Cyclones thump conference foe Volunteer
Published 12:16 am Saturday, October 15, 2022
1 of 8
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone defensive end Ben Adams wraps up Volunteer quarterback Isaiah Bowery for a sack.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton senior quarterback Dalton Mitchell prepares to send a pass downfield.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone senior running back Cade Russell breaks free on a 44-yard run.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton linebacker jumps on the back of Falcon quarterback Isaiah Bowery for a sack.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Stormie and Tuffy don their pink for Friday night's Pink Out and send their love to cancer survivors and those who are currently battling the disease.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone senior running back Nate Stephens throws a stiff arm at Volunteer defender Colby Lawson.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton defensive back Caleb Holzer throws Falcon running back Caden Lafollette for a loss in the Volunteer backfield.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Luke Whaley takes the football toward the goal line after hauling in a reception from Gib Maupin.
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton Cyclones continued their march toward the postseason on Friday night by hosting Region 1 4-A opponent Volunteer on Pink Out night at Citizens Bank Stadium to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer.
After a fumble on the opening kickoff by the Cyclones, Elizabethton pinned their ears back and built a 45-0 lead at the half and then went on to handily defeat the Falcons 59-6 to run their record to 4-4 on the season.
The Cyclones quickly got the football back after the fumble on the opening kickoff and wasted little time in scoring as Nate Stephens continued his good work at the running back slot when he took the ball on a 49-yard scamper into the end zone to give the Cyclones an early 7-0 lead on Caleb Campbell’s point-after kick at 8:31 in the first quarter.
Campbell tacked on a 30-yard field goal six minutes later to push the Cyclone lead to 10-0 still in the first quarter of play.
The Cyclones weren’t done in the opening quarter as Stephens added his second score of the night on a one-yard run to make it 17-0 on Campbell’s PAT with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, senior placekicker Mason Williams executed a perfect onside kick as Williams made the recovery as well to set the Cyclones back up in business at the Falcon 47-yard line.
Senior running back Nate Stephens took the ball down to the three on the first snap from scrimmage for a 44-yard pickup and then finished off the drive with a three-yard plunge into the end zone to give the Cyclones a 24-0 lead with seven seconds remaining in the first quarter.
After quickly getting the ball back at the start of the second quarter, the Cyclones once again looked to Russell who completed the drive on a nine-yard run with 9:48 remaining before the half. Campbell’s kick was good and the Cyclones were rolling, 31-0.
Stephens recorded his third score of the night with 4:41 showing on the second quarter clock as the senior back carried the ball over from three yards out. The score was set up on a perfectly placed pass from senior quarterback Dalton Mitchell to sophomore Jeriah Griffin covering 37 yards prior to the score. Campbell’s kick made it 38-0.
The Cyclones weren’t finished in the half as Stephens picked up his fourth rushing touchdown of the opening half with 24 seconds remaining on a 13-yard gallop to pay dirt. Campbell’s boot was perfect and the score at the break was 45-0.
Elizabethton came out of the locker room and added to their side of the scoreboard in the third quarter as senior defensive lineman Bradley Cannon was inserted into the backfield as a running back and on his second touch, Cannon found the end zone from five yards away. Crowd favorite Colin Nidiffer was sent in for the PAT and Nidiffer didn’t disappoint as he sent the football through the uprights for a 52-0 advantage.
The Falcons got their only score of the contest with 8:51 left in the game when Austin Bates found the end zone on a five-yard scamper. The PAT was blocked and the scoreboard read 52-6.
Cyclone head coach Shawn Witten showcased Luke Whaley on the Cyclones ensuing drive as Whaley hauled in a big reception from Gib Maupin to take the ball to the three-yard line. Whaley then went to the running back position where he would cover the remaining distance to the end zone for the score.
Cole Kemp was the third Cyclone placekicker to record a point-after after the score to make it a 59-6 ball game.
The crowd was treated to one more special play when Big Jaevin Morefield brought the crowd to their feet on a tackle as the final minutes ticked off the clock.
Ben Adams and Kaleb Holzer had a big night defensively for the Cyclones as both players recorded sacks on Volunteer quarterback Isaiah Bowery. Eli Williams also recorded a sack.
Elizabethton will be off next Friday before finishing up the regular season against Seymour in two weeks on Senior Night at home.
