Cyclone JV stops last-minute drive in thriller over Wolves
Published 10:58 am Friday, October 14, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Cyclone defense stops a West Ridge running back at the Cyclone 15-yard line.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone receiver Justin Wallin is focused as the ball comes closer. Walling hauled in the reception from quarterback Justin Whitehead.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton defensive lineman Andrew Vance drags down a West Ridge running back in the backfield for a loss.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jaiden (J Bird) Wallin picks up some tough yards against the Wolves defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Justis Wallin barrels into the end zone for a Cyclone score.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Cyclone defense bottles up a West Ridge runner for no gain.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Cyclone JV cheer team made the trip to Kingsport to cheer on their Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone quarterback Justin Whitehead picks up a block on his way to a nice gain.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone receiver Alex Riddle battles a Wolves defender for a reception. The defender managed to knock the football out of Riddle's hands at the last minute.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
J Bird Wallin carries the football for a short gain in Thursday's game at West Ridge.
STAR CORRESPONDENT
KINGSPORT – The Elizabethton Cyclone junior varsity team traveled to Kingsport Thursday looking to add another win to their column for the 2022 season but knew the West Ridge Wolves weren’t going to be a pushover.
In a game that took every last second of the clock to determine the winner, the Cyclones managed to have the football in their hands in the final seconds and ran out the clock to take a hard-fought 20-14 victory.
The Cyclones got on the scoreboard first in the opening quarter when quarterback Justin Whitehead called his own number and took the football into the end zone. The point-after attempt was no good and the Cyclones led 6-0.
West Ridge responded just before the end of the quarter as Ethan Amyx took the ball across the goal line from the 11-yard line to pull the game even at 6-6 after the Wolves PAT was blocked.
Elizabethton took the lead just before the half as the Cyclones turned to Justius Wallin and he took care of business by plowing his way into the end zone from four yards out.
Jaiden (J Bird) Wallin bullied his way across the goal line for the two-point conversion and the Cyclones led 14-6 at the break.
An interception by Justin Wallin set the Cyclones up in good position in the third quarter as the Cyclones capitalized on the turnover as Whitehead connected with Justius Wallin on a 10-yard scoring pass with 5:50 showing on the third quarter clock.
Colin Nidiffer’s point-after was blocked and the Cyclones led 20-6.
West Ridge needed a response and got a big one as Kas Click rumbled into pay dirt from the three-yard line and the two-point conversion was completed to make it a 20-14 Cyclone advantage.
After the Wolves held the Cyclones out of the end zone on a fourth down play from the West Ridge 15-yard line, the Wolves embarked on a long drive that was picking up momentum when Justin Wallin nabbed his second pick of the game on a Wolves fourth and long with 53 seconds remaining in the contest.
The Cyclones went into victory formation and after the Wolves utilized their timeouts to stop the clock, Whitehead took the snap on fourth down and managed to run out the final four seconds of the game to seal the win.
Alex Riddle also added an interception in the contest for the Cyclones.
