Orange Football

Payton Wilson: N.C. State started its season with a 24-14 win over Connecticut at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT on Thursday night. Wilson, a redshirt senior linebacker for the Wolfpack, clinched the game with an interception on the Wolfpack’s final defensive play of the night. Wilson led N.C. State with ten tackles. He also had a pass breakup and a tackle for loss. The Wolfpack will host Notre Dame in its home opener at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh next Saturday.

Darius Satterfield: Catawba defeated Division II Elizabeth City State 31-23 at Roebuck Stadium in Elizabeth City on Saturday. Satterfield averaged 32.4 yards on five punts. His longest was 56 yards and one was downed inside the 20-yard line.

Trenton Gill: In what was a mere formality, Gill made the final roster of the Chicago Bears after cutdown day across the NFL on Tuesday. Gill’s season will start agains the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on September 10.

Braxton Mergenthal: The Division III Hampton-Sydney football team started its season with a 29-28 loss to Wabash (Indiana) in the Gentleman’s Classic at Everett Stadium in Hampden Sydney, VA on Saturday. Mergenthal, a former Cedar Ridge interior lineman, started his senior season with one tackle.

Mia Davidson-Smith: Davidson was announced as a member of Team USA Softball that will play in the Pan American Games this fall. Davidson was one of 16 players who will play in Santiago, Chile on October 29-November 4. This will be the second time this year that Davidson has played in an international competition for Team USA. In June, she played during the WBSC World Cup Group A event in Dublin, Ireland, where the Americans went undefeated to qualify for the World Cup Finals next year.

Cameron Lloyd: The Bucknell volleyball team hosted the Bucknell Invitational at Davis Gym in Lewisburg, PA. The Bison went 1-2 in the two-day event. William & Mary defeated the Bison 3-1 on scores of 25-22, 19-25, 25-23 and 25-19. Lloyd played all four sets and had two aces with eight digs. Bucknell defeated Cornell 3-0 on scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 26-24. Lloyd had her biggest college game thus far with six kills, 13 digs and one ace. On Saturday, Princeton swept Bucknell 3-0 on scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-11. Lloyd had six kids, a block and six digs. Bucknell is 2-4 and will face Akron in the Cleveland State Tournament on Friday.

Cameron Lanier: This weekend, the Elon volleyball team went 1-2 in the Wofford Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C. Georgia State defeated Elon 3-0 (25-17, 25-22 and 26-24). Lanier led the team with 14 kills on a whopping 37 attempts. She also finished with eight digs and one block. The Phoenix swept South Carolina State (25-12, 25-15 and 25-16). Once again, Lanier led the team with nine kills. She also had two digs. On Saturday, Wofford swept Elon (25-20, 25-20 and 25-17). Lanier finished with five kills, one ace and one dig. Elon is 1-5.

Grace Young: The UNC Asheville volleyball team lost two matches to Furman last week. On Wednesday, the Paladins defeated the Bulldogs 3-0 (25-17, 25-15 & 25-23) at Alley Gym in Greenville, SC. Young played in two of the sets and had two aces and two digs. In a rematch on Friday, the Paladins once again gained a sweep inside of the Justice Center in Asheville (25-17, 25-20 and 25-19). Young played in two sets and had five digs. The Bulldogs are 3-3 and will travel to Western Carolina on Tuesday.

Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke volleyball team started its season by going 3-1 during the Cedarville Invitational in Cedarville, Ohio. On Saturday, Palm Beach Atlantic defeated the Braves 3-0. (25-17, 25-21, and 25-10). Carter played one set.

Julie Altieri: Altieri, the all-time assist leader in Cedar Ridge history, started her college career on Friday with the Division III Salisbury Seagulls with three wins. The Seagulls defeated William Peace University 3-1 in the first match of the Margie Knight Classic at the Maggs Physical Activities Center in Salisbury, MD (25-7, 25-23, 22-25 and 25-22) on Friday. In her first college game, Altieri had ten assists, five digs and one ace in three sets. On Saturday, Salisbury swept Drew (25-15, 25-22 and 25-14). Altieri played all three sets and finished with one kill, 12 assists, two aces and five digs. Salisbury completed the weekend with a 3-2 win over Stevenson (25-23, 16-25, 25-27, 27-25 and 15-11). Altieri registered 23 assists, one ace, and ten digs. The Seagulls will compete in the Garnet Invitational starting on Friday.

