REDSKINS vs. LENOIR CITY

GAME SUMMARY, STATS, AND PHOTOS

Redskins 6   LC Panthers 12

To say the least, Loudon and Lenoir City have a love/hate relationship. Every Redskin fan loves to beat the Panthers, and hate it when we lose. The inter-county rivalry has been going on for a long long time, let’s look at the last 74 years (dating back to 1923):

• Loudon has won 39 times
• LC has won 35 times
• Loudon longest winning streak is 6 games (1981 to 1986)
• LC’s longest winning streak is 6 games (1933 to 1938)
• Loudon’s largest margin of victory is 66-0 (1932)
• LC’s largest margin of victory is 74-0 (1937)
• Loudon has scored 1395 points, an average of 18.9 pts/game
• LC has scored 1122 points, an average of 15.2 pts/game
• Loudon has shut-out LC 16 times, the last time being 1985
• LC has shut-out Loudon 11 times, the last time being 1979
• Loudon’s average margin of victory is 23 points
• LC’s average margin of victory is 18 points
• This is the 8th battle of the bridge; Loudon leads the series 5-2
• Loudon has won the food drive 6 out of the first 7 years

(Thanks to Bruce Lawson, Bill Brakebill, and John Napier for their input)

Entering this contest, both the Redskins (3-6) and the Panthers (2-7) have had a long season of close losses and near wins. The ‘Skins were up at the half against Fulton and Gibbs. 7-7 was the half time score against Anderson County. Winning is an acquired taste...and this young Redskin team will learn how to close out games like these with another off-season of working in the weight room and the mental toughness that comes from repetitions on the practice field.

The game ball used for the first kick-off in the previous seven Battle of the Bridge games was run all the way from Loudon High School to Lenoir City High School by several students and math teacher Mr. Wright. This created quite a traffic jam. A roar went up from the visiting Redskin fans when the ball arrived at the stadium.

Loudon drew first blood on an 18 yard #9 Adam Paramo field goal mid-way through the first quarter. Shane Thompson, #5, recovered a Panther fumble, but the Redskin offense failed to capitalize on the turnover. LC drove down into scoring position, but missed the field goal, wide right. The Redskins put together a nice drive, capped off by a 26 yard #9 Paramo field goal. The Loudon defense put the clamps on the LC quarterback. Sacks by #59 Dailon Sellers and #33 Jake Brantley for -9 and -7 yards respectively, keep Lenoir City off the score board in the first half. Loudon leads 6-0 going into the locker room. Statistically, Loudon dominated the Panthers in the first half:

LOUDON    LENOIR CITY

1st downs: 9    2

rushing yds: 135    22

passing yds: 45    57

total yds: 180    79

More good news at half time, Loudon High School won the food drive! The real winner was the “Good Samaritan Center” as 18,935 pounds of food was collected.

In the 3rd stanza, the Panthers tied the score on a Kyle Lambardo (#20) run of 22 yards, the extra point attempt was no good! On the ensuring kick off, #33 Jake Brantley returned the ball for 31 yards. The Panther defense stiffened, forcing a Marty Branum (#62) punt. The mounting penalties were a major contribution to ‘Skins offensive woes. In the 2nd half-alone, Loudon was flagged for -80 yards. It seems that there was a penalty every time the Redskins hiked the ball. Late in the 4th period, the Panthers gained field position, and punched in a touchdown by #11 Rusty Mcnabb, on a 13-yd option keeper. Lenoir City elected to go for two, but the Big Red “D” promptly stuffed the attempt.

The door was left open. All Loudon had to do was drive down the field and score, and kick the extra point for the win. The clock became a factor, as time clicked away. The Redskins crossed into Panther territory and took a couple of shots at the end zone before time expired. The final score is 12-6, Panthers. Lenoir City takes a two game winning streak into next years (2003) ’Skin/Panther contest. Departing senior Captain #2 Chad Oody posted his best performance of the season, rushing 17 times for 149 yards and 57 yards on 5 of 15 passing. Plans have already begun in earnest for next year’s campaign. Congratulations to Head Coach Jeff Harig on his inaugural season at the Redskin helm.

Jefferson McQueen
Loudon Redskin
‘74 Undefeated State Champion (12-0)

Stats

Loudon

1st Downs:  12
Rushing:  45 for 212 yds.

• #2 Oody:  17 carries for 149 yds.

• #33 Brantley:  7 carries for 26 yds., 31 yd. k.o. return

• #31 Hutchens:  1 carry for 3 yds.

• #22 McNew:  7 carries for 11 yds.

• #1 Johnson:  13 carries for 23 yds.

Passing:  5 of 15 for 57 yds; no interceptions

• #3 Cline:  2 for 21 yds.

• #6 Rushing:  1 for 14 yds.

• #5 Thompson:  1 for 13 yds.

• #8 Kirkland:  1 for 9 yds.

Punts:  4 for 125 yds. (31.3 avg.)
Fumbles:  7, lost 1
Penalties:  10 for -110 yds.
Miscellaneous:

• #9 Paramo:  18 yd. field goal, 26 yd. field goal

• #80 McQueen:  Recovered fumble

Lenoir City

1st Downs:  9
Rushing:  33 for 121 yds. and 2 td's.

• #20 Lombardo:  16 for 51 yds.

• #24 Massey:  18 yds. and 1 td. on two carries

• #34 Duton:  9 for 51 yds.

• #11 McNabb:  6 for 1 yd. and 1 td.

Passing:  2 of 13 for 65 yds. and 0 interceptions
Punts:  5 for 169 yds. (33.8 avg.)
Fumbles:  5, lost 1
Penalties:  6 for -5 yds.