Orange and Eastern Alamance is only a football scrimmage about as much as the Grand Canyon is only a hole in the ground.

It’s become a tradition for the two teams, separated by only 13 miles, to face each other on the Friday night before the regular season begins. This year, Orange traveled to Mebane for the second straight year on Friday night. Inevitably, a large crowd hungry for football season gathers, despite the hazy summer sun lingering well past kickoff.

On Friday night, each team finished with four touchdowns, all scored by the offense. Elliott Woods scored two rushing touchdowns for Orange, while wingback J.J. Torres added another.

Panther senior quarterback Wyatt Jones hit classmate Machai Holt, in his first scrimmage of the summer, with a 5-yard out pattern for a touchdown on Orange’s first possession of the game, an opening drive that lasted over eight minutes.

After Orange played spread the past two seasons, new Orange offensive coordinator Marty Scotten has re-installed a variation of the double wing offense. Though it isn’t a duplicate of the double wing run by former head coach Pat Moser, it does put added weight on the running game with wingbacks Torres and Woods receiving plenty of touches on Friday night.

The games doesn’t count in the standings, but if anyone tells you they aren’t concerned with the score, they’re lying. On Friday night, the scoreboard simply kept track of time, unlike last year when Orange won 54-14.

In retrospect, that was the high point of Orange’s season in 2018. They were never healthy again after losing senior wide receiver Freddy Francis for the season only six minutes into the season opener against Northern Nash with a broken foot. Minutes later, wide receiver and defensive end Khaleb Smith suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for five weeks.

A week after a disappointing scrimmage against Person where the varsity offense didn’t score, Orange Coach Van Smith came away from Mebane cautiously optimistic.

“I liked the opening eight-minute drive,” Smith said. “I like three running touchdowns. I like how our passing game got better and better once we able to establish the run. A defensive player’s best friend is a running game on offense. The best defense is to sit on the sideline and drink water and watch the offense get the ball up the field.”

Torres, who played junior varsity last season, came away as one of the main players on offense. He ripped off a 46-yard run midway through the final quarter, leading to a 3-yard touchdown run by Woods. Senior wide receiver Zyon Pettiford had two catches, including one in the 2nd quarter that crossed midfield.

“J.J. and Elliott are just gritty and tough,” Smith said. “They just really lead by example and they’re guys you can depend on.”

Now, Smith wants to make sure that the Eastern Alamance scrimmage isn’t the shining light of the season again.

“We’ve been talking about that all week.” Smith said. “We had high expectations and sort of went downhill from there, and (Eastern) went uphill from there. We want to build on this and not sit back on our laurels. Hopefully, we’ll learn from last year. We performed well, but we still have to get in shape and cut down on mistakes.”

Usually, Orange would be in preparations for the season opener next week. But this year, for the first time in recent memory, Orange has a bye week during opening week. They will start their season on August 31st against R.J. Reynolds at Auman Stadium in Hillsborough.

This week won’t be an off week, however. There just isn’t a football game.

“We have to get in shape,” Smith said. “We have another week to do that. We’re going to work on mistakes. We’re going to add a few more wrinkles to the offense and a few more wrinkles to our defense. When the schedule got made, I wasn’t real happy about having a week one bye. I’ve never had that in my career. In hindsight, it’s going to be a blessing. Maybe getting it out of the way early will help us build momentum and it can continue into the season.”

The scrimmages between Orange and Eastern Alamance are so emotionally heated, they may as well be regular season games. On Friday night in Mebane, the two teams had another fierce battle where each side had four touchdowns. Eli Spruill scores one touchdown, while Elliott Woods added two more on the ground. Orange wide receiver Machiavelli Holt scores the opening touchdown off a pass from quarterback Wyatt Jones. Spruill had a late interception, setting up a long run by wingback J.J. Torres. While most teams across the state will start their season next Friday, Orange will have their bye week on week one. The Panthers will face R.J. Reynolds on August 30 in Hillsborough in the season opener. 

The Cedar Ridge football team will go into next week’s season opener against Carrboro with only one scrimmage under its belt. The Red Wolves were supposed to face Sanderson this week, but it got rained out twice. Red Wolves senior Braxton Mergenthal got plenty of snaps last Saturday in Cedar Ridge’s scrimmage at South Garner. He played on the offensive and defensive line against Apex and South Garner. Mergenthal will be one of the leaders for a Cedar Ridge team making its return to varsity football after not fielding a varsity team in 2018. Mergenthal was among the top performers last season on Cedar Ridge’s JV squad. Hillsboroughsports.com will air Carrboro at Cedar Ridge next Friday starting at 6:45. 

