Betsy cruises past the Patriots
Published 1:03 pm Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent J-Bird Wallin rumbles into the end zone for his second score of the contest.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Junior Zack Wallin looks to break a tackle and pick up additional yards.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Caleb Campbell kicks it through the uprights to make it 22-0.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Zack Wallin high points the ball for an interception in the second quarter.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Cyclones cheerleaders are all smiles as the Cyclones lead big on the scoreboard.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Jaiden Wallin breaks the goal line to extend the Cyclones' advantage.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Reiley Jones looks to pick up big yards after the reception.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Kyler McGovern and Landry Buckles combine for a tackle and forced fumble on the Patriots wide receiver.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
For a couple of hours Monday night, the Cyclones gave the community of Elizabethton a brief respite from the challenges the area is currently facing. The Cyclones traveled to Sullivan East for a “home” game, and they looked right at home, cruising past the Patriots with a 43-6 victory. In a joint effort, admissions and donations from the game were used for disaster relief as the town and county begin to recover from last week’s storms.
The Cyclones jumped out early and often, benefiting from a 51-yard kickoff return by Justius Wallin. A Rhett Slagle pass to Justin Whitehead then put them inside the 10-yard line. Slagle capped the drive with a dive behind left guard for the early score, making it 8-0 after Kyron Small’s two-point conversion. After a turnover on downs and a shanked Sullivan East punt, the Cyclones went right back to work. Wallin sprinted down the sideline for a 12-yard score, pushing the score to 15-0 after William Bowers’ extra point. Once again, the Cyclones forced a turnover on downs and took over at the East 37-yard line. Slagle kept the offense in rhythm, connecting on a couple of passes, including a 24-yard strike to Jack Blevins before rumbling into the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown. The first quarter barrage wasn’t over as J-Bird Wallin added two more short touchdown runs, often dragging East tacklers along, pushing the lead to 29-0 as the first quarter ended.
In the second quarter, CJ Mathes broke free for a 42-yard run and then finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown to make it 36-0. Sullivan East finally got into Elizabethton territory, but when the Patriots seemed poised to threaten, the Cyclones turned up the defensive pressure. Back-to-back intentional grounding calls forced the Patriots into an improbable 3rd and 51. The drive ended along with the half, with the Cyclones dominating as both teams headed into the break.
With a continuous clock in the second half, the game moved quickly. Wallin added another score on a 16-yard run to push the lead to 43-0 with 7:54 left in the third quarter. Sullivan East got on the board with 6:29 left in the final quarter when Elijah Briggs scored on a 12-yard run. After a turnover on downs, the Patriots had one final chance, but the game ended with a Cooper Adkins sack.
After the game, Cyclones Head Coach Shawn Witten expressed his gratitude to the coaching staff and administration at Sullivan East for making the game possible. “Great hospitality by Sullivan East tonight, especially after the game was rescheduled twice. I’m thankful to all those guys for allowing us to continue our season. I also appreciate everyone coming out tonight to show support. It’s tough—we have a lot on our minds—but to get a break tonight was good. It’s really good of Sullivan East to give back and donate admission tonight free of charge. I’m proud of both teams,” Witten shared.
The Cyclones are scheduled to play Dobyns-Bennett this week. More information on the time and location will be shared at a later date.
