Bruce-Lasley rivalry, respect started and ended on Gibson Field

Jacksboro’s football stadium is named after former La Follette Owl Johnny Bruce

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Former Jacksboro High Eagle football player Ronnie Lasley still blames Johnny Bruce, a former La Follette Owl, for his bad knee. That long ago rivalry that began on a couple of football fields, Gibson at JHS and LHS’s Pat Kerr Field, since grew into a respectful relationship between Lasley and Bruce.

The culmination of that respect was last October when Lasley, a member of the Campbell County Board of Education, and fellow board member Jamie Wheeler came up with the idea to name the Jacksboro Middle School football stadium after Bruce.

Bruce, the former Owl, spent his coaching career at Jacksboro Middle School leading the Eagles to a string of winning seasons, including a handful of undefeated seasons, over nearly three decades.

“There was this leprechaun of a player that kept cutting my legs out from under me. I’d get back up, and he’d undercut me again,” said Lasley. He’s talking about how Bruce would be assigned to shadow him all game long when the Eagles and Owls would meet up in their annual rivalry game, usually the second or third game of the season.

One season, Lasley suffered a deep knee bruise and JHS Coach Paul Gearing called up to La Follette High asking Owl Coach Willard Mitchum if Lasley could use the Owls whirlpool. So on Lasley’s study hall hour, he’d go to the rival’s locker room for a treatment. “They sent Johnny over to help me, and our friendship grew from there,” said Lasley.

Bruce wore jersey 12 his first two seasons and switched to 24. He did that because his teammate Tony Schofield, his hero, graduated.

It was against Jellico when Bruce, a sophomore, scored his first touchdown. “I played safety, but Coach Young (Bill) put me in as running back. Johnny Vanover, a senior lineman, grabbed me by my face mask and said just stay behind me. I walked into the end zone,” said Bruce.

“This place means the world to me.  We’ve had good years here.  To me, every team was great.  So I was just tickled to death to be here. This community has done nothing but open their loving arms. We just love it,” said Bruce.

Coach Gearing hired Bruce. “He was one of a few who knew I was from La Follette and played for the Owls,” said Bruce.

At a loss for words, Bruce, emotional said, “It was a great honor.”  “I had great coaches and players.  I wasn’t a good coach, but I knew how to get good coaches.  It’s a family here.  “I can’t wait for Wesley, his son, and the family to get here and see it.  I’m honored.  I’m very honored,” said Bruce as Lasley was within earshot. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/22/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)