Junior Hunter Pettiford has played three games as a full-time member of the Orange varsity football team. In all three of them, he has had double-digit tackles, including a season-high 14 against Rolesville last week. Senior defensive end Ryan Sellers is off to a solid start after leading the Panthers in sacks last season. Sellers has eight tackles for losses so far in 2017.

Orange Interior Linemen of the Week: Hunter Pettiford & Ryan Sellers

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Things couldn’t have started much better for Orange against Northern Durham on Thursday night. And it couldn’t have ended much worse.

After dropping the first set, Northern slammed past the Panthers 3-1 at Jim King Gymnasium on scores of 13-25, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-11.

Northern’s sister tandem of Alyssa and Ashlyn Stone took over the match after the second set. In the fourth set, the two combined for 12 of the Knights points, including Alyssa spiking home match point. Northern reeled off a 9-1 run to pull ahead 24-11 in the final set to improve to 9-3 overall, 5-2 in the Big 8 Conference.

Orange falls to 8-5, 3-4 in the Big 8 after winning two out of three matches this week. Freshman outside hitter Avery Riley led Orange with eleven kills, while Sophomore Emma Clements had ten kills, three aces and eleven digs. Senior Caroline Compton led the Panthers with 21 assists, along with ten digs and two kills. Sophomore Kaitlyn Werden finished with four kills and three digs. Senior libero Faith Foushee had 14 digs and an assist.

The Panthers return to action next Tuesday at East Chapel Hill. They host Hillside next Thursday.

Not only did the Orange Girls’ Tennis team earn its second win of the season on Wednesday, but nine different players earned victories.

Orange defeated Southern Durham 9-0 at Spartans Tennis Courts. Caroline Branan took the victory at #1 singles 8-1, while Karoline Gillfillen earned an 8-2 win at #2 singles. Senior Leah Gates took the win at #6 singles 8-1; Emma Williamson prevailed 8-0 at #3 singles, senior Payton Clayton got an 8-1 victory at #4 singles and senior Chandler Woods completed the sweep at singles with an 8-0 victory.

In doubles play, Clayton teamed with Sara Campbell to win #1 doubles 8-5, the most competitive match of the day. Sydney Allison and Lindsey Jouannet teamed to win at #2 doubles 8-0 and Gaylaw Eh and Eli Baucom Hays earned an 8-1 victory at #3 doubles.

Orange will return to action against Northern Durham at Orange High Tennis Courts on Tuesday afternoon.

The bleachers at Red Wolves Stadium had almost emptied as Cedar Ridge boys soccer coach Chris Walker finished meeting with the media, then realized something he would have rather not noticed.

“This is the first time I’ve lost to Orange here,” said Walker, looking around the field. “We tied last year here, but we’ve never lost to them.”

During Walker’s five years at Cedar Ridge, the Red Wolves had gone 3-0-1 against the Panthers. What made the difference on Wednesday night was experience. Orange has it right now and Cedar Ridge doesn’t.

Orange (5-3-2) defeated the Red Wolves 4-1 by scoring three goals in the final 17 minutes. Panther senior Ewan McCallum notched the game-winning goal off a corner kick, assisted by classmate Jamar Davis.

Two minutes later, Orange captain Malcolm Phillips added insurance with a free kick goal from just outside the box when Cedar Ridge was called for a handball. Davis ended the scoreline with his eighth goal of the season with 3:19 remaining.

The late Orange goals only partially obscured a solid performance by Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Jesus Yanez, who kept the Red Wolves even with its crosstown rivals a majority of the second half. Yanez made six saves in the 2nd half, including a stone cold robbery of Phillips, who fired a line drive off a rebound from eight yards away with 24:01 remaining.

Remarkably, the senior Yanez is playing his first year at the high school level after several years playing in local recreational leagues.

“I thought he played amazing,” said Walker. “He made one mistake late on the goal on the short side. He has great hands, great movement. If he wasn’t in net, they probably could have mercy ruled us.”

Orange improves to 5-3-2 and keeps hope alive for a winning season, something the Panthers haven’t achieved this decade. In 2015, Orange finished 10-10-2.

“We’re starting to work a lot better as a team, communicating more,” said Orange goalkeeper Noah Miller. “We’re moving off the ball better, making better touches. If we keep doing that every day, we’re going to be a lot better.

Orange junior R.J. Pherribo got the opening goal with 14:37 remaining in the first half off a set up from Drew Jagentenfl. In open field, Victor turned back Pherribo’s first attempt, but the Panther converted the rebound.

Cedar Ridge was held to one shot on net in the first half due to solid play from the Orange backline, led by senior Omar Landeros.

“We started talking more in the second half,” said Landeros. “The balls that they were playing down the middle, we were stepping up towards them. When you’re pressuring the ball like that, there’s no way they’re going to keep possession.”

Trailing 1-0 at the half, Cedar Ridge’s Brandon Garcia got the equalizer off a free kick with 31:36 remaining off a free kick set up off a foul drawn by Tatha Hso 20 yards from the net.

