#5 Loudon Hoppers (6-4) vs #1 LCYFO Hoppers (9-0) at Lenoir City
Article by Jeff McQueen
Photos by Jammie Graves
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Loudon Hoppers 0 8 0 8 16
LCYFO Panthers 0 0 16 6 22
Representing the Big Red Hoppers for the coin toss were Captains #24 Brandon “Newt” Burnette">
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#5 Loudon Hoppers (6-4) vs #1 LCYFO Hoppers (9-0) at Lenoir CityArticle by Jeff McQueen
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Loudon Hoppers 0 8 0 8 16
LCYFO Panthers 0 0 16 6 22
Representing the Big Red Hoppers for the coin toss were Captains #24 Brandon “Newt” Burnette, #34 Jordan Davis, #43 Rodger “Red Shoes” Waddell, and #87 Jacob “Unit 1” Mashburn. Loudon won the coin toss and wanted the football. Your Loudon offense started a little sluggish, faced with 4th and 16, opted to punt. Defense was the name of the game, and #34 Jordan Davis played at a high level recovering three fumbles during the course of the game. On L.C.’s second play, Davis came up with the first one (fumble). The Hoppers took over on their own 23 yard line. #21 “Double J” Joshua “Action” Jackson got loose around the right end and rambles for 19 yards and a first down. Unfortunately the offense couldn’t maintain the momentum and turned the ball over on downs. The Panthers took over on the 49 yard line with 2:04 left in the first. The clock ran down with L.C. still in possession of the ball. But on the first play of the 2nd quarter, Loudon’s Davis came up with his second fumble recovery. With the ball spotted on the 39 yard line and 7:34 on the clock, there’s plenty of time for a Loudon drive. On the move, the Hoppers are aided by trigger happy Panthers, QB #39 Travis Brewer is using a hard count that drew the opposing lineman off-sides. This happened on three consecutive plays! From the one yard line, #35 Jack “The Ironman” Nichols II blasts across! Touchdown Loudon Hoppers! The conversion points were posted on a three yard pass from QB Brewer to #24 Brandon “Newt” Burnette. Davis got his third fumble recovery foiling another Panther opportunity. At the intermission, the Loudon Hoppers are leading 8-0. To start the second half, Lenoir City re-grouped and sent #3 Micah McCrary 66 yards for a touchdown, and with the #11 Caleb Wilson extra points the score is tied. Loudon turned to “Action” Jackson who advanced the football 19 yards for another first down. But alas, the Hoppers were punting three plays later. On first down L.C. gained four yards, then #11 Wilson was off to the races on a 74 yard touchdown. The score is now 16-8, Panthers. The Hoppers and Panthers swap punts and then Loudon punts again. It’s now early in the forth stanza. McCrary rips off another long score for L.C. making it 22-8. Loudon wasn’t through with the scoreboard yet. Jackson for 17 and then 11 more, to sustain the drive. QB Brewer hooks up with “Newt” Burnette on a 36 yard pith and catch down to the two yard line. On the next play an illegal procedure penalty moved the ball back to the seven. Un-daunted, Brewer again finds his favorite receiver “Newt” Burnette alone in the end zone…touchdown Hoppers! “Action” Jackson puts an exclamation mark on the drive by adding the conversion points. There’s only 7.5 seconds left in the game and the Panthers take a knee. In talking after the game with some of the L.C. Coaches, they were amazed at the big difference in our Hopper team. The first meeting in week #8, resulted in a Panther victory to the tune of 32-0. A few personnel changes and some serious practice sessions brought the team out of their mid-season slump. The MVP Offensive Player of the game was presented to #21 “Double J” Joshua “Action” Jackson who carried 16 times for 92 yards; while the MVP Defensive Player of the game was awarded to #34 Jordan Davis who recovered three fumbles. Total offense was 141 yards; rushing accounted for 95 yards on 32 attempts for one touchdown and a 2-point conversion while passing added 46 yards on 3 of 9 attempts for one touchdown. In a heart breaker, the Hoppers (6-5) lose 22-16 and are eliminated from post season play. Congratulations to the Hopper Football Players, Head Coach Brian Nichols plus Assistant Coaches Eric Horton, Lee “The Big Unit” Mashburn, Jamie Lively, Dave Coggins, and Coley Woody on making it to the semi-finals!
Stats:
1st Downs: 8
Fumbles: 0
Penalties: 4 for -20 yards
#35 Jack “The Ironman” Nichols II: (7) carries for 11 yds,
(1) TD, and (2) tackles
#21 “Double J” Joshua “Action” Jackson: (16) carries for
92 yds and (6) tackles
#39 Travis Brewer: (6) carries for -11 yds, 3 for 9 passing for
46 yds and (1) TD, and (2) tackles
#47 Macklyn “The Mac Attack” Russell: (3) carries for 3 yds,
and (2) tackles
#24 Brandon “Newt” Burnette: (3) receptions for 46 yds,
(1) TD, (1) 2-pt. conv, and (3) tackles
#34 Jordan Davis: (2) tackles and (3) fumble recoveries
#54 Caleb Green: (4) tackles
#43 Rodger “Red Shoes” Waddell: (1) tackle
#88 Zack “Unit 2” Mashburn: (4) tackles and (2) sacks
for -4 yds each
#45 Anthony Johnson: (2) tackles
#80 Clay Jenkins: (1) tackle
#10 Jacob Arden: (2) tackles
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