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Maryville, Oak Ridge will meet in 2009 high school football season By Mike Blackerby editor@oakridgesports.com
Oak Ridge High School and Maryville is finally here -- and it’s only 311 days away. Mike Mullins, Oak Ridge’s director of athletics, confirmed earlier today that the Wildcats and Rebels will meet at Maryville in Week 5 of the 2009 high school football season. “It has been something that has basically been in the works since last spring -- it‘s a thing both schools’ fans want,” said Mullins. Oak Ridge’s 2009 football schedule was set earlier today in a meeting of District 3 coaches and athletics directors and comes on the heels of the TSSAA’s re-classification for next season. Next season, Oak Ridge will play in District 3-AAA, which includes teams that will split into Class 5A and 6A come playoff time. The Wildcats -- who will compete in 6A in the playoffs -- will open the ’09 season at home against District 4 foe Farragut on Aug. 28. Maryville, also a member of District 4, is the only other non-district game for Oak Ridge next season. Oak Ridge’s 2009 schedule includes: Aug. 28 Farragut Sept. 4 Central Sept. 11 at Powell Sept. 18 Halls Sept. 25 at Maryville Oct. 2 at Anderson County Oct. 9 at Karns Oct. 16 at Hardin Valley Oct. 23 Clinton Oct. 30 Campbell County Although Maryville and Oak Ridge were placed in different districts under the 2009 re- alignment plan, Mullins said the two schools made a point of hooking up in the regular season. Oak Ridge and Maryville last played in 1969 with the all-time series even at 3-3. “I’ve been talking to (Maryville coach) George Quarles all along and we made sure -- whether or not we were in the same district -- that we were going to play,” said Mullins. The Rebels have emerged as the state’s top power in recent years and are currently riding a 72-game winning streak as they go for their fifth state Class 4-A title in a row. Also, Mullins said the revamped schedule will prove fan friendly for followers of the Wildcats. While Oak Ridge has had to travel to Chattanooga and Kingsport in recent years, the longest road trip in 2009 will be to Maryville. “Overall, the good thing about it is obviously how close everybody is,” said Mullins. “The big thing, too, is it’s a deal where we play them (the same district teams) in basketball and all the other sports. We can develop those rivalries and I think there will be more fan interest as opposed to driving to Chattanooga for games.” Mullins said one of the few downers in next year’s schedule is the absence of traditional foe Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett during the regular season for the first time since 2002. “That’s the only disappointing thing about the whole thing,” said Mullins. “If I could have had my way, we would have had an eight-team district that would have allowed us to play Maryville, Farragut and D-B in our non-district games.” |
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