Cedar Ridge football looks to make state playoffs against Northern Vance on Friday night. Seniors Peyton Pappas, Jonathan Hall and Jeremy Cates discuss what it would mean to make the postseason for the first time since 2010.

Peyton Pappas, Jonathan Hall and Jeremy Cates Look to Make Playoffs vs. N. Vance

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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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