Melissa Benkowitz: Another former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf made her college debut this weekend. Benkowitz suited up for Division III Franklin & Marshall College at the Mayser Center in Lancaster, PA. Carnegie Mellon defeated the Diplomats 3-1 in the opening match (25-17, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17). Benkowitz played all four sets and finished with ten kills, seven digs and one ace. On Saturday, Franklin and Marshall defeated SUNY Geneso 3-0 (25-14, 25-17 and 25-21). Benkowitz tallied seven kills, eleven digs and one ace. Also on Saturday, the Diplomats swept Elizabethtown (25-17, 25-23 and 25-19). Benkowitz had two kills, two aces and seven digs.

Emerson Talley: The Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team opened its season with a 1-1 draw with Lee University at Moretz Sports-Athletic Complex in Hickory. Talley, the all-time goals scorer in Cedar Ridge history, started her first game and played all 90 minutes. On Saturday, the Bears played to a scoreless tie with Mount Olive. Talley started and played 73 minutes.

This week’s Orange Panther of the week is senior wide receiver Brandon Cummings. The Defensive Player of the Week is junior linebacker DeAndre Brown. Plus, we’re also honoring junior Ja’Ki McDnaiels as part of our spring spotlight series. On Friday night, Cummings had a career-high 130 yards receiving in Orange’s 33-20 win over Southeast Alamance. Cummings scored Orange’s first touchdown of the season on a 30-yard reception on the first drive of the game. In the second quarter, Cummings broke free for an 89-yard touchdown catch-and-run which put Orange ahead 20-7. It was the first touchdowns of his varsity career. Brown was part of an exuberant Orange defense, which had seven sacks against the Stallions. Brown led the team with 15 tackles, including one sack. Brown is part of a young Orange defense that includes freshman Tyreek Battle, sophomore Jaylan Starks and junior Garrett Sawyer. Last spring, Ja’Ki McDaniels qualified for the 3A State Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In 2022, McDaniels scored Orange’s first touchdown of the season against South Granville. The efforts of Cummings, Brown and McDaniels were a big reason why the Panthers won its first season opener since 2017. Tonight, the Panthers will face longtime rival Chapel Hill at Auman Stadium. The Panthers will look to end a three-game losing streak to the Tigers.

Summer hibernation is over. At last.

One of the things I envy about the young is many of them still look forward to summer. I haven’t for a very long time. Give me the fall for the cooler weather, the football and the sun setting earlier.

But mostly for the football.

As we start the 2023-2024 academic year on Hillsboroughsports.com, the Central Carolina Conference is different. Northwood has returned to 2A and is now in the Mid-Carolina Conference. The only sport where the Chargers are still a conference rival to Cedar Ridge and Orange is men’s lacrosse. Southern Alamance has taken the Chargers’ place, which makes the CCC a lethal conference in football, baseball and softball. In fact, the last four 3A Eastern Regional champions in softball are now in the CCC. It will be an interesting spring.

And a fascinating fall on the gridiron. With Williams, Eastern Alamance, Southern Alamance and Western Alamance, one of those teams may be on the outside looking in when the football state playoffs begin.

As for volleyball, Orange and Cedar Ridge spent the opening week playing tough teams left and right. Cedar Ridge is the three-time defending conference champions. Orange, needless to say, would love to break that streak. The two teams’ first meeting will be on September 5 at Cedar Ridge.

We’re bringing back the Magnificent 7 this season, a weekly column honoring the seven best performances of the week in no particular order.

