaiah McCambry 53 yard touchdown run

Since Cedar Ridge fielded a junior varsity team last season, Isaiah McCambry has been someone the coaching staff has been high on. This game provided a look at the Red Wolves’ future. After Holmes’ stop on the previous Chapel Hill drive, McCambrey injected some momentum with this 53-yard touchdown run to give the Red Wolves life going into halftime.

3. Elijah Whitaker blocks an extra point.

Chapel Hill came out of the locker room with a touchdown, but Elijah Whitaker blocked an extra point. Sometimes missed extra points don’t amount to very much, but this one did by the fourth quarter.

4. Braxton Mergenthal and Jared Clayton team up on big stop

Chapel Hill was in position to take a two touchdown lead in the 3rd quarter. It was only fitting that interior lineman Braxton Mergenthal would factor in on one of the biggest plays of the game for the Cedar Ridge defense. Mergenthal and Jared Clayton fought off blocks on this draw play on 3rd down that led to a Chapel Hill punt.

5. Isaiah McCambry 30 yard run

We’re just getting going on the Isaiah McCambry fun. McCambry finished with a career-high 190 rushing yards and three touchdowns. This was a 30-yard run that led to Cedar Ridge tying the game.

6. McCambry scores his second touchdown

Cedar Ridge drew to within 14-13 after McCambry’s fourth touchdown of the year. Strong blocks from Clayton and right guard Ryan Long on this score as Cedar Ridge went into the final quarter trailing 14-13.

7. Another blocked extra point.

Chapel Hill scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter, but the Tigers missed the extra point. The Red Wolves trailed 20-13 leading to the big finish.

8. K.J. Barnes 49 yard kickoff return

Right after the final Chapel Hill touchdown, Cedar Ridge wide receiver K.J. Barnes would jump start the game-winning drive with a 49-yard kickoff return to immediately put the Red Wolves in scoring position.

9. Isaiah McCambry’s final touchdown from 36 yards

Check out sophomore Jake Mergenthal at fullback on the lead block for McCambry as this play starts. He spring McCambry to the inside of the right tackle, and McCambry does the rest to put Cedar Ridge within one point.

10. K.J. Barnes scores on a 2-point conversion for the game-winning score.

Cedar Ridge got creative on the game-winning score. Lining up in an old school power-I formation, it appeared the Red Wolves would be content with riding the hot hand of McCambry. But Barnes may be the fastest man on the team. Once McCambry handed off to Barnes, he had nothing but open field and he could have skipped to the end zone after he turned the corner.

11. Desi Raspberry breaks up a pass on Chapel Hill’s final drive

Chapel Hill crossed the 50-yard line on its final drive and could have done serious damage if it wasn’t for cornerback Desi Raspberry, who made a big pass breakup on 3rd down.

12. Chapel Hill misses field goal

Chapel Hill opted not to go for it on 4th down, instead opting to go for a 43-yard field goal. After it fell short, the celebration was on along the Red Wolves sidelines. Elijah Whitaker got a strong rush around the corner and nearly blocked it

In this week’s edition of Campbell’s Ramble, I am not even trying to be objective towards Syracuse. I am going to rip them to shreds after that embarrassment of a football game they played in Raleigh on Thursday night, and my rooting interests are about to be very clear. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get going.

NC State

State still doesn’t have a QB. But that didn’t matter in their 16-10 triumph over Syracuse. In all honesty, all the Pack had to do on Thursday night was to not have any fatal self inflicted wounds against an offensively inept Syracuse squad. State did exactly that, and they defended home turf.

Miami

It’s starting to seem like the switch from Jarren Williams to N’Kosi Perry at quarterback for Miami was the key for the Canes. Perry wasn’t fantastic, but he didn’t turn the ball over and let his defense take care of business in the 17-9 victory against Virginia. Deejay Dallas is still the main show in that Miami offense, but a competent Perry means that Miami can win some ball games, as they did on Friday.

Clemson

The Tigers are back into their peak form after their bye week. The scare at North Carolina seems to be the shot in the arm Clemson needed. Everything went perfectly for Clemson in the 45-14 domination of a pretty solid Florida State team, and I no longer have any doubts that Clemson will enter the College Football Playoff as an undefeated ACC champion.

Virginia Tech

The Hokies beat FCS Rhode Island 34-17 but still didn’t look good. Oddly enough, Tech is playing better away from Lane Stadium than they are while they are. A road win against Miami and a close loss at Boston College are their two best performances of the season so far. That doesn’t bode well for Justin Fuente’s hopes of having a job in Blacksburg next season.

