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Darius Satterfield; Satterfield is serving as Mr. Sophomore during his second year at Elizabeth City State this academic year. Satterfield is a part of the Royal Court at ECSU, which is comprised of eight students. Last week, Winston-Salem State defeated the Vikings 24-7 in ECSU’s CIAA opener. Satterfield was busy. He had seven punts for an average of an average of 41 yards. He had a career-high 88 yard punt. Elizabeth City State’s game against Shaw has been moved to tomorrow (Sunday) due to inclement weather by the coast.

Payton Wilson: The N.C. State football team had a wild 24-21 win over Virginia at Scott Stadium on Friday night. Once again, Wilson led the Wolfpack with 13 tackles, including one-half of a sack. Wilson had led the Wolfpack in tackles in each of its four games thus far in 2023. Last Saturday, in a 45-7 win over VMI, Wilson had nine tackles and a pass breakup. N.C. State is 3-1 and will host Louisville next Friday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Braxton Mergenthal: The Division III Hampden-Sydney football team rolled past Greensboro College 58-28 at Pride Field last week. Mergenthal, a former Cedar Ridge interior lineman, had a tackle. The Tigers are 2-1 and will host Bridgewater next Saturday.

Bryse Wilson: The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from the National League Central division championship. On Friday, the Brewers routed the Miami Marlins 16-1 at loanDepot Park. Wilson threw the eighth inning and allowed one home run, the only Marlins tally of the game. He struck out one. This will be Wilson’s second trip to the playoff in his Major League career. In 2020, he helped the Atlanta Braves reach the National League Championship Series, where he defeated Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of that best-of-seven series. On Wednesday, Wilson threw a shutout inning of relief with one walk in a 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Last Monday, Wilson threw the eighth inning in St.Louis’ 1-0 win over the Brewers. He allowed one hit.

Ivy Garner: The Liberty women’s soccer team is now 10-0. The Flames defeated VMI 2-0 at Drill Field on Sunday. Garner started and played 39 minutes. On Thursday, Liberty defeated Middle Tennessee 1-0 in its Conference USA opener at Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium in Murfreesboro, TN. Garner started as a midfielder and played 60 minutes, firing three shots. She has started all ten of the Flames’ games thus far.

Emerson Talley: The Division II Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team remains undefeated at 4-0-3. On Wednesday, the Bears defeated Anderson 3-0 at Spero Financial Field in Anderson, SC. Talley started as a midfielder and played 41 minutes. Last Sunday, the Bears won its South Atlantic Conference opener when they defeated Limestone 3-0 at Saints Field. Talley had two shots, one of them on net. She played the full 90 minutes. Lenoir-Rhyne is 2-0 in the SAC and faces Mars Hill today.

Allie Wilkerson: The Division III Averett University volleyball team defeated Randolph College 3-1 on scores of 25-13, 25-17, 23-25 and 25-23 on Tuesday at Giles Gymnasium in Lynchburg, VA. Wilkerson played all four sets and registered four kills, two digs and one ace. Averett is now 8-4 overall, 3-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. They will face Eastern Mennonite University later today (Saturday).

Cedar Ridge 3, Person 1: Winning at Person just means a little bit more. Regardless of the Rockets record in volleyball, the visiting team can always count on the home grandstand being close to full, if not full capacity. Cedar Ridge claimed its third straight victory over Person in Roxboro on scores of 28-30, 25-21, 25-16 and 25-22.

Senior Grayling Serge finished with 21 kills, a season-high, along with nine digs. Sophomore Claire Hargett finished with 17 kills and 29 digs. Senior Rachel Alverson finished with 38 assist and eleven digs.

The first set went to a thrilling overtime where the Red Wolves fought off three set points until Person finally took the opening stanza. There were seven leads changes in the opening frame. Serge had nine kills in the opening set, but Person built a 17-12 lead after an 8-3 run. Cedar Ridge rolled to tie with seven consecutive points while Hargett was serving. Senior Addie Reid scored an electric kill off an assist from Alverson to even the set 22-22. Person took the lead back with a block. Serge sent the match into overtime with a kill. Person finally scored match point when a Red Wolf volley went into the net.

The Red Wolves recovered and took the final three sets. The second set was even 20-20 when Cedar Ridge closed with five of the final six points. Ellie Woolson put the Red Wolves into the lead as she reached over the next to interrupt a Person possession and score a kill.. Alverson clinched set point with an ace.

The Red Wolves led from wire-to-wire in the third set. Senior Natasha Buchler-Fosado, now a libero, had a run of three consecutive aces to put Cedar Ridge ahead 8-3. Cedar Ridge (8-5, 5-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) finished the frame with three of the last four points, ending with a kill by Serge.

