Bartlett Yancey Hands Cedar Ridge Volleyball 1st Loss 3-1

Cedar Ridge’s three-game winning streak to open the season has come to an end against Bartlett Yancey.

The Buccaneers defeated the Red Wolves 3-1 on Tuesday night at Cedar Ridge High Gymnasium on scores of 25-21, 25-14, 20-25 and 25-22.

Tori Zielke finished with eleven kills for the Red Wolves. Senior Alexa Paganelli had six aces, one kill and 21 digs. Juliann De Jesus finished with ten kills and one block assist. Macy Henry came up with 31 assists, one kill and six digs.

Bartlett Yancey is now 2-2. The Buccaneers are now playing in the new 2A Mid State Conference with defending 2A State Champion Carrboro, Durham School of the Arts and the North Carolina School of Science and Math.

Cedar Ridge now turns its attention to its Big 8 Conference opener on Thursday in Pittsboro against Northwood. The Chargers are 3-0 with a pair of wins over Jordan-Matthews as well as a victory over Southern Lee.

LaNier Records 6 Aces as Orange Sweeps Jordan 3-0

The Orange volleyball team seems to have found a way to end its curse against the Jordan Falcons.

After Jordan swept Orange 3-0 last September, the Falcons had defeated the Panthers five straight times. However, Orange got revenge the following month, beating their former PAC-6 rivals in Hillsborough.

On Monday night, Orange claimed its second consecutive victory over the Falcons, 3-0, on scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-12.

The Panthers are now 2-0 after beating Eastern Alamance in last week’s season opener.

Senior Bailey Lucas, who missed the Eastern match with an injured ankle, made her season debut against the Falcons with two aces, six kills, seven assists and four digs.

Junior Liz LaNier registered six aces, four kills, two blocks, an assist and two digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Emma Clements recorded four aces, eight kills, an assist and two digs.

Senior Caroline Compton had 14 assists and three digs.

Orange travels to Durham to face Riverside on Wednesday night. The Panthers haven’t started 3-0 since 2013.

Rabalais Makes Five Kills as Cedar Ridge Volleyball Shuts Out DSA 3-0

In last week’s season opener, Cedar Ridge needed five sets to win over Durham School of the Arts.

On Monday night in Hillsborough, there was no drama.

The Red Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 3-0 at Red Wolves Gymnasium on scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-21. Colby Rabelais finished with five kills and a solo block.

Macy Henry registered 19 assists and three aces. Senior libero Alex Paganelli had an active night with nine digs and two aces.

In addition, sophomore Emma Downing came up with four kills. Juliann De Jesus had five kills while junior Rachel Tucker finished with seven digs.

It’s a successful start to a busy week for Cedar Ridge, which has three games over the course of four days. They host Bartlett Yancey tonight at Red Wolves Gymansium. Then on Thursday, Cedar Ridge travels to Pittsboro to face Northwood in its Big 8 Conference opener.

Eastern Alamance Upends Cedar Ridge Boys Soccer 4-2

Cedar Ridge Boys Soccer Coach Chris Walker knew 2017 would be a rebuilding season after losing nine seniors from last year’s 10-6-4 squad. So far, 2017 has been a learning process.

On Monday night, Cedar Ridge lost its home opener to Eastern Alamance 4-2. The Eagles roared out to a 3-1 lead after the opening 40 minutes on goals from Austin Terrell, Alex Kreider and sophomore Jackson Poteat.

Cedar Ridge scored on a penalty from Tatha Hso.

In the second half, the Red Wolves’ narrowed the deficit to 3-2 on a goal by Reese Weaver on an assist from Hso. Eastern Alamance’s Lennon Kuhn-Chimera added insurance with his first goal on the season off a feed from sophomore Dean DeMauro.

Last week, Durham School of the Arts defeated the Red Wolves 5-1 in the season opener. Brandon Garcia scored the only Cedar Ridge goal on an assist from Dean Allen.

Despite the result, Cedar Ridge Coach Chris Walker was encouraged by the Eastern Alamance performance, particularly the communication and player from underclassmen. The Red Wolves attacked consistently, finishing with six corner kicks agains the Eagles.