On Saturday, the Orange football team showed off its new offense under new coordinator Marty Scotten. It’s a throwback to their double wing days under Pat Moser, with a few modifications. Regardless, the duty of offensive lineman Robert Bray remains the same—block and get downfield. After struggling in 2018, Orange returns all of its offensive lineman this season. On Saturday, the Panthers varsity team didn’t find the end zone against a much bigger Person squad. The Panthers will face Eastern Alamance in Mebane on Friday night for their final scrimmage. Orange won’t play in the opening week of the season because that’s their bye week. Instead, the Panthers will start their campaign August 29 against Winston Salem Reynolds in Hillsborough. 

*This interview was taped before the resignation of Antonio King as Cedar Ridge football coach*

August 23rd marks the return of varsity football at Cedar Ridge. The Red Wolves will face Carrboro at Red Wolves Stadium in their season opener. Despite not fielding a varsity team in 2018, wide receiver K.J. Barnes proved to be a standout during the Red Wolves’ junior varsity season. Barnes started at wide receiver and safety. During Saturday’s scrimmage at South Garner, Barnes intercepted a pass against Apex. On the subsequent drive, Barnes caught the only touchdown of the scrimmage from Cedar Ridge sophomore quarterback William Berger. Barnes will join the rest of the Red Wolves for their final scrimmage at Sanderson on Thursday night at 7 before their long-awaited return against Carrboro next week. 

The past two weeks have been a hectic time for Torrean Hinton. When Cedar Ridge football started workouts on July 29, Antonio King was still the head coach. By the following morning, it was announced that King had taken an assistant coach’s job at North Carolina Central. Hinton was appointed King’s replacement. He is Cedar Ridge’s five head coach in six seasons. He inherits a program that didn’t field a varsity squad in 2018. However, Cedar Ridge did have a junior varsity team that had a winning record. On Saturday, Hinton braved a humid day at South Garner High School as the Red Wolves scrimmaged Apex and South Garner. In the opening game, the Red Wolves played a standard game situation against Apex and scored the game’s only touchdown. Elijah Whitaker crossed the goal line. Cedar Ridge will scrimmage Sanderson in Raleigh on Tuesday night at 7.

Bryse Wilson: For the fourth time since July 21, Wilson earned a quality start for the Gwinnett Stripers of the AAA International League. On Friday, Wilson threw seven scoreless innings in Gwinnett’s 10-2 over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in Moosic, PA. It was his fourth straight win since being sent down by the Atlanta Braves on July 21. Against the RailRiders, Wilson conceded four hits and struck out nine. In his last four starts, Wilson is 4-0 with a league-best 0.33 ERA. In that span, opponents have hit .191 against Wilson. He has surrendered two runs (one earned) in the last 27 innings with six walks and 25 strikeouts. Wilson has helped Gwinnett take a two-and-a-half game lead over Durham for first place in the International League. He now has a 8-7 record in Gwinnett with a 3.58 ERA.

Training camp has started for college football teams across the country. Many former Orange High and Cedar Ridge High football players will be on the gridiron this season. In one notable case, it will be a notable return for a former Orange High All-State linebacker who hasn’t played a game in nearly two years.

Payton Wilson: A redshirt freshman for N.C. State, Wilson last played on October 27, 2017 against Cedar Ridge. He tore the ACL in his right knee on the opening kickoff, ending his high school career. After enrolling in Raleigh in January 2018, he tore the ACL in his same knee once again last summer. Now, Wilson is prepared to make an impact when N.C. State hosts East Carolina on August 31 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

Coach Dave Doeren was asked about Wilson during ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last month.

“He’s chomping at the bit,” Doeren said. “I’m going to tell you, Payton is an incredible competitor. He was a great wrestler, incredible player in high school. He hasn’t been able to play in a long time. He’s healthy. He’s fully cleared. Probably more excited to play in training camp than anybody on our football team.”

Trent Gill: A redshirt sophomore at N.C. State, Gill will look to see more action in Raleigh this season. Gill, who graduated from Cedar Ridge in 2017, has yet to play for the Wolfpack. He was an All-Big 8 Conference performer in football, and also played soccer and tennis.

Stone Edwards: The 2017 Orange graduate is now a redshirt sophomore at Vanderbilt. In 2018, Edwards played in 12 games for the Commodores. He made seven tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack as Vanderbilt reached the Texas Bowl. They finished 6-7.

Kevin Wright Jr.: A sophomore at N.C. Wesleyan, Wright is gearing up to start at cornerback for the Battling Bishops this season. In 2018, Wright played in two games for Wesleyan, making two tackles and a tackle for loss. Wright is a history major in Rocky Mount.

Jackson Schmid: Now playing at Division III Wheaton College, Schmid is entering his junior season with the Thunder. After starting as Orange’s quarterback, Schmid is now a safety. In 2018, he played three games, making one tackle.

Colin Guentensberger: After suiting up for the East/West All-Star Game last month in Greensboro, Guentensberger will attempt to walk-on at Appalachian State. Guentensberger was the Orange High Player of the Year in 2018.