Leading up to his 2nd half goal, Garcia had Cedar Ridge’s best attempts at a goal in the first half. The biggest came with 6:21 remaining when Hso set him up from the edge of the box from 19 yards, but Garcia’s shot lofted over the crossbar and through the football goalposts.

Cedar Ridge played without centerback Cameron Koehler, who pulled his hamstring.

Cedar Ridge falls to 2-7 despite valiant efforts this week against Chapel Hill and Orange. Walker, who had to replace 12 seniors to start this season, feels the best is yet to come.

“I knew coming in that Orange was strong,” said Walker. “We got worn out tonight against a good team. They just kept attacking and we made some mistakes. I think if we stay poised and keep improving in the midfield, we can get better.”

Cedar Ridge travels to Northern Durham on Monday and hosts East Chapel Hill on Wednesday. The Panthers travel to Northwood on Monday before hosting Chapel Hill next Wednesday in a vital match.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior soccer midfielder Tatha Hso. Last week, Hso played a huge role in setting up two goals in Cedar Ridge’s 3-2 victory over Graham, the first win of the season for a team that is starting one senior and a goalkeeper playing his first year at the high school level. Two days later, Hso performed well defensively in a 1-nil victory over Northwood in the Red Wolves’ Big 8 opener. Hso discussed what’s ahead for the Red Wolves following a week where they played valiantly in losses against Chapel Hill and Orange.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Tatha Hso

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This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior soccer midfielder Tatha  Hso. Last week, Hso played a huge role in setting up two goals in Cedar Ridge’s 3-2 victory over Graham, the first win of the season for a team that is starting one senior and a goalkeeper playing his first year at the high school level. Two days later, Hso performed well defensively in a 1-nil victory over Northwood in the Red Wolves’ Big 8 opener. Hso discussed what’s ahead for the Red Wolves following a week where they competed hard in games against Chapel Hill and Orange.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Tatha Hso

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For the first time in six years, the Orange boys soccer team won at Cedar Ridge on Wednesday night, 4-1. The Panthers scored three goals in the final 19:00. Senior striker Jamar Davis provided the final goal, his 8th of the year. Centerback Omar Landeros stopped several Red Wolves’ threats throughout the game. Goalkeeper Noah Miller came away with his fifth win of the season as the Panthers captured its 2nd straight win.

Orange’s Landeros, Davis, Miller Discuss 4-1 Win over Cedar Ridge

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Red Wolves junior Gavin Hughes threatened down the flanks against Orange on Wednesday night, sending several threatening crosses into the box. One attack bounced off the body of Than Aung and went just wide early in the 2nd half, nearly tying the game. Hughes finished with two shots on net.

Cedar Ridge Wingback Gavin Hughes Discusses Performance vs. Orange

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There are matches were Orange volleyball know beforehand will be battles, and there are matches were they simply have to take care of business against an undermanned opponent. Tuesday was one of those times.

Orange made quick work of Southern Durham in its second game in two days, finishing the Spartans 3-0 on scores of 25-12, 25-9 and 25-14.

The Panthers improve to 8-4, 3-3 in the Big 8. The Panthers are now in 5th place in the Big 8, one-half game behind Northwood.

It was a night where Orange’s faces of the future stood in the limelight. Freshman Chloe Riley had a career-high eleven kills, leading the team.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Werden registered three aces, one kill, 26 assists and five digs. Junior Meg Gattis has three aces, two assists and ten kills.

It was a dominant night for Orange serving, finishing with 21 aces. Sophomore Emma Clements, who had seven aces against Jordan on Monday night, came away with six against the Spartans. Sophomore Elizabeth Vosburg registered four aces. Vosburg also had Orange’s only block of the match.

After losing all three of its matches last week, Orange will go for a three-game winning streak on Thursday night when they host Northern Durham in Hillsborough. Next week, the Panthers play three games in three days (at East Chapel Hill, at Bartlett Yancey and a home date with Hillside).

The Orange Junior Varsity volleyball squad captured a 2-0 win over Southern Durham. The Panther JV squad is now 12-0 having lost only one set the whole season, against Jordan last month.

With its crosstown rival coming up on Wednesday night, the Orange Boys Soccer team made quick work of Hillside to go back over .500.

Senior Bryan Torres scored two goalswhile Jamar Davis collected a goal and an assist as the Panthers defeated the Hornets 8-0 at Orange Soccer Field.

Davis, a senior striker, now leads Orange with 7 goals and 15 points. Senior midfielder Luke Wirzba scored his 2nd goal of the season and added two assists against the Hornets.

R.J. Pherribo added his sixth goal of the season. Malcolm Phillips notched his first goal of 2017, while Jo Sanchez scored his second and Jesus Chavez also added his second goal.

Cameron Michalski and Drew Jagentenfl assisted on goals. Michalski now has two assists. Jagentenful has a goal and two assists in 2017.

Orange travels to Cedar Ridge tonight for the Hillsborough Derby.