Temple lands a knockout blow

By David Uchiyama
Staff Writer, tfponline.com

Tennessee Temple knocked out the champ.

The Crusaders upset Class-1A defending champion Trousdale County 32-31 in a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Lookout Valley on Friday.

Temple quarterback Erik Larson hit Seth Skogen for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:07 remaining, then ran in the go-ahead two-point conversion.

"We were trying to get everybody's attention to the right and I rolled out that way," Larson said. "Everything was covered, so I went back left and saw an opening and took it."

The victory marked Temple's second playoff victory in school history. Trousdale County had won 60 playoff games and six state titles.

The season continues for the Crusaders (12-0) much longer than coach Kevin Skogen thought it would at the beginning of the season. They will play at Friendship Christian, which beat Gordonsville 20-19 on Friday.

"We wanted to improve. We thought we had the talent, so we thought we were poised to make some kind of statement," Coach Skogen said. "Then things started jelling for us and we saw we could do something special."

The Yellow Jackets (7-5) played as if they've been in the playoffs before during the early going. They forced two Larson interceptions and built a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

"I honestly didn't know what was going to happen," Seth Skogen said. "I had faith in the coaching staff and my teammates, and we worked it out."

Temple responded with Joey Skogen's 33-yard touchdown run and a 57-yard touchdown pass to Dee Newson to trail 17-12 at halftime.

Trousdale County bumped its lead to 24-12 on a 41-yard run by Blake Satterfield, who rotated with John Scruggs at quarterback and running back.

Satterfield finished the game with four rushing touchdowns and 258 yards on 28 carries. He entered the game with 19 carries on the season.

His final score capped a 93-yard drive -- with every inch coming on the ground -- with 1:44 left in the game to put the Yellow Jackets up 31-24.

"Our guys were tired at the end," Coach Skogen admitted. "I think they left us too much time. If they run a few more plays and kick a field goal, the game's over."

Temple took the ball at its 49 with a chance to win the game. Larson gained 22 yards on a scramble, threw incomplete, then hooked up with Skogen, who outjumped two defenders and dove for the goal line.

Then came the decision -- kick or go for two. Go for the win or for the tie. With the Crusaders missing two extra-point attempts earlier in the night, the decision was easy.

After two Trousdale timeouts, Temple stacked the right side of the formation looking to get the ball to Josh Skogen. He wasn't open.

So Larson ran and dove and scored. And knocked off the state champs.

E-mail David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com