Duke

Not much to say about Duke. They beat the worst team in the conference in Georgia Tech 41-23. If this wasn’t the result, then there would be something to discuss. As for now, there simply is not, this is exactly what we all expected would happen.

Louisville

I love this team so much. In what will probably end up being the highest scoring game in the ACC this year, the Cardinals outlasted Wake Forest 62-59 in Winston. Their defense is still leaving something to be desired, but the fact that Louisville is now on their 3rd string QB in Evan Conley and are putting up 62 points shows how many weapons they have offensively. Dez Fitzpatrick, Tutu Atwell, Javian Hawkins, and Seth Dawkins are all so dynamic when the ball is in their hands. Louisville football is becoming must watch TV.

Syracuse

Well, here we go. Tommy DeVito is currently terrible at QB for the Orange. He’s either hurt and incapable of making throws, or he’s just bad, neither of which is what you want, and his performance is the reason Syracuse fell 16-10 at NC State. The offensive line doesn’t give him enough time to throw and when they do, DeVito takes too long to make a decision. DeVito is also hesitant to pull down the ball and run with it which in Dino Babers’s offense, is going to be a problem. The defense is solid and will only get better with Andre Cisco working his way back to being healthy. If there is a bright spot for Syracuse, it’s that their next game is in the Carrier Dome. Cuse is putting up 34 points per game and if they can figure out a way to maintain that scoring rate in their home games, they should find a way to bowl eligibility. Maybe I’m being too optimistic and thinking with my heart and not my head. It needs to be said though that home Syracuse and road Syracuse just look like two different teams. Particularly on the offensive side.

Virginia

Did Notre Dame break the UVa offense? Is the Miami defense good now? Or is UVa football just snakebitten forever and nothing will ever change that. The Hoos dropped a 17-9 contest at Miami on Friday night. All this being said, Virginia has not won in Miami since 2011. Maybe this is just a mental thing in this particular building for Virginia, or maybe UVa just isn’t as good as we thought.

Wake Forest

Wake did almost everything they needed to on the offensive side, the defense was terrible but the turnovers ultimately killed the Deacs in their 62-59 loss to Louisville. Wake Forest turned it over 3 times to Louisville’s 2. That extra possession to the Cardinals was ultimately the difference. Wake Forest has no reason to be worried right now, unless they consider my power rankings to be particularly important.

Florida State

Clemson played their best game of the season in defeating the Noles 45-14. Florida State has no reason to be super concerned, sometimes the number 3 team in the country just plays their best, and you’re stuck on the other side of the field.

Georgia Tech

Yep, they lost 41-23 at Duke. The Yellow Jackets march towards a winless ACC season continues, with no real signs of improvement.

Power Rankings

1. Clemson, duh.
2. North Carolina
3. Wake Forest
4. Florida State
5. Pitt
6. Virginia
7. Duke
8. Louisville
9. Miami
10. NC State
11. Syracuse
12. Boston College
13. Virginia Tech
14. Georgia Tech

Predictions

Pitt at Syracuse: Syracuse, 28-25

North Carolina at Virginia Tech: North Carolina, 38-20

Clemson at Louisville: Clemson, 42-31

NC State at Boston College: Boston College, 31-24

Georgia Tech at Miami: Miami, 42-10

Duke at Virginia: Virginia, 17-14

Florida State at Wake Forest: Wake Forest, 42-38

Last week’s predictions: 3-3

Season total: 5-5

Rodney Brooks: St. Augustine’s defeated Livingstone 20-12 at George Williams Comp Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday. Rodney Brooks, who graduated from Orange in 2017, tied for the Livingstone team lead with six tackles. He also had a pass breakup. Brooks has now played six games since arriving in Salisbury last summer. The Blue Bears have dropped two in a row and are 3-2, 2-1 in the CIAA. They return to Raleigh next weekend to face Shaw, led by former Southern Durham head coach Adrian Jones.

Payton Wilson: On Thursday night, N.C. State earned its first ACC win of the season with a 16-10 victory over Syracuse. Wilson finished with three tackles. After six games, Wilson has 26 tackles, including three tackles for loss.