1. Illah Babchenko, Sr. The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is 3-0 for the first time since 2009, at the very least. Babchenko, a co-Captain, had a strong opening week. He scored the game-winning goal in the Red Wolves victory over Eno River Academy on August 14. Babchenko scored on a penalty kick in the Red Wolves 4-1 win at Voyager Academy on August 17. Cedar Ridge defeated Vance County in Henderson on Monday night.
2. Brandon Cummings, Sr. It was a night of big plays for the Orange football team in its 33-20 win over Southeast Alamance on Friday night. Cummings scored the first touchdown of the year for the Panthers after he hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Hank Nunnery. Cumming scored on an 89-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. Cummings finished with three catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers first win in a season-opener since 2017.
3. Graylinn Serge, Sr. Despite finishing the week 1-2, the Cedar Ridge volleyball team nearly knocked off the defending 4A State Champions on the road. Serge, who has played regularly the past two years, had a team-high 15 kills in the season-opening win over Eno River Academy. Against Millbrook, Serge had eleven kills. She also leads the team with ten aces.
4. Shannon Sollars, Jr. Shannon won all four of her matches during the opening week of the season. She teamed with her sister, Erin, to win the deciding doubles match in the Orange women’s tennis team’s 5-4 victory at Riverside on Thursday night in Durham. Shannon also won her singles match against the Pirates 6-2, 6-2. Erin and Shannon Sollars qualified for the state championships in doubles last year.
5. Ella Wimsatt, Sr. The Orange volleyball team played six matches in four days to start the season. Wimsatt led Orange with 12 kills in a season-opening win over Jordan. She had a season-high 19 kills against Southwest Randolph at the East Chapel Hill Invitational on Saturday morning. Through the first six games, Wimsatt has 87 kills.
6. Traver Bruhns, Sr. The Orange men’s soccer team defeated Durham School of the Arts 2-1 in its season opener on Thursday. Bruins scored the opening goal of the season for the Panthers. He assisted on the game-winning goal by Emmanuel Mil Cruz off a free kick in the second half. Orange beat a DSA team that won 14 games in 2022.
7. Cameron Mayhew, Sr. The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team defeated Voyager Academy for its first win of the season last Thursday. Mayhew won at #1 singles over Katelyn Hutson 6-3, 6-1. Mayhew also teamed with Adeline Cummings to win at #1 doubles 6-0. Mayhew’s brother, Josh, moved in at Belmont-Abbey after graduating from Cedar Ridge in June.

It was a long night in the season opener at Auman Stadium on Friday night, but a gratifying win for the Orange Panthers. Junior quarterback Hank Nunnery threw four touchdowns as the Panthers defeated Southeast Alamance 33-20. It was the first game for the Stallions in program history. Orange captured a victory in the season-opener for the first time since 2017. Orange’s defense sprang out of the gates quickly. Nunnery found Brandon Cummings for a 30-yard touchdown pass. On the next Panther drive, Nate Sorrells caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Nunnery. Later in the second quarter after Southeast reduced the Orange lead to 13-7, Cummings got free and hauled in an 89-yard touchdown pass. Cummings finished the night with three catches for 129 yards, the leading receiver in the game. Sorrells rushed for a 60-yard touchdown late int the third quarter for the final touchdown of the night. Sorrells rushed for 179 yards. Crawford Farmer also had a touchdown pass for Orange. The Panthers have a winning record for the first time since March 2021. Orange will welcome longtime rival Chapel Hill into Auman Stadium next Friday night. Orange hasn’t started 2-0 since 2016.

Southeast Alamance traveled into Hillsborough knowing they would play its first game in program history on Friday night.

What they didn’t know was, by game’s end, they would feel like they had played their entire inaugural season in one night.

The Stallions and the Orange Panthers labored through a textbook definition 0f a choppy game filled with penalties, incomplete passes and players cramping up nearly every other play in the second half. It added up to an interminable three-hours-and-seven minutes. When the proceedings finally ended, Orange limped away with its first win in a season-opener since 2017.

Junior quarterback Hank Nunnery threw four touchdowns, including an 89-yard catch-and-run to Brandon Cummings in the second quarter, to lead Orange past Southeast Alamance 33-20 at Auman Stadium. Orange running back Nate Sorrells rushed for 179 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown with :30 remaining in the third quarter that put away the win.

It’s the first time Orange has had a winning record since the spring pandemic season of March 2021 when they were 3-2 after a win over Cedar Ridge.

“You take wins as they come,” said Orange coach DeVante Pettiford. “Winning is a lot more difficult thing than people understand. You take them how you get them. I’m proud of the team tonight. They fought hard all four quarters. There were some things we had to weather. We kept fighting and we kept bouncing back.”

Playing without starting center Luke Cecil, Orange’s offense was boom or bust. None of Orange’s 16 drives had more than one first down. In lieu of sustained drives, the Panthers relied on explosion plays and a feisty defense that sacked Southeast quarterback Ryan Dodson nine times.

“When we looked at game tape, we knew that Dodson was their guy,” Pettiford said. “Obviously, they have a couple of receivers that they like. But the quarterback was their guy. So my things was we were going to send pressure as much as we could. Dodson is a very tough kid. We hit him all night long and he kept getting back up. He’s tough as nails.”

