As usual, it was the Orange defense that carried the weight for its football team. The defense scored two touchdowns and a safety in the Panthers’ 43-0 win over Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium on Friday night. Garrett Sawyer started with a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:58remaining in the first half. That triggered a sequence where the Panthers scored 20 points in a span of one minute and 29 seconds. Wide receiver Kingston Purefoy-Farrington scored the first touchdown of his career with a 32-yard catch with :16 remaining in the first half. Tyler Narold had three interceptions on the night for Orange, including a pick-6 of his own with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter. Narold also kicked the subsequent extra point. Narold was also the starting quarterback, the starting safety, the punter and placekicker. Orange is battling to make the 3A State Playoffs for the first time since 2017. If the season ended today, the Panthers would be in the field of 64. On Friday night, Orange will face Person in the Highway 57 rivalry for Homecoming at Auman Stadium. Orange has defeated Cedar Ridge 12 straight times.