Cyclones fall to Bears in JV play
Published 12:20 pm Tuesday, October 25, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
EHS receiver Zach Wallin makes a spectacular one-handed reception against the Bear defender to keep the drive moving for the Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone JV quarterback Justin Whitehead prepares to zip a pass downfield toward an open receiver.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone offensive lineman Kyron Smalls loses his helmet but continues playing against his Union opponent.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone placekicker Cole Kemp puts a charge into his kickoff after a Cyclone score.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cyclone running back J Bird Wallin prepares to deliver a forearm to a Union defender on his way to a good piece of yardage.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
EHS running back Justius Wallin looks to turn the football around the end of the Bear defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Elizabethton Cyclone JV Cheerleaders do a great job of entertaining the crowd during halftime of Monday's game.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Placekicker Colin Nidiffer watches the game clock in the event he is needed to attempt a game-tying field goal late in Monday's game.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jaiden 'J Bird' Wallin picks up a chunk of yards in the first quarter of action from EHS JV football Monday against the Bears of Union, VA.
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton Cyclone Junior Varsity was looking to close out their 2022 season on a positive note as they played host to the Union, VA Bears Monday evening at Citizens Bank Stadium.
In a low-scoring contest, the Bears managed to put up one last stand with under 50 seconds to play to take home a hard-fought 16-13 victory over the Cyclones.
Elizabethton took the first lead of the contest in the first quarter when freshman running back Jaiden ‘J Bird’ Wallin bulled his way over the goal line from five yards out. Colin Nidiffer blasted the point-after attempt and the Cyclones led 7-0 with 1:04 to play in the first quarter.
After a back and forth defensive effort by both teams in the second quarter, the Bears finally managed to crack the egg on their side of the scoreboard with 23 seconds remaining in the first half.
Running multiple jet sweeps and counters, the Bears turned to quarterback Braxton Collins who connected with Devaughn Mitchell on a 30-yard scoring toss. Union went for the two-point conversion and made it count to take an 8-7 lead to the locker room at the half.
Each team had opportunities to score in the third quarter and the first part of the fourth quarter but the defensive effort once again was stellar on both sides of the football as each team managed to force their opponent into turnovers on potential scoring drives.
Still leading 8-7 with 3:06 left to play, the Bears appeared to set up for a punt on their own 15-yard line. However, on the snap, Paul Huff tucked the football and took off on a dead sprint and outran the Cyclone defense 85 yards for a score.
Once again, the two-point conversion was good and the Bears were feeling pretty good about their 16-7 lead.
Elizabethton wasn’t ready to lay down, however, and quickly took the ensuing kickoff and marched down the field to score on a J Bird Wallin two-yard run to narrow the lead to 16-13 on the failed two-point conversion.
The Cyclones went back to work quickly defensively using some key stops and their timeouts to force the Bears to go for first down on a fourth and three situation. Union attempted to throw for the first down and wasn’t successful giving the Cyclones the football with less than 45 seconds remaining in the contest.
Unfortunately for the Cyclones, they were unable to cash in on the drive and fell 16-13 to the Bears closing out a solid junior varsity campaign.