Sophomore linebacker Jaylen Starks sacked Dodson on the game’s first play to dd adrenaline to an Orange sideline the was already bouncing off the walls. The Panthers started its first drive at the Stallions 35-yard line. On the second play, Nunnery found Cummings for a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Orange’s Garrett Sawyer sacked Dodson on the next Southeast drive, sending the ball to the ground. Orange freshman Tyreek Battle recovered the fumble at the Stallions 37-yard line. After Sorrells rushed for a 32-yard gain to move the ball into the red zone, Nunnery searched for Cummings again. Instead, the pass wound up in Sorrells hands, who ran it into the right corner of the end zone from 15 yards out. Tyler Narold’s extra point put Orange ahead 13-0.

For anyone looking to win bets in the year 2040 across bars in Haw River, the first answer to the trivia question “Who was the first Southeast Alamance player to score a touchdown?” is Tryon Squires. After Antonio Williamson intercepted an Orange pass in the second quarter, Dodson found Squires for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Cruz Nelms’ extra point put the Stallions deficit at 13-7.

Through the early portion of the second quarter, the Panthers offense struggled. Backed up to its 11-yard line, Orange caught lightning in a bottle when Nunnery found Cummings over the middle. Cummings outran the rest of the Southeast defense for an 89-yard touchdown.

“I was running out of gas towards the end,” Cummings said.

“That was a game-changing touchdown,” Pettiford said. “They had a lot of momentum at that time. When he broke that, he was able to increase our lead and get a lot of things in our favor. Brandon does that every day in practice. I’m glad it finally happened on Friday night.”

In the second half, the two teams traded three-and-outs over the first few drives. The Stallions blocked a Narold punt at the Orange 14-yard line. On 4th-and-9, Dodson hit Squires in the right corner of the end zone. Nelms’ extra point reduced Orange’s lead to 20-13.

Once again, Orange found another big play. After a 17-yard run by Jaylan Starks, Nunnery found Crawford Farmer over the middle for a 46-yard touchdown catch.

Southeast narrowed the gap again with a 10-play, 59-yard drive that appeared dead when Dodson threw an incomplete pass on 4th-and-9 from the Orange 11-yard line. But the Panthers were called for a roughing the passer penalty. On the next play, Dodson found Williamson on a 6-yard touchdown pass.

The Stallions were within one score at 27-20, which meant it was time for another Orange big play. This time it was Sorrells, who streaked ahead for 20 yards. After an injury timeout, Sorrells took a toss and outran the field 60 yards for the game’s final score.

In the fourth quarter, sophomores Kayden Bradsher and Hunter Albert each had interceptions for the Panthers. Albert’s pick at the goal line ended the final Southeast drive of the night and ensured Orange’s second straight home win dating back to last season.

ORANGE 33, SOUTHEAST ALAMANCE 20

SA–0     7      13    0-20

OR–13   7      13    0-33

Orange–Brandon Cummings 30 pass from Hank Nunnery (kick blocked)

Orange–Nathan Sorrells 15 pass from Nunnery (Tyler Narold kick)

Southeast Alamance–Tyron Squires 33 pass from Ryan Dodson (Cruz Nelms kick)

Orange–Cummings 89 pass from Nunnery (Narold kick)

Southeast Alamance–Squires 13 pass from Dodson (kick blocked)

Orange–Crawford Farmer 46 pass from Nunnery (Narold kick)

Southeast Alamance–Antonio Williamson 6 pass from Dodson (Nelms kick)

Orange–Sorrells 60 run (kick failed)

RUSHING–SOUTHEAST ALAMANCE 37 carries–30 yards (Daniel Booker 7-37, Jerry Sims 3-11, Trey Van Dusen 1-7, Damonte Corbett 6-0, Treygan Lucas 3-0, Dodson 17-(-25)

ORANGE– 25 carries–183 yards TD (Sorrells 14-179 TD, Jaylan Starks 4-22, DeAndre Brown 3-9, Daylin Ford 1(-2), Nunnery 3-(-25).

