It was an evening of big defensive plays as the Jr. Cyclones fended off a late game push to top the Greeneville Jr. Greene Devils Tuesday at Brown Childress Stadium.
With roughly a minute left to play and the Jr. Cyclones holding a tiny 14-12 lead, Greeneville was set up on the T.A. Dugger 1-yard line and threating to take the lead. TAD’s Cade Russell, however, had other plans as he scooped up a Greene Devils’ fumble and took it to the house from 94-yards out to bring the Jr. Cyclones faithful alive. T.A. Dugger QB Dalton Mitchell connected with Dante Earnest for the 2-point conversion, giving TAD a 22-12 lead.
Greeneville marched down the field and scored on their final drive as QB Jaden Stevenson crossed the goal line as time ran out making the final tally, 22-18, TAD.
“It is huge,” said Jr. Cyclone head coach Johnny Burleson about defeating Greeneville. “It is always one of the top programs on our schedule. They are very well coached, and it is just huge to get a win against a quality team like that.”
The Jr. Cyclones say two crucial interceptions during their big win. TAD’s Jake Roberts picked off a Stevenson pass in the end zone to end a late first-half drive. In the third, with Greenville deep in Cyclones’ territory once again, Elizabethton’s Bryson Rollins pulled down a head-turning, one-handed interception.
During Tuesday’s game, the Jr. Greene Devils struck first as Greeneville’s Mason Gudger rushed in a 70-yard touchdown on the second play of the game and with the 2-point conversion failing, G-Ville led 6-0.
The Cyclones were able to answer on the following drive as Russell ran a 10-yard TD. The game was tied at 6-6 after the failed 2-point conversion.
In the second quarter, with 5:44 left, Gudger scored again on a long 47-yard run. Again Greenville came up short on the 2-point conversion and led 12-6.
In the second quarter, after a lengthy drive that saw many touches by Rollins, Rollins pushed in a 1-yard run before Mitchell found Russell for the 2-point conversion which gave T.A. Dugger a 14-12 edge heading into the half.
The Cyclones are now 2-1 on the season.