Cyclones roar past Volunteer setting up showdown with Greeneville
Published 12:55 pm Monday, October 21, 2024
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone running back J-Bird Wallin flicks a Volunteer defender off like a gnat as he powers his way toward the goal line.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Elizabethton defensive lineman Landon Hughes grabs a Falcon running back by the jersey, leaving him nowhere to go as Hughes brings him down.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone quarterback Rhett Slagle fires a strike to a teammate during Friday’s game.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone wide receiver Zach Wallin picks up a big gain.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Defensive end Kyron Smalls wraps up the Volunteer quarterback for a big loss.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent J-Bird Wallin bulls his way into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Elizabethton running back Justius Wallin cuts sharply on a big run for the Cyclones.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone wide receiver Justin Whitehead gives his all trying to haul in a potential touchdown. The ball was knocked loose by a Volunteer defender.
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Star Correspondent
CHURCH HILL — The Elizabethton Cyclones knew they had to take care of business on Friday night in Church Hill, as they needed to defeat the Volunteer Falcons to have a shot at the Region 1-4A title against Greeneville in two weeks.
Mission accomplished, as the Cyclones controlled the game from the opening kickoff to the final horn, blowing past the homestanding Falcons 42-0 to remain unbeaten in Region 1-4A play.
Elizabethton wasted little time hitting the scoreboard. With 8:20 showing in the first quarter, quarterback Rhett Slagle found Justius Wallin on a 24-yard strike to give the Cyclones a 7-0 lead following Will Bowers’ point-after kick.
The Cyclones added to their lead with just 39.8 seconds left in the opening quarter when Jaiden “J-Bird” Wallin powered over the goal line from four yards out to make it 14-0 on Bowers’ kick.
Leading 14-0, the Cyclones continued to attack the Falcons’ secondary as Slagle connected with Bryson Rowland on a 20-yard pass for a touchdown. Bowers stayed true, and the scoreboard read 21-0 with 7:27 left before the half.
J-Bird Wallin added his second score of the night with 2:27 remaining in the quarter, bowling over a host of Falcons on his way to a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Bowers’ kick was good, and the Cyclones were cruising with a 28-0 lead.
Volunteer tried to get on the scoreboard before halftime but found the Cyclone defense impenetrable. Rowland stepped in front of a Falcon pass and raced 44 yards down the sideline for a defensive touchdown, making it 35-0 with 1:46 left before halftime following Bowers’ PAT.
The Cyclones tacked on one final score with 5:15 to play in the game as Slagle found Kyron Smalls on a four-yard touchdown pass to give the game its final margin of victory after Bowers connected on his sixth PAT of the night.
Elizabethton racked up 337 total yards, while Volunteer managed just 111.
Slagle, coming off a monster game at Northview Academy, had another solid night, completing 13 of 20 pass attempts for 170 yards and three touchdowns. The Cyclones rushed for 167 yards on 17 attempts, led by J-Bird Wallin, who had eight carries for 73 yards and two scores. Landry Buckles chipped in with two carries for 40 yards, and Slagle had two carries for 23 yards.
Zach Wallin caught four passes from Slagle for 52 yards, while Justin Whitehead hauled in two receptions for 36 yards.
Defensively, the Cyclones recorded two interceptions by Rowland and Zach Wallin. J-Bird Wallin and Justius Wallin combined for a half-sack each on the Volunteer quarterback.
The Cyclones will enjoy a bye week as they prepare for their biggest game of the season, traveling to face the Greene Devils on Nov. 1 at Burley Stadium in Greeneville. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
