Cyclones dominate in their second scrimmage against Trojans
Published 11:58 pm Monday, August 9, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone running back Cade Russell picks his way through the Morristown West defense for a nice pickup.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jake Roberts prepares to give a Morristown West defender a stiff forearm to break free for additional yardage.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Nate Stephens breaks through the front line of the Morristown West defense and looks for an open lane to run.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jeriah Griffin keeps his legs churning against the Morristown West defense as a helmetless Trojan gives chase as well.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone wide receiver Dalton Mitchell works to the outside aided by the block of Jeriah Griffin for a big gain after the catch.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Quarterback Bryson Rollins waits for the snap as the Cyclones have the ball first and goal.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone offensive line coach Jeff Pierce goes over some instructions with one of his players.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Cyclone offense gets a quick breather between plays in their scrimmage against Morristown West.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Nate Stephens drags a Morristown West defender for extra yardage.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone placekicker Sean Smithdeal prepares to boot the point-after following a Cyclone score.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone senior receiver Jake Roberts has his eyes locked on the football as he hauls in the reception for an Elizabethton score against Morristown West.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Senior quarterback Bryson Rollins hands the football off to running back Nate Stephens.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton freshman Jeriah Griffin breaks to the outside after a reception and takes the football to the endzone for a Cyclone score against Morristown West.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
The second scrimmage of the 2021 preseason schedule for the defending Class 4A State Champion Elizabethton Cyclones went much better from the offensive side of the football as by the time most of the starting team had come off the field, the Cyclones had racked up seven scores to only one for the visiting Morristown West Trojans.
A crisp offense
In their first scrimmage of the 2021 season, the Cyclones seemed to struggle on the offensive side of the football against the West Ridge Wolves however the same couldn’t be said about scrimmage two.
Senior quarterback Bryson Rollins settled in with his receivers and backs out of the backfield as Rollins connected with senior wideout Jake Roberts on two scoring tosses, lofted a beautifully placed ball into the waiting arms of Nate Stephens on another long score, and found freshman Jeriah Griffin coming out the backfield and Griffin did the rest scampering 65-yards to the end zone
Griffin also had a rushing score as did Stephens as the offensive front line of the Cyclones manned by Caden Draine, Josh Hayes, Sam Bowers, Owen Slagle, and Conner Johnson provided plenty of protection for Rollins to throw and gaping holes for the Cyclone running backs.
A bend but don’t break defense
The Cyclone defense continued to play solid as they got into the scoring act with the first team members recovering a fumble in the end zone, While the Trojans managed to move the football between the 30s, the Cyclone first-team defense rose to the occasion and allowed only one score in the series that they were in.
Elizabethton head coach Shawn Witten saw some good things from his big men up front led by Trenton Taylor, Drew Turner, Bradley Cannon, Caleb Johnson, and Mason Ball while linebacker Wesley Shankles was all over the place from his secondary position.
One more scrimmage to go
The Cyclones will have more scrimmage as Union, VA comes to Citizens Bank Stadium on Thursday at 6:30 pm. There had been a couple flip flops with this scrimmage from Thursday to Friday and back to Thursday now as Union had a conflict on Friday.
All fans are welcomed to come out for the scrimmages to get a first look at their Cyclones.
Getting real
11 days is the only thing separating the Cyclone and the Science Hill Hilltoppers from the kickoff of the 2021 regular season. The game has been moved to William B. Greene Stadium on the campus of East Tennessee State University due to work being done on Science Hill’s field.
It’s only fitting that a high-profile game such as this one is played on a big stage such as inside the Bucs stadium.
The slate doesn’t get any easier as the next three games are at home against Rhea County, Greeneville, and Daniel Boone.
