by John Franklin

My middle school baseball coach always told me, “Everyone loves a winner” or “Everyone at the game has a good time when you’re winning”.

Coach, you got that right.

If you came to last Friday night’s varsity football game at Cedar Ridge Stadium, a good time was had by all during the Red Wolves’ 20-19 victory over Chapel Hill – especially when you break a winless drought of 785 days.

I seriously hate talking about myself, but have to explain.

During the game, outside of the normal announcements of plays, yardage, ball spot, penalties, etc. – I have incorporated something that is becoming a new trend. In the vast collection of music files on my laptop, I also have a batch of …. Sound Effects.

What!? Sound effects? Seriously!? – ABSOLUTELY! I’m not playing them all game long, just a few clips here and there for fun, and even some drama. With many of these clips – My inner pro wrestling fan comes out.

To start each game, I go back to circa 1997 when the faction known as the nWo (or New World Order) Wolfpac would come out to the song, “Don’t Turn Your Back on the Wolfpac”.

To the pure football fans, I’m certain you’re thinking I’m turning the game into a circus. But in reality, it’s something I’ve embraced to make the game more fun. The response I got from the Red Wolf faithful is that they’re embracing it too. For example, when Isiah McCambry emphatically charges 15 yards for a first down or Will Berger completes a long pass to a receiver to acquire a first down, or any play that results in a first down, cue up the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and his signature cry of “WHOO!!!”

I procured this simple two-second clip, and it’s caught on. Every time Cedar Ridge tallies a first down, I’ll strike up “Naitch”. The great thing about this, the Red Wolf fans respond with their own rendition of “WHOO!!!!” every time I cue up a trio of Ric Flairs. Then again, it caught on with the opposing fans too. Last season during the JV game and in this year’s varsity game against Chapel Hill, the Tiger fans would mock the Wolf Pack from their section by returning the Ric Flairs in their condescending way.

Afterwards, I’ll play something that they’re not expecting. “Oh YEAH!” I’ve played another legend in “Macho Man” Randy Savage; cartoon legend Daffy Duck with his traditional laugh; and even went to hip-hop legend Flavor Flav and his traditional “Yeah, Boyee!!” For big time rushes, you may even hear another hall of famer in Michael Hegstrand (you know him better as Road Warrior Hawk) in his trademark saying, “What a Rush!”, or the Roadrunner “MEEP MEEP”.

Oddly enough, the Pack will say these same things in response.

For the dramatic effect, I use a clip that makes Jeff Hamlin happy. The AC/DC tenor bell. That’s right, the big BONG you hear at the beginning of “Hell’s Bells” is my go to sound when rallying up the crowd on 3rd and 4th down defensive plays. This is reminiscent of 3rd & 4th down plays at UNC and Appalachian State that uses the same sound.

When a penalty flag appears upon a play, and no one knows who it’s against, I’ll play the familiar “Doink Doink” that’s synonymous with the Law & Order franchise. It definitely gets people’s attention as to who’s moving forward or backwards.

But when the Red Wolves cross into the end zone for a touchdown or conversion, kick a successful field goal, score a safety, or win the game, I’ll sound the horn. This comes from the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, whose goal horn is tied into the late Warren Zevon’s hit song, “Werewolves of London”.

Again, I’m not trying to make sporting events into farces, but sporting events were made to be fun. All that I’m trying to do is add to a very fun atmosphere. When growing up in Marion and attending games at McDowell, we didn’t have these effects. Despite very vocal, if not rabid, fans, we would create our own effects and traditions.

Which reminds me. If you’ve come to volleyball matches inside Cedar Ridge Arena, you may have heard some of the aforementioned sounds. The students have also become very extemporaneous in their enthusiasm as it has assisted the Lady Wolves to their best season since 2015. It all started with a Cedar Ridge student shouting “OH YEAH!” (In similarity to the Kool-Aid Man), when an opposing team would serve or receive a serve.

