No more streak… Elizabethton falls at the hands of Greeneville to lose its first game since 2018
Published 11:33 pm Friday, September 3, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Elizabethton Cyclones take the field prior to the start of Friday's game against Greeneville.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Captains for the Cyclones during the games coin flip walk to the center of the field. Captains were (L-R) Conner Johnson (66), Owen Slagle (60), Caleb Johnson (44), and TJ Little (14).
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jaden Stevenson of Greeneville shakes off the block of EHS receiver Jake Roberts to corner Cyclone quarterback Bryson Rollins.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone quarterback Bryson Rollins (10) follows his blockers to pick up enough for an EHS first down.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone running back Nate Stephens looks to make a move on a Greeneville defender after a pass reception.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Cyclone defense wraps up elusive running back Mason Gudger for no gain.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone senior quarterback Bryson Rollins steps out of bounds on the play but is hit by the Greeneville defender for an extra 15-yard personal foul penalty.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's student body were out in full force in support of their Cyclone football team.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone quarterback Bryson Rollins stretches the football across the goal line for a third quarter score for Elizabethton.
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BY NIC MILLER
STAR STAFF
nic.miller@elizabethton.com
The Elizabethton Cyclones and the Greeneville Greene Devils… an inter-conference matchup that has turned into a storied rivalry in the area, with the winner of each regular-season contest between the two going on to claim the TSSAA 4A state championship for the past four years, consecutively.
With that being said, the battle was on once again as the two powerhouse schools met in Elizabethton on Friday night to rekindle the flames of rivalry.
The Cyclones started the contest with the pigskin, but it was nothing doing as a quick three and out gave Greeneville a chance to capitalize and come away with the first score.
And capitalize they did, as the Greene Devils were able to hop on the board first thanks to excellent field position, eventually coming away with the score on a two-yard score by running back Mason Gudger. Cooper Graham would add one more for the visitors, making it 7-0 Greeneville midway through the first.
But the Cyclones would not be left out of the scoring party for long, as a slow methodical drive consisting of 19 plays, 70 yards, and eight minutes off of the game clock.
The final strike came when quarterback Bryson Rollins showed his agility by juking a defender and scampering across the goal line from eight yards out.
The extra point attempt by Sean Smithdeal would be blocked by the defense, leaving the advantage with Greeneville, 7-6 at the start of the second stanza.
With a break in the action, the next score would come from the Greene Devils when a drive that seemed to have stalled out took flight.
On third and five from the 18-yard line, quarterback Brady Quillen would find Jakobi Gillespie who would make his way 82 yards for the score, making it a 14-6 contest in favor of the visitors with four minutes until the half.
Greeneville added on one more just before the break, as Gudger would run for another score from five yards out. Heading into the halftime break, it was the Greene Devils up over the Cyclones by two scores, 21-6.
After the halftime break, the Greene Devils began to fire on all cylinders, as their first drive of the half resulted in another score, once again from Gudger as he found a hole to waltz into the end zone from four yards out, making it a 28-6 ball game early in the third.
Elizabethton was not ready to lay down yet though, as they answered the Greeneville score with a touchdown of their own when Rollins took off for another score from six yards away. The two-point conversion to bring things a little closer was no good, leaving the score at 28-12 in favor of the Devils.
Greeneville controlled the matchup from there on out, as they were able to score once later in the third period with a 40-yard rushing score by Gudger, giving the Greene Devils a large advantage going into the final quarter, 35-12.
The final blow from Greeneville came in the fourth when Gudger showcased his speed once more on a 55-yard carry down to the one-yard line, before punching it in for his fourth score of the night to showcase the final score of the game, 42-12 in favor of the Greene Devils.
For the Greene Devils in the win, Gudger found the end zone five times while rushing for 158 yards on the ground while Quillen finished with one passing touchdown and 116 yards through the air.
For the Cyclones, Rollins finished the night with two touchdowns on the ground while totaling 91 yards on the ground.
The Cyclones will be back in action at Citizens Bank next Friday night for homecoming against the Trail Blazers of Daniel Boone.