PASSING–SOUTHEAST ALAMANCE 15-40 178 yards 3 TD 4 INT (Dodson 15-39 178 yards 3 TD, 4 INT, Van Dusen 0-1)

ORANGE (Nunnery 8-20 201 yards, 4 TD, INT)

RECEIVING: SOUTHEAST ALAMANCE (Sims 6-38, Squires 5-110 2 TD, Williamson 2-21 TD, Corbett 1-5)

ORANGE: (Cummings 3-129 2 TD, Farmer 2-49 TD, Sorrells 2-18 TD, Kayden Bradsher 1-5

Tonight’s season opener for the Orange football team will feel like a family affair, even if it’s the first game in Southeast Alamance history.

It will be the first football game for Southeast athletic director B.J. Condron, who won over 100 games as the Orange women’s basketball coach over ten years. Southeast’s first principal is Eric Yarbrough, who traveled across the state to watch Orange football in its glory days from 2010-2017 when he was the Panthers’ principal.

And there are more parallels. Southeast’s public address announcer for its first home game next week will be Jerome James, known as “Florida,” who played at Orange. Another former Orange player is a Stallions assistant. Throughout the week, there’s been friendly banter through text messages between current Orange staff and members of the new kids on the block within Haw River as the hours before kickoff wind down.

For Orange head coach Devante Pettiford, the Southeast Alamance game is a chance to get the sour taste of the 2022 season out of his mouth. The Panthers went 2-8, including a 70-0 loss at Walter Williams, the most lopsided defeat in school history.

A win over a school playing its first-ever game won’t ease the pain of last year, but it would be Orange’s first win in a season-opener since 2017 when the Panthers routed Northern Nash in Rocky Mount.

Those were the days of Payton Wilson and Marvante Beasley, the last Orange football conference championship team. The Panthers haven’t had a winning season since. Northern Nash played for the 3A State Championship last December.

It used to be that a first-year high school would wait years before winning its first game. But Alamance County is a fertile ground for raising football players, even if there are only just four seniors on its roster.

“It’s going to be a good matchup,” Pettiford said. “It’s a little weird to have so many people from Orange over at Southeast Alamance now. I think it will be a packed, exciting game.”

The Stallions hired longtime Eastern Guilford head coach Tony Aguilar as head coach in March. Aguilar compiled a 37-17 record with the Wildcats over six seasons and has a reputation that precedes him.

“The minute I found out that Tony Aguilar was the head coach, I knew what time it was,” Pettiford said. “He’s a seasoned coach. He has very good connections in Alamance County. I knew what type of product he was going to put on the field.

Orange returns quarterback Hank Nunnery, a junior who threw for five touchdown passes in the first half of last year’s win over Granville Central. Running back Nate Sorrells also returns. Sorrells, who originally had a career in men’s soccer mapped out before he ventured into football, rushed for 201 yards in last year’s win over Cedar Ridge.

“Nate is the guy,” Pettiford said. “He’s play from cornerback for us. He’s the hardest worker I have on my team. He shows up. He communicates. He shows great leadership. He does all I ask him. He has been here everyday this summer for workouts. The only days he missed was so he could attend a camp.”

Nate’s brother, Jaylan, will play both sides of the interior line.

There are also new pieces to the puzzle. Jaydan Medley will line up beside Jaylan Sorrells and senior Malachi Justice along Orange’s 3-3-stack defensive front. Deandre Brown and Starks looked strong during Orange’s scrimmage against Jordan-Matthews and Winston-Salem Carver last week in Siler City.

“Last year was a big learning experience,” Pettiford said. “I was learning on the go. This year, my expectations are 100% in place. These guys know what I want and what I expect. We have a chip on our shoulder.”

Nonetheless, it’s a new, steeper Central Carolina Conference. With the addition of Southern Alamance into the league after the departure of Northwood, half of Orange’s ten regular season games will be against Alamance County schools.

“My goal this year is for us to turn the corner,” Pettiford said. “I think we can definitely have a successful non conference campaign. I want people to come away thinking that Orange is showing up, fighting and competing. I think sometimes you say Orange to other teams and they may giggle or laugh about it. My thing is when other teams see us this year, they have to respect us. I want them to know that we’ll be a team that fights all four quarters.”

The soccer games that stretched well into the night at Orange High will never be the same.

That’s where Mike McCauley spent plenty of time over the past seven years. As fans walked into Orange Soccer Stadium, McCauley would be the first person they’d see. He’d take tickets, charging $6 for admission for men’s and women’s soccer games, then would run the scoreboard as his workday stretched into a 12th, 13th and (if there was overtime) 14th hour.

