Five Orange High football players were named to the All-Big 8 Conference football team, including three seniors.
Linebacker/wide receiver Joe Kiger, defensive end James McAdoo and defensive lineman Khaleb Smith were named All-Big 8.
Also making the team was junior wingback/linebacker Elliott Woods and sophomore running back Omarion Lewis. For each of the five players, it was their first appearance on the All-Big 8 team.
Joe Kiger: Named the team MVP by the Orange coaching staff during the team banquet in November, Kiger led the team with 258 receiving yards. He was tied for 2nd on the team with 15 receptions. Kiger had five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown in Orange’s win over Cedar Ridge on November 2. He was third on the team with 46 tackles.
James McAdoo: The senior defensive end missed the first two games of the season after suffering an injury against Person during a scrimmage on August 17. When McAdoo returned to action against Walter Williams, he made an immediate impact with a team-high eight tackles, including three for a loss. Against Riverside on September 20, McAdoo had six tackles for loss. He led the team with 21 tackles for loss and ten sacks.
Khaleb Smith: A defensive end who occasionally played wingback on offense, Smith was second on the team with 20 tackles for loss. Had an interception against Williams that helped Orange come back from a 13-0 deficit to defeat the Bulldogs. Smith made eleven tackles in the victory over the Bulldogs. Had eleven tackles against South Granville on September 6. Made two sacks in Orange’s overtime win over Northwood on October 25.
Elliott Woods: Led Orange with 18 receptions for 242 yards. He scored three touchdowns in the season-ending win over Chapel Hill on November 2. Also led the team with 87 tackles. He had 18 tackles against South Granville, the most by any Orange player in any game this season. Made 16 tackles against Northern Durham on October 11. Had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Omarion Lewis: The only sophomore on the team for Orange, Lewis originally wasn’t supposed to play on the varsity team this year. He was inserted into the South Granville game in the 2nd half with Orange trailing 14-0, then ran for 119 yards in the second half against the Vikings. Finished the year with 753 yard rushing and eleven touchdowns. He ran for a career-high 170 yards against Cedar Ridge. Also had eight receptions for 77 yards.
In addition Orange had two players named honorable mention: senior quarterback Wyatt Jones and center Brody Andrews.
Jones finished his second season as starting quarterback. He threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns in his final game against Chapel Hill. This season, Jones threw for 1,164 yards and 12 touchdowns. Currently, Jones is preparing for his final year of lacrosse. In November, Jones became the first Orange player to sign with a Division I lacrosse program when he committed to Mercer. He made the All-Big 8 team for football his junior year.
Andrews started at center for all of Orange’s games this year. After transferring from Cedar Ridge after his sophomore year, Andrews remained a mainstay along the offensive line throughout the past two seasons and helped the Panthers in short-yardage situations in wins against Northwood, Williams and Chapel Hill this season.
Orange went 5-6 in 2019, winning its last three games.