Floated away… Cyclones, rain send Cherokee up the creek without a paddle
Published 12:53 am Saturday, September 28, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone quarterback Bryson Rollins appears to be grabbed around the throat by Cherokee defensive lineman Caleb Haun. Rollins had to change to jersey #14 after having his #10 ripped from him on a previous play.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Cyclone defense overwhelmed the undefeated Cherokee Chiefs resulting in a big win. Carson Streseman (8) and Joseph Kechter (55) are all over the Chiefs quarterback for a sack.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders EHS senior running back Cade Maupin breaks around the corner for a big gain in the Cyclones blowout win over previously unbeaten Cherokee.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
The game was billed as a major battle between two unbeaten teams – one in Class 4-A and one in Class 5-A.
In the end, the Elizabethton Cyclones along with the help of a torrential downpour loaded the Cherokee Chiefs up in a canoe and sent them floating away with their first loss of the season in a 45-0 hammering of their visitors from Rogersville.
It was the Bryson Rollins show as the sophomore quarterback was slicing and dicing his way through the Cherokee defense swifter than a Ginsu knife cutting a big ripe tomato.
Rollins scored on two runs of one yard each in the first half and added a four-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter. While not doing the job with his legs, he was utilizing his throwing arm as he found Parker Hughes on an 18-yard pass to open the scoring in the first quarter.
Cameron Trimm had a great game to close out his last homecoming inside Citizens Bank Stadium as he broke free for a 68-yard scoring romp in the fourth quarter.
The Cyclone defense got in on the scoring act as well as defensive back Zach C. Hartley took a 35-yard pick-six to the house. It was Hartley’s second interception of the contest.
Jaxton Holly had a memorable senior Homecoming hitting all six point-after attempts and drilling a 29-yard field goal in a rain that looked like it was being poured out of buckets mixed with a swirling wind.
All eyes were on Cherokee quarterback Collin Trent who came into the game with some unbelievable numbers but the Cyclone defense was razor-sharp keeping the Chiefs frustrated and resulting in Trent leaving the field with under five minutes left in the first half and not returning to the field in the second half.
With Trent out of commission, the Cherokee offense couldn’t seem to gain any footing in the second half and as a result, was shut out.
Offensively, the Cyclone numbers were off the charts with a total of 433 yards of total offense. Rollins was 7-of-15 for 103 yards through the air and the backfield lugged the ball 47 times to the tune of 330 yards rushing.
Elizabethton totaled 24 first downs in the contest. Rollins accounted for a lot of those by toting the pigskin 23 times for 146 yards while Cade Maupin had a quite 18 carries for 122 yards as he ripped the Cherokee defense on the inside and outside.
Trimm finished with 4 carries for 84 yards. Hughes reeled in four catches for 60 yards while Hartley accounted for three catches covering 43 yards.
Cherokee left Elizabethton with a 5-1 overall mark while the Cyclones now stand at 5-0 on the season with two trips to the Knoxville area over the next two weeks visiting non-conference and 6-A school William Blount next week followed by a trip to Union County the following week.