It’s been fun this season on New Grady Brown School Drive, and I’m certain more fun is coming down the road. I for one am glad to come along for the rid

By Tim Hackett

Last week in Hillsborough, something just felt different. Now, that sounds trite and impossible to conceptualize, but it was true – and last week, with a well-stocked and well-dressed Homecoming crowd on hand, Cedar Ridge turned that magical feeling into its first varsity win in close to 800 days. This week in Chapel Hill, everything once again just felt a little different – but the Red Wolves quickly realized that, this time around, different meant bad. 

With that mystical Homecoming magic now working against them, Cedar Ridge (1-7, 1-3 Big 8) went three-and-out on its first four drives, threw four interceptions, had two touchdowns wiped out due to penalties, and were simply outplayed by an East Chapel Hill (1-7, 1-3) team that hadn’t won at the varsity level in almost exactly a year. The Wildcats keyed in on the Red Wolves’ offensive gameplan early, and, from there, all it took was a few mistakes from the visitors and a few big plans from the hosts to help the Wildcats to a comprehensive 33-12 victory that snapped a ten-game losing streak dating back to October 12 of last year. 

A week ago, the Tigers and the Red Wolves were so methodical and successful moving the ball that each team had one possession in the first quarter and just three full possessions in the first half. That wasn’t the case this week: Cedar Ridge had four possessions in the first quarter alone, but didn’t pick up a single first down. Zach Holmes only had to attempt three punts last game. He had four in the first quarter in this one. On the other side, East Chapel Hill also produced three punts and two three-and-outs in the first quarter, but the Wildcats also produced an Anton Enoch quarterback keeper for a one-yard touchdown, set up by a massive connection from Enoch to his brother Anthony a few plays before. 

From that point until halftime, the Cedar Ridge defense was rock solid. East had three possessions in the second quarter – one ended in a three-and-out, one ended in a Desi Raspberry end zone interception, and one ended the half. But in that same span, East still managed to score 13 points with their offense watching from the sidelines. 

The Red Wolves were finally able to move the ball to begin their first drive of the quarter, but only because they fooled the Wildcat defense with the same trick play that won them the game against Chapel Hill last week – a Will Berger right-side toss to Isaiah McCambry ended up a handoff to K.J. Barnes running an end-around from right to left. Last week that got the Red Wolves two points, this week it got them about 45 yards and put McCambry in position to find the end zone on another right-side toss – only for the score to be called back due to a penalty. Facing a third-and-goal from the 15, Berger opted to pass for Barnes staring at one-on-one coverage, but ZaMail Vaughn won the individual battle and came away with a pick in the end zone to stop the threat. 

The Cedar Ridge defense promptly forced a three-and-out, and a bad East punt placed the Red Wolves right around midfield. But on the very first play, Berger tried to quickly hit Barnes on the left sideline, but the pass was too high and Barnes, volleyball setter-style, tipped the ball in the air with both hands. It fell perfectly into the hands of Zaion Vaughn, who redeemed himself for his poor punt by racing the pick back 46 yards to the house. A great return of the ensuing kickoff put Cedar Ridge right back at its own 45, but just a couple of plays later new quarterback Elijah Whitaker zipped a risky pass to the right flank that his receiver never saw – but Zaion Vaughn did see it, and he returned this pass about 60 yards to the house. The next Red Wolves possession saw Barnes ejected and while Raspberry was able to help save face by picking off Enoch in the end zone, the damage was done: the Wildcats led 20-0 at the break. 

Perhaps energized by the Homecoming festivities or the prospect of holding a halftime lead, the Wildcats struck instantly in the second half, with Anton Enoch once again connecting with Anthony on a 37-yard rainbow of a touchdown pass over the defense. Nicholas DeMasi doinked the PAT in off the left upright – it really was that kind of night. Cedar Ridge punted once and went four-and-out once in the third quarter, but McCambry opened the fourth with a two-yard score to finally get the visitors on the board. Vaughan Lanier missed the extra point, but any sniff of a Cedar Ridge comeback was instantly snuffed out when Zaion Vaughn caught Ian Kavanaugh’s low kickoff right in the gullet and freight trained his way for a 75-yard kickoff return. 

