Loudon football blocks last-second field goal attempt, beats Lenoir City in emotional rivalry

LENOIR CITY — Before tears were shed by both the winners and losers in the 98th “Battle of the Bridge,” the tension in Lenoir City’s football stadium was palpable.

With 2:02 left in the fourth quarter and down by a point, the Panthers marched from their own 5-yard line to Loudon’s 9-yard line.

Loudon stopped the 26-yard field goal attempt with 2.9 seconds left and escaped with a 7-6 win.

“I was hands on the ground praying,” Loudon quarterback Bronson Scrivner said of the last play. “I didn’t even watch it, but I heard the crowd.”

Scrivner's ear heard the Loudon fans explode in cheers. He also felt the tears of joy trickle down his face as his special teams unit swarmed the kicker to block his attempt.

Loudon (2-0) now leads the all-time series 55-42-1, including the past six games.

“It means everything,” Loudon coach Jeff Harig said as he watched his players' euphoria. “This is why we do this. This is as good as it gets for these guys . . . They deserve it.”

Scrivner had 15 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown, the only one in the game. He also had 31 passing yards and an interception. Loudon junior running back Levi Russell had 17 carries for 96 yards.

Lenoir City junior kicker Riley Pickett completed 2-of-3 field goals, from 43 and 33 yards.

The Loudon defense was the biggest standout from the game, allowing just 147 total yards. Harig was beyond pleased, both for his team and as a father.

“I would be lying if I didn’t tell you how proud I was as a dad,” Harig said. “My son was our defensive coordinator tonight and he brought this win home.”

Before his son, Keaton, was the defensive coordinator, he was a multiyear starting quarterback for Loudon. In his senior season in 2021, he was a Class 3A Mr. Football finalist.

Grit through failed opportunities

Loudon trailed 6-0 after the first half and had several chances to progress down the field but faltered due to drop passes. It had three fourth downs that it went for in the red zone, including a run play on the 1-yard line. All three chances were stopped by Lenoir City (1-1).

“We had opportunities,” Jeff Harig said. “We just felt like if we kept sticking in there persevering, that eventually we’d break through.”

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That break finally came as Loudon was on the goal line once again, and Scrivner shoved through the Lenoir City defensive line for the touchdown with 6:50 remaining in the game.

“I never had a doubt that we would lose,” Scrivner said.

Harig described the emotional and psychological weight of the rivalry contest as a “season to itself.”

“Now we’ll regroup and it’s always better to regroup from a win,” Harig said. “I feel bad for (Lenoir City) because I know how it feels over there. But now we’ll put this thing back together and go play for a region championship, we hope.”

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Loudon football blocks last-second field goal attempt, beats Lenoir City in emotional rivalry