At one point in the fourth set, Person led 9-4. The Red Wolves started a comeback after back-to-back aces from Serge. Cedar Ridge scored five consecutive points to take a 19-17 lead, ending the run with a joust that Reid won at the net. After a kill by Hargett put the Red Wolves ahead 24-22, a return by Person went into the net on match point.

Cedar Ridge will return home to face Southern Alamance on Tuesday.

Orange 3, Western Alamance 0: Orange only trailed twice in the entire match in a sweep of Western Alamance on Thursday night, ending a span of three home matches in three days for the Lady Panthers.

Orange scored the first seven points of the first set, but the Warriors made a rally to narrow the Lady Panthers’ lead to 7-4. Senior Ella Wimsatt, who led Orange in kills, spiked home the final two points of the first set, winning 25-16.

Western Alamance took a 2-1 lead to open the second frame behind a kill from Reese Walker. Orange responded with seven straight points to take control of the set. Wimsatt had an ace while Sophomore Ava Wilkerson scored two kills. The Lady Panthers finished the set on a 8-2 run to win it 25-7 behind a spike from sophomore Aubrey Jordan.

Orange won the final set 25-11. They opened by scoring seven of the first nine points. starting with consecutive kills by Wilkerson. Leading 3-2, Orange reeled off four straight points. An ace by freshman Sawyer White sewed up the victory on match point.

Orange has now won 13 in a row. They’re 15-3 overall, 6-0 in the CCC. Midway through its conference schedule, Orange has won all 18 of its sets in conference play. Overall, they’ve won 38 of the last 39 sets. The only exception came on Wednesday night when they dropped the opening set against Falls Lake. The Lady Panthers would eventually win 3-1.

Orange will travel to Walter Williams on Tuesday night. They will return home to face Cedar Ridge on Thursday in a rematch from earlier this year. Orange defeated Cedar Ridge on September 5.

–There are some very special conference championship chases going on right now. The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference after a resounding night at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday. Salomon Hernandez scored on a header with 4:17 remaining in game off an assist from Illah Babchenko. The Red Wolves have never won a conference championship as a 3A team in men’s soccer. While they still have seven conference games remaining, the Red Wolves on the pitch is bringing a lot of energy to Red Wolves Stadium. They return home to face Northwood on Tuesdays.

–Who can beat the Orange volleyball team in the CCC? Orange swept Western Alamance on Thursday night to improve to 6-0 in conference play. Orange has won all 18 sets in league play and 38 of its last 39 overall. Cedar Ridge travels to Orange next Thursday. If the Red Wolves can’t beat Orange, the Lady Panthers could gain the elusive conference championship well before the regular season ends.

–Really hope the Person football coach slept well last Friday night with his team leading Cedar Ridge 67-0. With seconds drifting away on a running clock in the fourth quarter, his team ran hurry up to the line so they could tact on another touchdown. The situation for Cedar Ridge football is tough, but I’ve been around long enough to see programs that appeared to have little hope turn things around. Happened at Jordan. Happened at Chapel Hill. Happened at Hillside. Come to think of it, I can recall a Hillside team that trailed Northern Durham 51-0 at halftime in 2000. Northern kicked a field goal on the final play of the first half. The next year, they beat Northern. In fact, Hillside had the game won and elected to throw a 47-yard touchdown in the final minute in an example of what Hillside’s then-coach called “Steve Spurrier coaching.” I hope Cedar Ridge’s returning players have long memories.

1. Graylinn Serge, Cedar Ridge, Sr: Finished with a season-high 18 kills against East Chapel Hill in a five-set win inside Wildcats Gymnasium. On September 12 against Western Alamance, Serge had 13 kills with 14 digs, and four aces in a 3-1 Red Wolves win. In a sweep of Walter Williams, Serge had eleven kills, 14 digs and two aces as the Red Wolves won three matches in four days.
2. Naomi Dyreng, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: Dyreng had her second consecutive first place finish for the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team. She led the pack during a CCC meet at Orange High with a time of 21:54.00. On September 7, Dyreng finished first at a meet on her home course. The Cedar Ridge women finished first at the Orange meet.
3. Erik Galunas, Cedar Ridge, Soph.: The goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team, Galunas had a clean sheet against Southern Alamance in Graham on September 11. Galunas made a diving save in the final minute to keep the game level in the final minute. Two nights later, the Red Wolves earned a 2-1 victory over Orange in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium. Galunas had eight saves.
4. Ava Wilkerson, Orange, Soph.: Had 12 kills against Roxboro Community School on September 13. She also had an ace and three digs. Wilkerson finished with eight kills in a sweep of Southern Alamance in Graham. Orange has won 13 in a row. Wilkerson has 223 kills for an Orange team looking to win its first conference championship in volleyball since the mid-2000s.
5. DeAndre Brown, Orange, Jr.: Brown led the Orange football team with 16 tackles in a rugged game at Western Alamance last Friday. He added his first rushing touchdown on a four-yard run in the third quarter. Midway through the season, Brown leads Orange with 60 tackles and has four sacks, one shy of the team lead.
6. Ellie Wilson, Orange, Fr.: Wilson had the longest match of her young career in the Orange women’s tennis team’s win over Roxboro Community School. Wilson defeated Elizabeth Ess 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8. Two days later against Southern Alamance, Wilson won another three-set match against Morgan Edmunds 4-6, 6-4, 13-11.
7. Cameron Mayhew, Cedar Ridge, Sr: Mayhew continued an impressive season for the Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team with a singles win against Western Alamance’s Amelia Weaver 6-1, 6-2. Against Walter Williams, Mayhew won her #1 singles match over Abigail Brown 6-3, 6-1. Mayhew is 8-1 in singles action this year.

