Lenoir City comes from behind to defeat the Cougars 34-14

Cougar Caden Idles (12) makes one of his many plays on what was a career night for the Junior linebacker-running back. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDY ALOYSIUS)

You either have speed or you’re chasing it. Cougar Timmy Gibson ripped off a 77-kick-off return to set up Campbell’s first touchdown on Friday night. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDY ALOYSIUS)

By Clayton Carroll

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Friday night started off about as well as a Cougar fan could want. Saylor Hutcheson was crowned homecoming queen, and Lydia Smith, Kailyn Braden, Jessa Riggs, and Carley Kitts were apart of the Homecoming Court as freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior attendant.

As for the game itself, the Cougars played, according to sideline reporter Josh Parker, “their best half of football all year.”

The Cougar defense was like a stone wall, only allowing Lenoir City to score once in the first half. Luke Lindsay was flying around the second level of defense laying some big hits on the Panther ball carriers. Blake Albright and Austin Jordan also made some pivotal tackles, with Albright picking off a Panther pass. Jace Cloyd, Robert Kirby, and Noah Gaylor disrupted the Lenoir City backfield as well.

On the offensive side of the football, the Cougars moved the ball the best they had all year. Timmy Gibson lit the offensive fireworks with a 80 yard kickoff return. He then made a nice cut up field a couple plays later to stride into the end zone. Also, Luke Lindsay connected with Gavin Owens on a short pass play to increase the Cougar lead to 14-7.

There was lots to cheer about in the first half of Campbell’s game with Lenoir City on Friday night.

Unfortunately for the Orange-and-Blue, Rylan Sanders’ PAT would be the last points the Cougars would score.

Thanks to a couple Cougar turnovers, Lenoir City maintained possession of the football for the majority of the second half, and when Campbell did have the pigskin, it did not do much with it. The Panthers stormed back to defeat the Cougars by a score of 34-14.

Campbell falls to 1 and 4 on the season, no wins and two losses in 5A Region 3 play. Lenoir City on the the other hand advances to 3 and 2, and 1 and 0 in Region 3 5A play.

Up next for the Cougars is a trip to Johnson City. Campbell clashes with the Daniel Boone Trailblazers, a team which is searching for its first victory. Clayton Carroll, in for Les Martin, along with Brent Allen and Josh Parker bring you coverage over the Cougars Friday beginning at 6:30 over the WLAF Doyle’s Tire Sports Network which consists of radio AM 1450, FM 100.9, Alexa on your Amazon enabled devices and live televised coverage over WLAF-TV Channel 1089, 1450wlaf.com, Roku TV, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Fire TV, and Twitch. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/23/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDY ALOYSIUS)

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