Cedar Ridge will try for its first win on Wednesday night at Carrboro.

Wilson, Beasley Guide Orange Past Northern Nash 40-6 in Sultry Season Opener

Over the weekend, Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente said “The first rule of special teams is don’t have a terrible thing happen.”

Unfortunately, Northern Nash didn’t get that memo Friday night.

The Knights punting unit cost them 17 points in the first half against Orange, which isn’t unusual for a young team in the season opener. But having a player as special as Payton Wilson is unusual, and Orange rode its thoroughbred to as often as possible as he begins his final lap.

Wilson had 244 punt return yards and 127 receiving yards to push the Panthers past the Knights 40-6 on a sultry Friday night in Death Valley. Marvante Beasley rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns, his 12th 100-yard rushing game.

Orange has now won 17 consecutive regular games and 21 straight nonconference games.

Of course, few times run on all cylinders in its season opener and Orange was no different on Friday night. New head coach Van Smith, in his first game, watched his new offense sputter, at times. The Panthers have junked the double wing offense for the en vogue spread attack installed by new offensive coordinator Steve Burdeau, who arrived to Hillsborough after two seasons at Richmond County.

With seniors Rodney Brooks and Brenden Huss sharing time at quarterback, the results were hit and miss. Brooks was more eager to keep the ball on zone-reads, rushing for 18 yards on five carries in front of an offensive line with only one returning starter.

The one thing both players had in common was who they viewed as the top target: Wilson.

On the opening possession, Knights punter Travis Smith had the ball snapped over his head, setting up Orange from the Knight 12-yard line for the opening possession of the season. On third-and-goal from the Nash 7-yard line, Brooks found Wilson for the opening touchdown in the right corner of the end zone.

It was the start of a exhausting night for Wilson and Beasley, who endured the hottest weather they’ve ever played in.

“It was crazy out here,” said Wilson. “It wasn’t just hot, it was like you could barely breathe because it was so humid. We were in better shape, obviously. It was rough out here today. I’m ready for that fall weather.”

“I was about to die,” said Beasley. “I don’t sweat a lot but I’ve never played in a hotter game in my life.”

In the 2nd quarter, Wilson returned a punt 55 yards, leading to Francisco McKinley’s 23-yard field goal. On the subsequent possession, Wilson received another punt, which he returned 50 yards before fumbling at the Nash 30-yard line. Panther upback Colin Guentensberger picked up the loose ball and ran the final 30 yards for a touchdown.

Wilson, who had five punt returns for touchdowns last season, was surprised Nash continued to kick it right to him.

“After the first one, I thought they would kick it out of bounds like most teams do,” said Wilson. “But they kept kicking it to me.”

“Punt returns are definitely the most tiring,” said Wilson. “On defense, I give it my all because I try to make every play. I’m already tired when I walk back to return punts. Sometimes I run it back 50, 60 yards, so that’s what really tires me out.”

Orange opened the second half with Wilson making a gorgeous diving catch for 32 yards down to the Knight 1-yard line. Beasley scored his first touchdown of the season two plays alter.

“I felt like we were firing off the ball in the second half better,” said Beasley. “It cooled down a lot in the second half and we executed better. We focused much better.”

Later in the third quarter, Beasley scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. McKinley kicked a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, doubling his season total from 2016 in the opening game.

Nash scored its only touchdown when quarterback Davontae Wiggins threw to Trevor Sledge for a 36-yard score.

Orange plays its only nonconference home game on Friday night against Wilmington Hoggard, who hammered Holly Springs 48-7 on Friday night.

“Hoggard is always supposed to be pretty good,” said Wilson. “We need a real good week of practice. Me and Marvante and everyone else worked very hard this offseason, so it means a lot to us. We out to go out every game the same.”

 

Cedar Ridge Football Coach Scott Loosemore Prepares for Friday’s Season Opener vs. Carrboro

The Cedar Ridge football team is coming off its first winning season since 2010. Now, they start the 2017 season with three new running backs in its triple option attack, along with many new interior lineman. Coach Scott Loosemore discusses playing Carrboro on Friday night at Cedar Ridge, a game you can hear on HillsboroughSports.com with Nathan Bernstein.