Orange’s wingback-oriented offense was clicking Friday night as the Panthers out-scored Chapel Hill 41-26 in a Carolina 3A Conference game at Culton-Peerman Stadium.

By Brock Page

Correspondent

CHAPEL HILL – Orange’s wingback-oriented offense was clicking Friday night as the Panthers out-scored Chapel Hill 41-26 in a Carolina 3A Conference game at Culton-Peerman Stadium.

Orange, ranked No. 12 in the News and Observer poll, finished the regular season 9-2 overall

and 4-1 in the conference. By virtue of the win, the Panthers earned the second seed in the

conference and should host a first round playoff game next week.

Chapel Hill, ranked No. 16, dropped to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the league. The Tigers also earned a post-season berth and could host next week as well.

Orange scored on its first four possessions. Running back Patrick Pettiford scored the first rouchdown on a six-yard run just 96 seconds into the game.

Following an interception by Shaquille Bolden, Orange’s Sean Motley scrambled out of the pocket and fired a pass to Jalen Pittman, who caught the ball in stride before racing to the end zone untouched for a 14-0 lead.

“We are blessed to have two really good wingbacks,” said Orange head coach Pat Moser. “We

are very talented, I know that. Chapel Hill has a very good defense and for us to score 41 points, I am a

little bit surprised. I thought we played extremely well against a very good defense.”

Chapel Hill responded with a touchdown drive that went 66 yards on nine plays. The first eight

plays were rushes, with Darius Allen carrying the ball seven times for 52 yards. On first down and goal

from the Orange nine yard-line, Johnson tossed a pass to wide receiver Eddie Bugard to cut the lead to 14-7.

Orange mixed the run and the pass to put together a 79-yard scoring drive on seven plays capped when Motley scrambled out of the pocket and fired a touchdown pass on the run to Matt Gattis. With the extra point, Orange led 21-7.

Chapel Hill drove 74 yards with tailback Darius Allen darting 12 yards for the touchdown. The extra point brought Chapel Hill to within 21-14 midway through the second period.