ZaMail Vaughn got back in on the action by picking off Berger again on the next drive, this time off a drop by Tyler Roberts, and East gifted Cedar Ridge the ball right back with botched snap on the next play, the Red Wolves simply ran out of time. The visitors marched down the field, helped by a couple of strong runs from Aiden Seagroves, to set up another McCambry score, but that too was wiped out due to a penalty – it really was that kind of night. For some reason the clock kept running during the final few minutes, but no one made any protest. East Chapel Hill deserved the win, and it got the win, 33-12.

Cedar Ridge probably should have been the favored team against the winless Wildcats, but, in truth, the Red Wolves were playing at a disadvantage from the get-go. Now that certainly doesn’t fully excuse the result, but it does go a ways towards explaining it. With a few key contributors present but not dressed and still other starters not even present, Cedar Ridge was playing short-handed, and that severely restricted the Red Wolves’ depth on both sides. Once Barnes was tossed, Cedar Ridge became more one-dimensional on offense than they were before, and the Wildcats’ defensive front stonewalled McCambry all evening. It remains to be seen if Cedar Ridge will get any of those missing players back any time soon, but, if not, those who are there will need to regroup in a hurry: up next is conference title frontrunner Southern Durham, and the Red Wolves will have to be ready to go if they want to avoid this kind of night again.

HENDERSON–For the first time in weeks, Orange had something that they had been completely bereft of.

Momentum.

They had rallied from a 20-0 deficit after yet another awful start on the road with 17 consecutive points against Vance County. After Elliott Woods scored his third touchdown of the year early in the third quarter, Jake DeFranco picked off a pass, giving Orange a chance to take the lead in pursuit of its first road win in exactly 364 days.

Then they squandered it all away in record time.

The Panthers proceeded to get called for four personal foul/unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after Woods’ touchdown, which killed its rhythm and poise.

Samein Burwell made sure the Panthers never regained it.

After a Nigel Slanker punt, Burwell tossed to Kemarrous Jones for a 19 yard touchdown pass on 2nd-and-goal.

On the night he was crowned Homecoming King, Burwell threw for a career-high 406 yards and five touchdowns to push Vance County over Orange 40-30 at Viper Stadium.

Burwell also rushed for the Vipers’ only touchdown on the ground. His previous career high of 369 yards came against J.F. Webb on September 6. Vance County (7-1, 3-1) tied Northern Durham for second place in the Big 8 Conference. The Vipers travel to Durham County Stadium next Friday.

Orange needed a win to keep hopes of a winning season alive. Instead, a clearly frustrated Coach Van Smith walked to the team bus agitated about his defense yielding a season-high 494 yards, his team’s overall lack of discipline (102 yards in penalties) and the increasing likelihood of sitting home during the state playoffs for the second year in a row.

“We are completely not in a good mental state right now as a group of young men,” Smith said. “We started the game about as bad as you can possibly start a game.”

Orange’s Machai Holt rushed for 48 yards and two touchdowns. With Orange trailing 20-0, offensive coordinator Marty Scotten opened things up in the second quarter. That led to senior quarterback Wyatt Jones tying his season-high with ten completions for 102 yards.

Kemarrous Jones, who came into the game with 12 receptions on the year, finished with seven catches for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns. Late in the third quarter with the Vipers backed up to its own 10-yard line, Burwell found Jones on a slant for a 84-yard gain, stopped by a hustling Joe Kiger at the goal line. Burwell found Davonte Evans over the middle for a two-yard score moments later.

Orange, which has dropped five straight road games, got off to another bad start. The Vipers drove 79-yard on its opening drive. Burwell found William Hawkins on a 36-yard gain for Vance’s first of many trips into Panther real estate. On 3rd-and-6, Burwell found Jones for a 13-yard touchdown. Burwell and Jones hooked up again on the ensuing two-point conversion.

On the Vipers’ second drive, Phadol Jordan caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Burwell. Kicker Khalil Kingsburgy followed with what may or may not have been an intentional onside kick, which was recovered by Vance’s Ta’Quon Lions.

