‘Toppers down Cyclones in junior varsity football action
Published 5:21 pm Tuesday, August 25, 2020
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Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Jack Farris made an acrobatic move and almost came down with a pass to the endzone Monday night against Science Hill.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Cyclones JV quarterback Dalton Mitchell runs outside on a QB keeper.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Cam Baker returns a kick for the Cyclones Monday night at home against the Hilltoppers.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Teddy Orton is tackled on a decent gain for the Cyclones JV Monday night against Science Hill.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Teddy Orton tries to haul one in over the middle in a desperation attempt at some big yards late in the game.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
The Elizabethton Cyclones JV squad faced off against Science Hill at home Monday night.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Mason Ball makes a great tackle for a loss Monday night against the Hilltoppers.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Running back Hayden Nave looks for a lane after a hand off Monday night against Science Hill.
BY NIC MILLER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
After the Cyclones varsity squad’s big victory over their long time rival Hilltoppers this past Friday night, it was time for Elizabethton’s Junior Varsity team to get a chance Monday evening at Citizens Bank Stadium.
The Hilltoppers were granted the ball first, but after a big defensive drive highlighted by a Mason Ball QB sack, It was the home team’s chance to drive down the field.
During the Cyclones Inaugural drive, quarterback Dalton Mitchell led the offense down the field finding his receiving corp time and time again. However, Elizabethton was halted on the edge of the red zone and eventually turned the ball over on a failed fourth and short conversion.
After getting the ball once again, it didn’t take long for the Hilltoppers to give it up as a fumble resulted in a turnover and a new possession for the Cyclones.
It was a back and forth contest for the remainder of the quarter and after one, the two rivals were stuck in a stalemate, knotted at zero.
The Hilltoppers started the second quarter on offense, and it seemed like they would take the lead until they were yet again halted by a fumble, giving the Cyclones possession once again at midfield.
But neither the Toppers nor the Cyclones would budge, as it was another scoreless quarter for both teams. The teams finished the first half just as they had started it, both stuck at zero.
After the intermission, both teams knew that they needed to do something quickly to give them an edge against the other.
The Cyclones took the ball to start the half, and after a promising start to the drive, penalties would drive Elizabethton backward forcing them to give up the ball once again.
On the first play from scrimmage for the Toppers in the second half, Jovanni Williams would explode past the line of scrimmage taking the ball down to the one-yard line and punching it in for the score on the next play.
With the missed extra point attempt, the Hilltoppers would go up 6-0 on the Cyclones halfway through the third quarter.
But on the ensuing drive, Elizabethton wouldn’t go down quickly as Mitchell found Josh Sweeney for a gain of thirty-six to put the Cyclones on the cusp of the red zone. But soon after, the Cyclones would once again turn the ball over on four downs, giving the Toppers possession once again.
Late in the fourth quarter, just as the Cyclones were looking to even the score, a fumble by Mitchell was recovered by a ‘Topper defensive lineman, Jordan Faulkner-Kidd and taken eighty-eight yards for another Science Hill score, making the score 13-0 in favor of the road team with little time to go.
After an interception on the Cyclones following drive, the Toppers would add yet another late score as Richard Gerald would carry the ball from seventeen yards out to give the visitors a 20-0 lead on the Cyclones.
Not much else would take place before the final buzzer as the Science Hill Hilltoppers would defeat the Elizabethton Cyclones by a score of 20-0.
