Senators fall to Lenoir City
Turnovers and penalties plagued the Senators as Norris Middle School suffered a frustrating 20-8 at the hands of visiting Lenoir City Thursday evening.
The Senators opened with a drive that took the ball into Lenoir City territory but they turned it over on downs at the Panthers’ 42-yard line.
The Norris defense shut down the Lenoir City offense as Conrad Donlan sacked the quarterback to bring up fourth down and a punt.
Garrison Terry opened the second Norris possession with a 44-yard gain on a reverse to give the Senators a first down at the Lenoir City 24-yard line.
Three plays later, quarterback Tate Russell fired a 23-yard pass over an outstretched defender to an open Bryson Vowell, who scored untouched.
Russell then completed a pass to Anthony White for the two-point conversion and Norris led 8-0 with 9.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Panthers controlled the ball for much of the second quarter as they went on an 11-play drive from their own 36-yard line to the Norris 16 before they turned it over on downs.
With less than a minute remaining in the half, the Senators essentially ran out the clock and went into halftime with the 8-0 lead.
The Panthers wasted little time in the second half as they took possession on their own 45-yard line. Four plays and a personal foul penalty later, Lenoir City scored on a six-yard run.
The two-conversion run was good and the game was tied at 8-8 with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
The tie did not last long as Jordan Carroll intercepted a pass on the first play of the ensuing drive and returned it 43 yards for the score.
The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Panthers suddenly led 14-8 with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter.
Norris managed to pick up a first down on their next possession but had to punt it away from its own 39-yard line.
Lenoir City took over on its own 24-yard line and aided by two personal foul penalties and a strong running game, moved the ball down to the Norris one-yard line as the quarter ended.
A holding penalty moved the Panthers back to their own 17-yard line on second down. On fourth and goal from the Norris 12-yard line, the Senators were flagged for yet another personal foul.
The Norris defense held and forced Lenoir City to turn the ball over on downs at the Senators’ four-yard line.
The Norris offense picked up a first down on the running on White and Vowell as each had an eight-yard gain. The drive stalled and the Senators went for it on fourth and 11 from their own 16-yard line. The fourth down pass was intercepted and the Panthers took over at the Norris 25-yard line.
Eight plays and three personal foul penalties later, the Panthers scored on a three-yard run.
The two-point conversion failed and the Panthers led 20-8 with 45.2 seconds left in the game.
The Senators were driving late in the game when their third and final turnover — a fumble gave Lenoir City the ball at its own 31-yard line.
The Panthers took a knee and gave the Senators their second loss of the season.
After the game, a disappointed head coach Richie Noe remained optimistic about his team’s chances at the conference championship.
“There are several teams with two losses that still have to play each other so we should be standing around at the end,” he said.
Noe also said his team would learn from the loss.
“It’s a lot easier to teach after a loss than it is after a win. After a win, everybody thinks they’re perfect. After a loss, we have to look at ourselves and look inside and see what you’re made of — are you going to be a good citizen in class? Or are you going to go tomorrow and raise cane on your teacher? That’s what I want to see,” he said.
Unofficially, Norris was flagged nine time for 110 yards, including six personal foul/unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Lenoir City was penalized three times for 25 yards — two holding calls and one false start.
The Senators homecoming game with Norwood was scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 19.
They return to action on Oct. 3 when they visit Lake City.