Trent Gill: As State found itself in a rugged defensive battle with the Orange, Gill found himself busy as a punter. He had six punts for an average of 48.8 yards per boot. His longest punt was 55 yards, and he had two over 50 yards. Gill had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. N.C. State faces Boston College next Saturday at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Adam Chnupa: A rousing day for the Elon football team on Saturday. The Phoenix defeated Delaware, ranked #15 in FCS, 42-7 at Rhodes Stadium in Elon. Chnupa, a redshirt freshman who graduated from Cedar Ridge in 2017, saw action in his third game of the season. Elon travels to Rhode Island next weekend. The Phoenix are 3-4, 2-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Kevin Wright: It was a memorable day for the Division III North Carolina Wesleyan football team on Saturday. The Battling Bishops played its first game on its own campus. Wesleyan defeated Greensboro College 44-7 at the Vernon T. Bradley Complex. The Bishops are 3-2, 2-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference. They face Averett in Danville, VA next weekend.

Jackson Schmid: Though Schmid hasn’t played for Division III Wheaton College since September 21st, the Thunder is now ranked #5 in Division III. The Thunder defeated North Park University 63-0 in Chicago on Saturday to improve to 5-0, 1-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Schmid graduated from Orange in 2017.

Taylin Jean: The Division II Limestone women’s soccer team defeated Converse College 2-0 at Saints Field in Gaffney, SC on Saturday. Jean posted her fifth shutout of the season starting as goalkeeper for Limestone. She made one save to earn her fifth win of the year. Limestone is 5-5, 4-2 in Conference Carolinas.

Jordan Rogers: Division III Methodist defeated William Peace University 2-0 at Monarch SoccerPlex in Fayetteville on Saturday. Rogers started at wingback for the Pacers. She has started all 14 of the Pacers’ games this season. Peace falls to 6-6-1, 2-2 in the USA South Conference.

Lionel Reid-Shaw: Th Division III Dickinson men’s soccer team defeated Washington College 2-1 for its third straight win on Saturday at Miller Memorial Field in Carlisle, PA. Reid-Shaw started for the Red Devils at center back. He has started nine games this year. Dickinson is 8-5, 4-1 in the Centennial Conference.

Lili Henry: The Division III Methodist volleyball team dropped both of its tilts in a tri-match at Greensboro College on Saturday. Greensboro swept the Monarchs to open the day at Hanes Gymnasium. Henry had eleven assists and five digs against the Pride. William Peace upended Methodist in four sets. Against the Pacers, Henry had 17 assists, six digs and two aces. Methodist falls to 3-13, 2-6 in the USA South Conference. They travel to Salem College in Winston-Salem on Wednesday.

August 18, 2017 was never supposed to be a famous date. Sure, it marked the beginning of a new football season and all the promise and excitement that contains, but there wasn’t much more to it than that. On that day, the Cedar Ridge football team opened its season at home against Carrboro, but the game was never completed – with 2:39 left in the second quarter and Cedar Ridge on top 21-6, awful weather in the area forced the game to be delayed, postponed, and ultimately called. It wasn’t pretty, and it sure wasn’t perfect, but Cedar Ridge still got the win. 

Little did anyone involved with the Red Wolves program know that it would take more than two years for them to get another one. 

August 18, 2017 was the date of the last Cedar Ridge varsity football win. That win was followed by 10 straight losses to close 2017 and six straight to open 2019, with a full year without varsity sandwiched in between. Thus far in 2019, the Red Wolves had been outscored by an average of 30 points per game and had only held one lead all season – the wait for that next varsity win seemed interminable. 

The Chapel Hill Tigers entered Friday night’s match with a story remarkably similar to that of Cedar Ridge. They too were unable to field a varsity team in 2018 after a one-win season in 2017, and their only win in 2019 was a thrilling 35-34 overtime victory over Carrboro in which the Tigers scored 16 points in the final 100 seconds of the game to force overtime. Since August 18, 2017, Chapel Hill only had one other varsity win: a victory at Cedar Ridge on October 6. 

In 2019, almost exactly two years later, Cedar Ridge got its revenge. Led by a trio of rushing touchdowns from Isaiah McCambry and a shorthanded defense that improved as the game progressed for the first time this season, the Red Wolves (1-6, 1-2 Big 8) nipped the Tigers (1-6, 0-3) 20-19 on Homecoming night in Hillsborough. It had been 785 days since August 18, 2017, the now-infamous date of the last Red Wolves win. Reset that counter to zero. 