There was one thought on the mind of Chauncey Brummell with 27:36 remaining in regulation against Western Alamance.

“Game over.”

Cedar Ridge had just been whistled for a foul inside the box when Lucas Dumayne was pushed down trying to get into position for a throw-in by Camden Oliveira. Warriors junior striker Konnor Johnson, who had a hat trick last week against Orange, would take the penalty kick.

Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Erik Galunas didn’t shy away from the challenge while he awaited Johnson’s attempt. As Johnson fired a rocket at the net, Galunas guessed correctly that he would aim at the upper right corner.

But the attempt zoomed over the crossbar. Cedar Ridge had new life in a battle for first place in the Central Carolina Conference at Red Wolves Stadium.

Ironically, the captain of Cedar Ridge’s defensive back line, who proved to have many successful clearances in a game where possession was split evenly, would come up with the only offense of the night.

The scoring sequence was set up by Cedar Ridge co-Captain Dominic McNerney, who had a 40-yard run and fired a shot off Western Alamance goalkeeper Eamon Hipps off a tough angle over the end line for a corner. Cedar Ridge midfielder Illah Babchenko’s first corner attempt  was quickly turned away by Western Alamance midfielder Luis Guerrero over the end line. Babchenko’s second attempt was sent out of the box by Oliveria, but Babchenko won the ball back. His third cross hovered over the six yard box, where junior Salomon Hernandez gained position on Dumayne. Without going over Dumayne’s back, Hernandez stood outside the center of the six-yard box and made enough contact with the ball to nudge it into the lower left corner of the net past Hipps with 4:17 remaining in regulation.

A wild celebration ensued as the Red Wolves chased Hernandez onto the track. After a few successful clearances by Giovani Yanez and Abazar Babiker in the waning minutes, the time ran out and Cedar Ridge had its biggest soccer win in recent memory.

The Red Wolves (8-1-2, 4-0-1 in the CCC) defeated Western Alamance 1-0. It was the Red Wolves first win since the Warriors joined the CCC in 2021. The Red Wolves are now undefeated in the CCC after a stunning upset of a Warriors team that won the 2021 3A State Championship.

“Solomon made some really big defensive stops,” Brummell said. “You have to give credit to Western Alamance. They are a great team. There’s a lot of tradition behind that program. This was a big step for our program tonight.”

After Cedar Ridge largely controlled possession in the first half, Western Alamance (6-5, 3-1) opened the second half with a furious rally where Guerrero found Johnson on the doorstep of the net, but Yanez shielded him from an open net. The best Johnson could do was loft a shot over the next.

Minutes later, Western Alamance’s Blake Bacchus took a free kick and unleashed a rocket that banged against the right post. The rebound careened right to Guerrero, who fired wide right of the net.

Up until Hernandez’s game-winner, Cedar Ridge’s best chance came with 20:42 remaining when McNerney had a long throw-in 25 yards from the net. McNerney sent a pinpoint pass to sophomore Edbar Lopez, whose diving header went just wide of the net.

After a joyous team meeting, the Cedar Ridge players gathered for a team picture in front of the scoreboard. Their goal at the beginning of the season was to make the state playoffs. Now, they’re aiming for something higher with a trip to powerful Walter Williams set for Monday night.

“I feel my entire defensive outside line stepped up,” Brummell said. “From the defense to the midfield, I think these boys showed tonight that they want to play soccer. To knock off a state championship team like Western Alamance, that’s not easy to do. Credit Solomon for the header and the game-winner. He saved us.”

