Not one. Not two. But there’s three sports where Cedar Ridge and Orange will tangle this week.
Hopefully Tropical Storm Ian won’t get in the way of Friday’s football game between Cedar Ridge and Orange at Auman Stadium. It will be a battle of two young teams that are struggling to find their way in a new conference controlled by the Alamance County schools, where football is a way of life from the time children are midway through elementary school–at the latest.
On Thursday, Cedar Ridge and Orange will face off in volleyball at Red Wolves Gymnasium. The Red Wolves remain #2 in the 3A East Region behind J.H. Rose, the only team to beat the Red Wolves this season. Since then, the Red Wolves have won 42 consecutive sets during a 14-match winning streak. During that amazing run, Orange came the closest to ending that streak when they faced Cedar Ridge n September 6, and some around Lady Panthers circles believe they did in the opening set. But because of a scoreboard error, Orange allegedly lost a point, which made a big difference when the Lady Panthers lost four set points, and eventually the set entirely, 30-28. If Cedar Ridge wins, they will all but sew up its third straight CCC championship.
On Wednesday, Orange and Cedar Ridge will have a rematch in women’s tennis. It’s a big week for Orange, who will face Walter Williams this afternoon in Hillsborough with first place on the line in the CCC. The Lady Panthers are on track to earn the second automatic bid from the CCC to the 3A State Dual Team Tournament.
So, going back two weeks, here are the top performers from the week of September 4-10.
- Hank Nunnery, Soph. Orange: Nunnery threw for a career-high five touchdowns in the first half of Orange’s 45-0 win over Granville Central on September 9. Nunnery may have been the first Orange quarterback ever to throw for five touchdowns in a half. Nunnery also had a career-high 196 yards as the Panthers won its first game under head coach DeVante Pettiford.
- Julie Altieri, Sr. Cedar Ridge: The all-time assists leader in Cedar Ridge volleyball history, Altieri was at another level against crosstown rival Orange on September 6. Altieri finished with 39 assists as the Red Wolves defeated the Lady Panthers 3-0. Altieri, who has 1,797 career assists, also had four kills and six digs as the Red Wolves remained undefeated in the Central Carolina Conference.
- Isabel Jones, Sr. Orange: Jones won a total of three matches as the Orange women’s tennis team defeated Cedar Ridge and Person. On September 8, Jones won her singles match against Person 6-0, 6-0. Later in the day, she teamed with Makayla Davis to win at #2 doubles. Against Cedar Ridge, Jones won at #4 singles. Jones and Sydney Rogers are two members of the Orange women’s soccer team who also play tennis.
- Nate Sorrells, Jr. Orange: Sorrells had a career-high 157 yards in the Panthers’ win over Granville Central. Sorrells added three touchdowns, including a rushing score to open the game. Sorrells is Orange’s leading rusher. He also led the team in receptions for the opening four weeks of the season. Sorrells is in his second year as a starting wingback.
- Cameron Mayhew, Jr. Cedar Ridge: Mayhew worked by the hour during this particular week. She had a four-hour marathon singles match against Orange’s Shannon Sollars. Two days later, Mayhew defeated Eastern Alamance at #2 singles 6-0, 6-0 as Cedar Ridge defeated the Eagles 5-1. The Red Wolves still have a chance to reach the state dual team playoffs.
- Aubrey Jordan, Fr. Orange: Against Cedar Ridge, Jordan finished with six kills as the Lady Panthers nearly became the first CCC team this year to win a set against the Red Wolves. Jordan also had a strong game two days later as Orange defeated Walter Williams in Burlington 3-1.
- Chris Mendez, Sr. Cedar Ridge: Had a hat trick for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team in its 10-1 win over Person on September 7 in Roxboro. It was the Red Wolves’ first conference win of the season. Mendez has two hat tricks for Cedar Ridge this season.