The Orange defense stood on the following possession, but proceeded to fumble on its next two possessions. The second fumble took place at the Orange 9-yard line, recovered by Demarius Harris. Burwell scored on a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Orange started its rally on a 11-play, 67-yard drive. Jones hit Holt for a 16-yard pass. On 3rd-and-4, Holt bounced off his own offensive line and stretched around left end for a touchdown.

The Panthers’ Will Torain recovered a fumble by Jordan on the next Viper possession. Slanker kicked a 31-yard field goal to narrow Vance’s lead to 20-10 at halftime.

Holt scored on a three-yard run late in the third quarter.

In the final stanza, Orange’s Joe Kiger picked off a Burwell pass. On the next play, Jones hit Omarion Lewis on a 40-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

In the final two minutes, Orange drove to the Viper red zone trailing 40-30. But Jones’ pass for Kiger was picked off by La’Maurice Bridges.

The Panthers return home to face Northwood next Thursday for Homecoming, but the sting of this loss was evident on the faces of players and coaches, alike.

Two months ago, Orange stood toe-to-toe with Eastern Alamance during a scrimmage in Mebane, where each team scored the same amount of touchdowns. Now, the Eagles are the #8 team in the state. Orange is on its way to a second straight losing season.

“We’re better than a five-win football team,” Smith said. “We just have to get out of our own way. We completely stripped the momentum away from ourself. We want to win. But we have a lot of issues with our discipline. It’s got to change.”

VANCE COUNTY 40, ORANGE 30

O– 0 10 14 6–30

VC-14 6 14 6–40

VC—Kemarrous Jones 7 pass from Samein Burwell (Burwell to Jones)

VC—Phadol Jordan 49 pass from Burwell (pass failed)

VC-Burwell 1 run (pass failed)

OR—Machai Holt 5 run (Nigel Slanker kick)

OR—Slanker 31 FG

OR—Elliott Woods 9 run (Slanker kick)

VC—Jones 19 pass from Burwell (pass failed)

VC—Rashad Evans 2 pass from Burwell (Burwell to K.Jones)

OR–Holt 3 run (Slanker kick)

VC—Noah Terry 70 pass from Burwell (pass failed)

OR-Omarion Lewis 40 pass from Wyatt Jones (pass failed)

RUSHING: VANCE COUNTY 18-10 (Evans 8-16, Terry 2-1, Burwell 8-(minus 7) TD.

ORANGE: 35-148 3 TD (Holt 12-48 2TD, W. Jones 4-44, Woods 10-27 TD, Lewis 9-29)

PASSING: VANCE COUNTY (Burwell 21-30 406 5 TD 3 INT) ORANGE 11-31 163 TD, 2INT (W. Jones 13-26 141 TD 2INT, Slanker 1-3 22)

RECEIVING: VANCE COUNTY (K. Jones 7-139 2 TD, William Hawkins 4-75, Jordan 3-59 TD, Terry 2-75 TD, Kevon Burton 2-39, Evans 2-17 TD, Ta’Quon Lyons 1-2)

ORANGE: (Lewis 3-55 TD, Woods 3-38, Cam White 3-11, Joe Kiger 2-28, Holt 2-23, Zyon Pettiford 1-8)

The Orange junior varsity football team won its final home game of the season on Thursday night. The Panthers defeated Vance County 38-24. Orange led 24-0 at the half. Sophomore cornerback Elton Dodds nearly scored on a pick six on the Vipers’ first possession of the second half and was tackled at the five-yard line. Brendon Worsham scored a touchdown in the 2nd half for Orange. Jared Weaver started at quarterback for Orange. The Panthers are now 4-2. They will travel to Pittsboro to face Northwood next week. Then the Panthers will travel to Culton-Peerman Stadium to face Chapel Hill in the regular season finale on November 8. 

Morgan Paschall: On Thursday night, Paschall announced on Twitter that he has received a scholarship offer from North Carolina A&T to play football and run track & field. Paschall added he would start attending Durham Technical Community College in January in order to become accepted at A&T. Paschall didn’t play football in his senior year at Orange. In his junior season, he ran for 542 yards and scored three touchdowns to help the Panthers win the Big 8 Championship. In two seasons with the varsity team, Paschall was also a linebacker. Paschall won several events in the 100 and 200 meters and the long jump at various track events in his junior season.