It was clear early on Friday that the Red Wolves and the Tigers were quite evenly matched. There are differences, to be sure – the Tigers are much more capable of passing the ball and Cedar Ridge has a dominant feature back, for example – but both teams seemed to recognize the opportunity for victory that had presented itself. After Cedar Ridge punted fairly early into its first possession, Chapel Hill marched 82 yards and opened the scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run by senior Caleb Clegg. The Tigers acted like they were going to go for two but flexed out of the formation with about 12 seconds left of the play clock, barely allowing kicker Luke Roeber to get set up, but he still made his kick to put the visitors up 7-0.

Those two drives used up all but 23 seconds of the first quarter clock, and the second quarter went by about as quickly. Both teams traded punts to open the period, but Tyler Roberts got a solid return of Roeber’s kick to set up Cedar Ridge at their own 47 – and then McCambry arrived. The sophomore tailback had already put together a solid showing in the game, but he made his mark with a 53-yard score down the left sideline to get the home team on the board. The Tigers snuffed out a 2-point conversion rush from Jake Mergenthal to keep the score 7-6. 

From there, Chapel Hill had only one more drive before they punted it away with less than two minutes to go – each team had only three full possessions in a half that lasted less than an hour. The players parted to make way for the Homecoming festivities, but then the fans in attendance were treated to even further drama.  

Chapel Hill opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by a two-yard score from Jaylen Mitchell but that fake conversion formation robbed Roeber of the time to set up properly and he missed the PAT. Down 13-6, K.J. Barnes, fresh off his honor as a member of the Homecoming Court, returned the kickoff out to the Tiger 40-yard line, and McCambry soon punched it in from four yards out. The Red Wolves again went for two on a quick hitter from Will Berger to Barnes, but the Tigers again were up to the task, keeping the score 13-12.

The Tigers were often able to move the ball despite poor field position, and on the one drive where they did have a good start they capitalized quickly. Getting going from their own 40 on the first drive of the fourth quarter, Clegg soon capped it off with his second rushing score to put the visitors up seven. The Tigers initially lined up in a traditional two-point conversion formation – with about five minutes left a nine-point lead might have been insurmountable – but a Chapel Hill penalty changed coach Isaac Marsh’s mind. He instead elected to kick the PAT, but even with the traditional setup Roeber missed, keeping the Red Wolves within striking distance. 

And strike they did. Cedar Ridge began a drive on its own 40-yard line or better four times Friday, and the Red Wolves scored on three of those situations. Another good kickoff return brought the Red Wolves out to their own 41, and just a few plays later McCambry completed his hat trick with a 36-yard burst up the middle of the defense and into the end zone. That made it 19-18, and Torrean Hinton didn’t waste any time in going for two and the lead. Cedar Ridge lined up with two fullbacks stacked right and everyone thought the ball went to McCambry – but instead, Berger flipped it to Barnes running an end-around from right to left, and no one was there to stop him from skipping into the end zone. With 4 minutes to go, Cedar Ridge had its latest lead all season at 20-19. 

But Chapel Hill wasn’t done. The Tigers got a great kickoff return and started off at the Cedar Ridge 46, but the drive didn’t go well. Facing a 3^rd-and-15 from the 29 with about two minutes left, Caleb Kelley went for it all with a heave down the right sideline for K.J. Jones, but Desi Raspberry Jr. was there to break it up. Marsh elected to kick the field goal rather than have his offense try again, and his second-string kicker sent his possible game-winning bid fluttering to the goal line, nearly 15 yards short of its target. 

Cedar Ridge got the ball back. All it had to do was kneel a few times, and the wait would be over. For the first time in a long time, the Red Wolves had tasted varsity victory. After the handshakes and as the well-dressed Homecoming crowd filed out, the team circled around an energized Hinton for an address. Meanwhile, a few of the younger members of the team carted three Gatorade coolers over and doused the meeting’s inner circle – the seniors – with the drink. Cold, but good, they called it. The same could be said for the 2019 season so far – tough for a while, but, now, good.  

It was the perfect Homecoming for Cedar Ridge’s Isaiah McCambry, K.J. Barnes, Braedon Thompson and Braxton Mergenthal on Friday night. McCambry scores the game-winning touchdown with 4:06 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Red Wolves defeated Chapel Hill 20-19 at Red Wolves Stadium. Barnes scored the game-winning two-point conversion on a pass from William Berger. Cedar Ridge ended a 16-game losing streak. McCambry finished with over 100 yards as the Red Wolves won for the first time in varsity football in 765 days. Cedar Ridge will go for its second straight win at East Chapel Hill next Friday.

