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TOP PHOTOS: Landen Hensley finds K.J. Chadwell in the flat for one of his 33 completions; two of those caught by Chadwell. (PHOTO COURTESY OF DWANE WILDER-THE COURIER NEWS)
By Jim Freeman
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – For the average Campbell Cougar fan, like me, you had to come away feeling pretty good about the peak of the 2023 version of a Justin Price coached football team I saw on Thursday night. The longest tenured and winning-est coach in the history of Cougar Football lost 17 outstanding seniors from his 2022 team. However, it was evident at Thursday’s intra squad spring game, that a lot of Cougars are stepping up to help Price reload.
Forty-six players suited up for the Orange-n-Blue game with veteran quarterback Landen Hensley playing for both squads.
There were big plays on defense with seven sacks unofficially to go along with a Robert Kirby, Blue Team, interception and a couple of tackles for loss. There were also two fourth down stops.
On offense, Tiras McCulley of the Blue had the game’s longest run for 37 yards setting up a first and goal at the Orange 10. Luke Lindsay took the ball and worked it to Eli Dorton who swept into the east end zone for the touchdown. Rylan Sanders had the best looking PAT on the night knotting the game at 41 with 3:24 to go in the third quarter.
The Orange battery of Landen Hensley and Timmy Gibson provided the biggest highlight of the night; a 58-yard pass, catch, run and score. Hensley found Gibson over the middle with a strike that Gibson hauled to pay dirt. Nathan Massengill pushed the lead out to 48-41, and those were all the points the Orange would need.
At the 6:31 mark of the game, Hensley threw for the Blue finding Gabe St. John for a 45-yard scoring connection. Still with plenty of time remaining, Sanders missed the extra point. Two more scoreless drives did it, and the Orange hung on for the 48-47 victory.
Hensley hit his first five passes on the game’s opening drive followed by an incompletion, and the impressive first possession stalled out when Kirby picked a pass and returned it 38 yards. The Blue capped its start on offense with a 13 yard touchdown run from Tiras McCulley. The PAT failed, and the Blue took the first lead at 6-0 with 6:01 to go in quarter one.
The Orange made it onto the scoreboard on its second crack on offense when Hensley found Gavin Owens in traffic. Owens made the catch and broke free making it to the far side of the east end zone. Pat Massengill’s point after touchdown pushed the Orange in front 7-6 which ended up being the score after one.
Hensley was unofficially 11-16-132 with a touchdown and an interception through the first quarter. Jamal Wright had a first quarter sack for the Blue. In addition to his touchdown run, McCulley sprinted for 37 yards in the third quarter setting up the Blue in scoring position at the Orange 10.
Owens caught his second touchdown pass on the night, a 15 yarder, after making a shifty move to get across the goal line. The PAT failed, and it was Orange 13 Blue 6 with 8:09 on the second quarter clock.
The Orange made a 4th down stop on the Blue as the Orange was able to post points before the half. Hensley tossed a six yarder to Ethan Longsdon with Massengill’s extra point leaving the Orange up 20-6 at intermission.
Unofficially Hensley finished the first half going 21 for 30 with 261 yards, one interception and three touchdowns.
Second half unofficial numbers for Hensley were 12-24-234-2TDs. For the night, Hensley was 33-54-495-5TDs-1INT.
During the halftime competitions, the Blue made up a lot of ground. Each competition win was good for seven points.
Lineman 40 yard dash: Eli Dorton Blue
Skill player 40 yard dash: Timmy Gibson Orange
Longest punts: Luke Carroll Orange and Nathan Massengill Orange
Tug of war: Blue
Tic tac toe: Blue
Lineman punt return: Braxton Orick Blue
The score to start the third quarter, including competition points, was Orange 41 and the Blue 34.
Quarter by quarter scoring ended up with the Orange with 7 and then 13 in the second to go along with 21 halftime points, then seven points in the third ahead of a scoreless fourth quarter. The Blue scored six in the opening quarter and none in the second before getting 28 points at the half. It was a seven point third and a six point fourth for the Blue making the final score 48-47 Orange.
The Blue led once by six at 6-0 while the Orange’s largest lead was 20-6.
Here are some more unofficial numbers as 13 players had catches:
A catch each was made by Ryder Bumgardner, Austin Jordan, Kole Welch, Laiden Huddleston and Ethan Longsdon.
Gavin Owens had seven receptions, five for Timmy Gibson, three each by Keagon Cowan, Luke Lindsay and Gabe St. John. Luc Ward, K.J. Chadwell and Jamal Wright had two catches each.
Hensley passed to Owens who, in turn, threw to Luc Ward on one play that was good for 30 yards.
Mddox Richardson had a 16 yard run while Cowan ran 34 yards on one carry.
Campbell Football 2023
Thu., Aug 17 AT Halls Red Devils – Rivalry Thursday
Fri., Aug. 25 Fulton Falcons HOME
Fri., Sep. 01 AT The Kings Academy Lions – 7:30pm kick-off
Fri., Sep. 08 Clinton Dragons# HOME
Fri., Sep. 15 AT Lenoir City Panthers#
Fri., Sep. 22 Daniel Boone Trailblazers HOMECOMING
Fri., Sep. 29 Gibbs Eagles HOME
Fri., Oct. 6 Karns Beavers# HOME – Senior Night
Fri. Oct. 13 OPEN DATE
Fri., Oct. 20 AT Morristown East Hurricanes
Thu., Oct. 26 AT Oak Ridge Wildcats#
ALL games kick-off at 7pm except The Kings Academy game, a 7:30pm kick-off
# – Region 3-AAAAA
Since 1975, WLAF and the Doyle’s Tire Shop Network will once again have all the coverage of Campbell Football. The voices and faces of WLAF’s broadcast team return for their 13th season. Les Martin and Brent Allen send you all the excitement over WLAF’s ten media outlets covering radio, television and social media. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/26/2023-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF DWANE WILDER-THE COURIER NEWS)