Stone Edwards: The 2017 Orange graduate has played only one game for the Vanderbilt football team so far this season. Edwards underwent ankle surgery during the summer. His only game this season came in Vanderbilt’s loss to Purdue on September 7. Edwards is a redshirt sophomore defensive end who was listed as the second-string defensive end before the Commodores’ season-opener against Georgia on August 31.

Taylin Jean: Jean posted another win as goalkeeper for the Division II Limestone women’s soccer team on Wednesday night. Limestone defeated Lees McRae 2-0 at Saints Field in Gaffney, S.C. Jean started as goalkeeper and was replaced in the 65th minute with the Saints’ leading 2-0. She made one save. Jean is 6-5 this season for the Saints. Limestone is in fourth place in the Carolinas Conference with a 5-2 mark. They are also 5-0 at home. The Saints travel to face Emmanuel College in Franklin Spring, GA on Saturday.

Brittany Daley: The 2018 Cedar Ridge graduate started for the Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team in a 8-0 rout of Mary Baldwin at Pride Field in Greensboro on Wednesday night. Daley, a sophomore, has started all 14 games for the Pride this season. The Pride is 10-3-1, 4-0-1 in the USA South Conference. They are tied in the loss column with Pfeiffer for 1st place. They travel to Cary to face William Peace University on Saturday. Speaking of which….

Jordan Rogers: Salem College defeated William Peace women’s soccer 2-1 at Varsity Field in Winston-Salem on Wednesday. Rogers started her 15th game of the season, playing wingback. Peace is 7-7-1, 2-3 in the USA South.

Lili Henry: Salem College defeated the Methodist University volleyball team 3-0 at Varsity Gymnasium in Winston-Salem on Wednesday night. Once again, Henry led the Monarchs with 12 assists. She also had eight digs and an ace. Methodist falls to 3-14, 2-8 in the USA South Conference. This weekend, the Monarchs travel to Rocky Mount for a tri-match against North Carolina Wesleyan and Averett College.

Kate Burgess: The UNC rowing team is scheduled to start its season in the Head of the Charles in Boston on Saturday. As mentioned in a previous post, Burgess made the team as a walk-on this fall.

Lauren Cates: While fall sports dominate the headlines right now, the Wake Tech Community College women’s basketball team will start its exhibition season next week. Lauren Cates, who graduated from Orange in June, will suit up for the Eagles when they host Division III Meredith on Tuesday night. Wake Tech’s starts the regular season on November 4 against Caldwell College and Technical Institute.

Senior night for the Orange volleyball team was, well, different. For starters, there was no game on Thursday night because Southern Durham forfeited. With that, the Lady Panthers are 14-7, 9-4 in the Big 8 Conference. That‘s the most wins for Orange in a season since 2015 (they had 15 wins in 2015, 2012 & 2010). So instead, seniors Brooke Fryar, Elizabeth Vosburg, Kaitlyn Werden, Emma Clements and Vale Serge played against some of their teammates, as well as head coach Kelly Young. Freshman Erin Jordan-Cornell got to show off her setting skills, which she ordinarily doesn’t get to do since she’s a middle blocker. Junior Morgan Ray, the daughter of former Orange football player Scott Ray, did a run-in during this interview to discuss their Friday match at Roxboro Community School, and preparation for the state playoffs. 

The Orange football team starts the final quarter of its season on Friday night against Vance County in Henderson. Orange is 2-5, 1-2 in the Big 8 Conference. For center Brody Andrews, its the start of a critical stretch because he wants to make the state playoffs for the first time in his career. Andrews has played varsity football since his sophomore season at Cedar Ridge, then transferred to Orange in 2018 after the Red Wolves didn’t field a varsity squad. Dari’us Matkins rarely takes a play off for Orange. He starts as a guard on offense and a tackle on defense. He has become one of Orange’s most reliable interior linemen. You can hear Orange vs. Vance County starting at 6:45 with C&R Ski & Outdoor pregame show on Friday night. Kickoff between the Vipers and the Panthers will be at 7.