Women’s Tennis: Orange 9, Eastern Alamance 0: Sophomore Molly Kruse won two matches for the Orange women’s tennis team in a successful return to Central Carolina Conference action on Monday in Hillsborough.

Kruse defeated Madison Drewery 6-0, 6-0 at #2 singles. Later, Kruse teamed with senior Makayla Davis to defeat Drewery and Camila Rosa 8-1 at #1 doubles. It was Kruse’s first appearance at #1 doubles.

Erinn Sollars captured her match at #1 singles against Rosa 6-1, 6-0. Sophomore Kyla Mehl defeated Ryan Tanner 6-4, 6-3. Orange sophomore Linsday Woodell defeated Jayci White 6-0, 6-0. Another sophomore, Casey Robinson, won over Areli Silva-Flores 6-0, 6-0.

Adeline Alvis and Ellie Wilson defeated Tanner and White 8-1. Orange is 8-3 overall, 4-2 in the CCC. The Lady Panthers will host Western Alamance on Thursday.

Orange 9, Southern Alamance 0: Last Thursday, Orange won its first conference trip to Graham.

Erinn and Shannon Sollars won both of their singles matches, then teamed to win at #1 doubles. Erin defeated Paicey Cameron 6-1, 6-0. At #2 singles, Shannon defeated Madalyn Corbett 6-0, 6-0. The Sollars sisters defeated Faith Moore and Cameron 8-0.

Senior Makayla Davis, sophomore Molly Kruse and Kyla Mehl each won two matches against the Patriots. Davis defeated Morgan Isley 6-3, 6-0. At #5 singles, Kruse defeated Dayves Waggle 6-0, 6-0. Mehl defeated Ava Lynch 6-3, 6-1.

In the longest match of the day, Orange freshman Ellie Wilson defeated Morgan Edmunds 4-6, 6-4 13-11 (10-point tiebreaker) at #4 singles.

Davis and Kruse won at #2 doubles over Isley and Edmunds 6-4. Mehl teamed with senior Violet Shaw to defeat Corbett and Waggle 8-3.

Men’s Cross Country, Orange 15, Cedar Ridge 58, Southern Alamance 63: Orange hosted its annual cross country meet at Auman Stadium on September 12. Orange senior Gabriel Schmid, the defending 3A State individual champion running on his home course, earned his third win of the season finishing first at 17:25. Orange had the top six runners en route to a team victory.

Sophomore Myles Jerman (18:56) finished second, followed by Nolan Hufner (19:10), Alden Cathey (19:46), Peter Musser (20:04), Aiden Viola (20:21). Cedar Ridge’s top finisher was sophomore Ryan Matthews, who came in seventh at 20:55. Cedar Ridge sophomore Henry Alexander was 7th (20:56). Brian Dehart was the leading runner for Southern Alamance at 20:58.

Orange sophomore Lucas Van Mater came in 11th (20:33). Cedar Ridge senior Grayson Weisnfeld was 13th (21:48), while the Red Wolves Elie Nadiriwe was 14th (21:58).

The Orange men’s cross country team, which won the Mideast Regional Championship in 2021, has finished first in all of its Central Carolina Conference meets thus far in 2023.

Women’s Cross Country, Cedar Ridge 21, Orange 35: For the second time in two weeks, Cedar Ridge’s Naomi Dyreng finished first to help the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team to a win inside Auman Stadium.

Dyreng, who won three regional championships at the Mideast Regional Track & Field Championship last year, finished first at 21:54. It was her second first place finish of the year. Abigail Klaitman of the Red Wolves came in second at 22:28. Caroline Cathey was the highest placer for Orange at 25:32.

Kate Finnegan of Cedar Ridge finished fourth (25:42) as the Red Wolves had six of the top ten finishers. Among the other Cedar Ridge runners to finish in the top ten: Cia Biddix finished sixth (25:47), Serena Summers came in eighth (26:02) and Anna Peterson finished 10th (27:04).

Orange’s Kassi Scarantino finished fifth at 25:45. Channing Mahaney came in seventh at 25:48. Orange’s Grace Pell crossed the finish line in 9th place (26:50).

Cedar Ridge had runners place 12th-through-15th. In 12th place was Rebecca Fullwood (27:21), while Gracie Whitaker finished 13th (27:28), Kaitlyn Horn was 14th (28:18) and Safiyya Frej was 15th (28:42).

The Central Carolina Conference cross country championships will be held in Burlington in Burlington on October 18. The 3A Mideast Regional Championships will take place at Louisburg High School on October 28. It’s a shift for the regional championships, which were held at Northwood High for years. Northwood moved down to 2A during the summer.

The 3A State Championships will take place at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville, it’s traditional home. The State Championships will take place on November 4.