Cyclones can’t finish comeback, fall to Indians 28-21
Published 12:22 pm Monday, October 7, 2024
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Rhett Slagle is flushed out of the pocket but completes the pass.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent A couple of Cyclones take down the DB tailback in third-quarter action.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Betsy Band provided halftime entertainment.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Kyron Smalls does not let Indians quarterback Austin Sykes escape, as he picks up the sack.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Head Coach Shawn Witten yells out instructions to his defense.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Rhett Slagle picks up a first down to continue the drive in the third quarter.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Cyclones kicker Caleb Campbell delivers another touchback.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Cyclones defense swarms the runner in fourth-quarter play.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Tucker Taylor tracks the ball and gets the interception for the Cyclones.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Cyclones student section was loud and proud Friday night.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Cyclones runner dives forward with a DB defender on his back for good yardage.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Trailing 14-0, the Cyclones showed great toughness and heart, battling back to tie the game twice. However, the Indians scored the decisive touchdown in the final seconds to secure a 28-21 win. The Cyclones hosted Dobyns-Bennett at Kermit Tipton Stadium in Johnson City on Friday night, as the facilities at Elizabethton High School are still being used by emergency management teams after last week’s floods.
The Indians jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half as quarterback Austin Sykes scored two rushing touchdowns. Elizabethton struggled to get its offense going, managing just 41 yards in the first half. Head Coach Shawn Witten and his staff made adjustments during halftime, and the Cyclones began to move the ball more effectively in the second half. “We just had a difficult time executing. We felt lucky we were just down 14. We have to come out ready to play,” Witten said.
The Cyclones gained momentum after Kyron Smalls sacked Sykes, forcing a turnover on downs. Rhett Slagle completed a couple of passes to Zack Wallin, and J-Bird Wallin broke off a strong run before Landry Buckles scored from seven yards out, putting the Cyclones on the scoreboard. After forcing a Dobyns-Bennett punt, the Cyclones took over at the 3:17 mark of the third quarter. Wallin converted a key fourth-and-3 to keep the drive alive, and Slagle connected with Justin Whitehead for a 44-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 14-14.
The Indians responded as Sykes hit Rome Pruitt for an 18-yard touchdown on a seam route, putting them up 21-14. The Cyclones fought back once more, with J-Bird Wallin rumbling in from three yards out with 1:58 left in the game, following an interception by Tucker Taylor. The Indians took possession with 1:55 remaining. After a short pass, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a dead-ball foul moved the ball to the Cyclones’ 38-yard line with 1:38 left. Sykes then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Pruitt with just 40 seconds remaining, sealing the 28-21 victory.
The Cyclones fell to 4-2 on the season and will travel to Northview Academy (4-3) next week. Northview recently earned a significant win over a strong Carter team. “They are active and make you cover the whole field; they have a very athletic quarterback, Mason Phillips. This won’t be an easy game, especially after a tough game like this. It has the markings of a trap game. We expect their best effort, and we can’t start slow again,” Coach Witten said. This is a regional game and could play a key role in determining the hierarchy in Region 1-4A. The kickoff time has yet to be announced.