It was just one of McCauley’s many duties after he replaced Earnie Price as Orange High Athletic Director in 2016. Usually, at this time of year, his teaching days would wind down. His focus would be on mowing fields and the next academic year, which always felt it was around the corner, even in early June.

On Monday night, McCauley passed away at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington.

Last Wednesday, McCauley was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had been absent from work last week, leaving his myriad of duties to several coaches and trainers. Two weeks ago, he was present when Orange senior Brianne “Breezy” Foster signed her letter of intent to play softball at Wake Tech, along with principal Jason Johnson.

McCauley arrived at Orange after he departed Graham High School, where he served as head football coach from 2004-2011. He served on the staff of football coach Pat Moser and defensive coordinator Van Smith (both previously at Graham High). The coaching combined with the talent of players like Payton Wilson, Bryse Wilson, Stone Edwards, Tay Jones, Keyshawn Thompson, Patrick Pettiford and Garrett Cloer produced the longest sustained success in Orange football history. Starting in 2012, Orange had six consecutive 10-win seasons and won three consecutive Big 8 Conference championships.

In 2016, McCauley transitioned away from the sidelines and into the role of athletic director after Price retired. Very quickly, he found himself having to replace local and statewide legends.

In March 2017, longtime wrestling coach Bobby Shriner retired after winning over 500 dual matches and five state championships. Shriner, whose son Nick is currently the head wrestling coach at Orange Middle School, nearly won a state championship in his final dual match against Piedmont High in Monroe. Spenser Poteat, who wrestled for Shriner, was chosen by McCauley as his replacement. Since then, Orange has maintained its standard of excellence, winning five conference championships and reaching the Eastern Regional Final of the Dual Team State Tournament each of the last two years.

Two months later, the Orange softball program that McCauley oversaw won the state championship, sweeping Piedmont in a best-of-three series at Dail Softball Stadium at N.C. State University. Mia Davidson, who would go on to become the all-time home run leader at Mississippi State University and the Southeastern Conference, was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

The following year, men’s basketball coach Greg Motley resigned after 20 years, but maintained his position as a teacher at Orange until eventually leaving for Southern Durham. Motley was the winningest head coach in school history, leading the Panthers to the state quarterfinals in 2017 behind forward Connor Crabtree and center Logan Vosburg. McCauley selected Derryl Britt from Warren County as a replacement. Last year, Britt was named Central Carolina Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Panthers back to the state playoffs for the first time in six years.

Also in 2018, Chandler Zirkle, a former player at East Chapel Hill, was hired by McCauley as the new lacrosse coach replacing David O’Neal. Zirkle, who added his father Franklin to the staff in 2021, has transformed the program into arguably the best in Orange County, including the Chapel Hill schools. The Panthers have won three consecutive conference championships and hosted the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional Championship games in 2022 and 2023.

McCauley also hired Justin Webb as tennis coach to replace Andy Brown. Last fall, the Orange women’s team won the first conference championship in school history. They reached the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs in 2022 and 2023.

“Coach McCauley was a tremendous supporter of our tennis program,” Webb wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning. “He helped us secure funding for numerous projects, no questions asked. He helped install signs to support our most recent successes. His service to the school and the athletic community was incredible.”

In May 2018, Dean Dease retired as Orange baseball coach. Jason Knapp, who served as a head coach at Walter Williams High in Burlington, was named Dease’s replacement.

“When he brought me in, he told me about how they expect uphold a program of integrity here,” Knapp said on Tuesday morning. “He told me about the expectations at Orange High, but he wanted to maintain a standard of excellence. Mike was a gentle giant. He was tall and muscular. But he didn’t need to raise his voice to get his point across. That’s why he was so well liked.”

Dease left Orange after winning 503 career games and the 2008 2A State Championship. Knapp has won three consecutive conference championships and just finished a 25-3 season, the most successful campaign since 2013.

Knapp’s first interaction with McCauley actually came years before both arrived at Orange. They talked on the football field whenever Williams and Graham squared off. Knapp was a position coach with the Bulldogs while McCauley was the head coach of the Red Devils.

They lived two miles from each other in Burlington.

“It’s a hard time right time now,” Knapp said as he sat watching the baseball field on Tuesday. “Everyone is devastated. You try to focus on work and exams, but then you walk past his office.”

Funeral arrangements for McCauley are incomplete at this time.