Cyclones defeat conference foe East for Homecoming victory
Published 12:28 am Friday, September 30, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Nate Stephens picks his way around the Sullivan East defense for a large chunk of yardage in Thursday's Homecoming 2022 victory.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone punt returner Jeriah Griffin found a huge opening down the Cyclone sideline on a punt return against Sullivan East.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone wide receiver Teddy Orton spins off an East defender and takes the football down to the two-yard line for Elizabethton after a reception.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone junior quarterback Gib Maupin looks downfield for an open receiver.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Senior running back Cade Russell breaks for the end zone with plenty of blockers to assist.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton Cyclones were looking to bring a lot of energy early to build a big lead to avoid any letdown for the culmination of Homecoming Week 2022 when they hosted the Sullivan East Patriots at Citizens Bank Stadium.
Running out to a 49-14 halftime lead, the Cyclones never looked back in taking a 55-27 win.
The Cyclones went straight to work in the first quarter as quarterback Dalton Mitchell connected for a pair of touchdowns hitting Cade Russell on a 15-yard scoring toss and Jeriah Griffin for a 25-yard strike. Caleb Campbell completed the point-after attempts on both and Elizabethton led 14-0 at the end of one quarter of play.
Elizabethton kept the pressure on in the second quarter as senior running back Nate Stephens added a pair of one-yard runs to extend the lead to 28-0. Russell picked up his second score as he went around the end on a three-yard run to push the lead to 35-0 with 5:51 remaining in the first half.
East finally made a dent on their side of the scoreboard when Masun Tate caught a four-yard scoring pass from quarterback Drake Fisher and Corbin Laisure reeled in a pick-six interception on a Gib Maupin pass. Matt Geisinger converted both PAT’s and the scoreboard read 35-14 with 1:22 to play before the half.
The Cyclones were finished in the half as senior wide receiver Teddy Orton caught a 69-yard bomb from Gib Maupin and then played receiver on defense as he stepped in front of a Fisher pass and took it 24 yards for a pick-six to make it 49-14 after Campbell booted the PAT.
The teams went to the locker room with the same 49-14 score on the board.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Patriots picked up two more scores in the fourth quarter when Kaden Roberts scored on a two-yard scamper and Tyler Cross caught an eight-yard pass from Fisher. Geisinger was true and the score was 49-27 Cyclones.
Elizabethton picked up their last score when Jaiden “J Bird” Wallin rumbled in from three yards out. The kick failed and the game had its final score of 55-27.
The Cyclones had 440 yards of total offense (217 rush, 223 pass) to 270 for East (166 rush, 104 pass). Stephens led the Cyclones on the ground with 14 carries for 119 yards and two scores while Wallin toted the ball nine times for 74 yards.
Mitchell completed 9-of-13 passes for 116 yards and two scores while Maupin finished by hitting 5-of-9 passes for 107 yards and a score.
Orton was the leading receiver as the senior wideout caught three passes for 106 yards and the score.
The Cyclones were flagged 17 times for 125 yards.
Elizabethton (2-4) takes a long road trip to Rhea County next Friday night for a non-conference showdown.