For the first time in 765 days, the Cedar Ridge football team won a varsity football game on Friday night. Trailing 19-12 midway through the fourth quarter, Cedar Ridge running back Isaiah McCambry scores a touchdown a 36-yard touchdown run with 4:06 remaining. The Red Wolves got a 2-point conversion on a pass from William Berger to K.J. Barnes for the game-winning score as the Red Wolves defeated the Tigers 20-19. McCambry scores three touchdowns as the Red Wolves won on Homecoming to end a 16-game losing streak. It was also Torrean Hinton’s first win as Cedar Ridge head coach to send the Red Wolves fans happy for a team that deserves it. Hinton took over as the coach of the Red Wolves in late July in pace of Antonio King, who left after one season.The Red Wolves travel to East Chapel Hill next Friday at Dave Thaden Stadium. 

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team played to a 1-1 tie with Drexel at Rudd Field in Elon on Sunday. The Phoenix remain undefeated at home. Hodges, a 2018 Orange graduate, scored Elon’s only goal in the 15th minute off a header from six yards out. Hannah Doherty assisted on the goal. Hodges now had three goals for the Phoenix this season. Elon is 8-3-2 overall, 2-1-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. They travel to Maryland to play Towson on Sunday.

Taylin Jean: The Division II Limestone women’s soccer team fell to Queen’s College 2-1 at Dickson Field in Charlotte on Wednesday night. Jean, a 2018 Cedar Ridge graduate, made seven saves starting as the Saints’ goalkeeper. After not playing in her freshman year, Jean has started nine games this season. She has made 36 saves. Limestone is 4-5, 3-2 in Conference Carolians. They host Converse College at Saints Field in Gaffney, S.C. on Saturday.

Brittany Daley: Division III Greensboro College defeated Meredith College 1-0 at Pride Field on Wednesday night. Daley started her 13th game of the season at center back. Greensboro improved to 9-3-1 overall, 3-0-1 in the USA South Conference. They host Mary Baldwin University on Tuesday.

Jordan Rogers: For the first time in women’s soccer, Division III William Peace defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Wednesday night. Rogers made her 13th start of the season at wingback. Peace improved to 6-6-1 overall, 2-1 in the USA South Conference. They face Methodist in Fayetteville on Saturday.

Alfredo Rodriguez: The 2017 Orange High graduate is now a forward for NAIA Montreat men’s soccer team in Black Mountain. Rodriguez has yet to play varsity this season and has shuttled between varsity and junior varsity with the Cavaliers. Montreat has won five in a row and has an overall record of 9-3-1.

Lionel Reid-Shaw: Reid-Shaw was back in the lineup for Division III Dickinson men’s soccer on Tuesday night. It was another down-to-the-wire win for the Red Devils, who defeated Misericordia 3-2 in overtime at Mangelsdorf Field in Dallas, PA. Dickinson’s Kevin Gilbert scored the game-winning goal in the 98th minute. Reid-Shaw has stared seven games this season for Dickinson. The Red Devils improved to 7-5 overall.

Lili Henry: The Division III Pfeiffer volleyball team defeated Methodist in a sweep at the Riddle Center in Fayetteville on Tuesday night. Henry had 15 assists, six digs and two aces for the Monarchs. She played all three sets. Methodist falls to 3-11, 2-4 in the USA South Conference. The Monarchs will travel to Greensboro on Saturday for a tri-match-match against Greensboro College and William Peace at Hanes Gymnasium.

Lauren Cates: The leading scorer from Orange’s women’s basketball team unofficially started her college career last weekend. The Wake Tech women’s basketball team had an exhibition during the Southeast JUCO Jamboree in Albany, GA. The Eagles will officially starts its season against Meredith at Wake Tech on October 22.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior cross country runner Anne Morrell. Last week at the Wendy’s Invitational in Charlotte, the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team finished 1st in the Open Division race, beating out 24 other teams from across the state. Morrell was the top finisher for the Red Wolves at 20:09.90. Last month, Cedar Ridge also finished 1st in the 36th Greensboro Invitational in Pleasant Garden. Morrell finished 7th overall. The Red Wolves Cross Country team finished 2nd in the 3A Mideast Regionals last year, qualifying for the state championships. Morrell has experienced plenty of success in cross country and track & field so far in her Cedar Ridge stint. She continued her strong 2019 form on Tuesday when Cedar Ridge won a dual match against Orange, a race where Morrell finished 1st.