Francisco McKinley: A four-year starter as Orange’s placekicker, McKinley is also at Appalachian State. He will try to walk-on to the football team. In McKinley’s tenure at Orange, he’s probably best remembered for kicking the game-winning field goal against Southern Durham with less than a minute remaining on September 29, 2017, which paved the way for the Panthers to win its third consecutive Big 8 Conference Championship.

This interview was taped before the resignation of Antonio King aa Cedar Ridge football coach. It’s been a long road for Cedar Ridge football, which didn’t field a team in 2018. Now, with new coach Torreón Hinton leading the way, the Red Wolves will return to varsity action on Friday, August 23 against Carrboro. Seniors Braxton Mergenthal and Braedon Thompson helped lead the Red Wolves in 2018, when they had a junior varsity team. Thompson is the third member of his family to play sports at Cedar Ridge, and his father Mason is an assistant coach. Mergenthal played on both sides of the interior line last season. He also played basketball last year. Hillsboroughsports.com will broadcast Carrboro vs. Cedar Ridge to start its 5th season on August 23.

The Cedar Ridge football team returned to varsity action on Saturday afternoon. After not fielding a team in 2017, the Red Wolves were among 16 teams that participated in the 2nd annual Carolina Collision Centers Football Jamboree at South Garner High School. During a hot, humid afternoon, the Red Wolves faced Apex and South Garner. K.J. Barnes made an interception against the Cougars, which was followed by a touchdown run by wide receiver Elijah Whitaker. Last season when Cedar Ridge fielded a junior varsity team, Whitaker was among the top players on the team playing wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense. Cedar Ridge will travel to Sanderson High in Raleigh for another scrimmage on Tuesday. 

Jamar Davis: Over the weekend, Davis represented the United States in the Under-20 Pan-American Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica. Davis finished 8th in the triple jump with a mark of 15.47 meters. Geiner Moreno Chiquillo of Colombia finished first with a leap of 16.40 meters. In addition, Davis was named to the Unites States Track & Field and Cross Country Association All-Academic team. To qualify for USTFCCA All-Academic honors, an athlete must have compiled a cumulative 3.25 GPA. Davis also garnered 2019 All-ACC Academic Outdoor Track & Field honors.

Bryse Wilson: In his return to the Gwinnett Stripers of the International League on Sunday, Wilson pitched his best game of the season. Wilson threw seven scoreless innings as the Stripers defeated Rochester 12-1 at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA. Wilson yielded four hits, walked none and struck out four for his first win in Gwinnett since June 22. The win moved Gwinnett one-half game ahead of Durham for first place in the International League’s Southern Division.

Last week, Wilson suffered his first Major League loss with the Atlanta Braves. On July 16, Milwaukee defeated the Braves 13-1 at Miller Park. Wilson gave up four runs (all earned) off six hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out one to fall to 1-1 on the season. On Thursday, the Braves sent Wilson back to Gwinnett and promoted pitcher Kyle Wright. Wilson is now 5-7 with a 4.30 ERA for Gwinnett this season.

Keshawn Thompson: The 2017 Orange High graduate has been placed on full scholarship at Campbell University. Thompson, who was a safety for the 2016 Orange defense that yielded three offensive touchdowns the whole regular season, will start the upcoming season as a redshirt sophomore with the Camels. In 2018, Thompson recorded eight tackles and played in all eleven of Campbell’s games. Campbell travels to Troy on August 31 to start the 2019 season.

Shaquille Bolden: A former defensive back at Orange, Bolden now plays professional football in Mexico. On Sunday, Bolden suited up for Gavilanes in Lexfa Arena Football Mexico. Playing wide receiver and defensive back, Bolden scored three touchdowns and made one interception on Sunday as Gavilanes defeated Tuzos 42-12 in Morlos, Cuernavaca. Bolden also has played professionally in Poland and has received tryouts in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League in the U.S.

Mia and Montana Davidson: With Mississippi State softball in the midst of change, Mia Davidson spent part of her summer north of the border. Davidson suited up for Texas-based Scrapyard International during the Canada Cup International Fastpitch Championship in South Surry, British Columbia. Canada won the Canada Cup by beating Scapyard with an 8-4 win over Scrapyard in the championship game on July 15. It’s the second straight year that Canada has won the Canada Cup. Prior to 2018, Canada had not won the event since 1996.

The Davidson sisters will start the 2020 season with a brand new head coach. Samantha Ricketts was named the new head coach of the Bulldogs on Monday morning. Ricketts has served as an assistant coach at MSU since 2015. She replaces Vann Stuedeman, whose contract wasn’t renewed after eight seasons. Stuedeman went 276-189 overall, 69-127 in the Southeastern Conference.