Jr. Cyclones race past Greeneville Middle to earn perfect season
Published 11:55 pm Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The T.A. Dugger Jr. Cyclones celebrate capping off a perfect season after a bowl game win over Greeneville Middle, 40-0.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jr. Cyclone quarterback Rhett Slagle is wrestled down near the T.A. Dugger sideline.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jr. Cyclone running back Justius Wallin steps over a Greeneville defender on his way to a touchdown.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The TAD defense swarms to a Greeneville Middle ball carrier.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jack Blevins is brought to the turf after a reception during Wednesday's bowl game against Greeneville Middle.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jr. Cyclone wide receiver Justin Whitehead goes up to haul in a reception from quarterback Rhett Slagle.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jr. Cyclone running back Jaiden Wallin bowls over a Greeneville Middle linebacker during Wednesday's game.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Jr. Cyclone cheerleaders worked to keep the fans pepped up during Wednesday's contest at Citizen's Bank Stadium.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders TAD running back William McDuffie (7) takes advantage of a huge hole opened by his offensive line.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The stands were filled with Jr. Cyclone fans cheering the team on to a bowl game win over Greeneville Middle.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The TAD Jr. Cyclone coaching staff worked diligently all season to make sure the players were coached to the same level as the high school players, The end was a combined 17-0 record between the JV and Varsity units for the 2021 season.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
One game was all that stood between the T.A. Dugger Jr. High Cyclones and a perfect 2021 season.
That game was against a team who barely squeezed by the Jr. Cyclones last season in the season finale in Greeneville. With a little payback in mind, the Jr. Cyclones made quick work of the visiting Greeneville Middle Greene Devils by laying claim to a 40-0 victory in a bowl game played at Citizens Bank Stadium.
The first score came with only 1:50 off the game clock as Jr. Cyclone running back Jaiden Wallin bruised his way to a two-yard scoring run to give TAD the 7-0 lead after William Bowers point-after was good.
With the defense making life hard for the Jr. Greene Devils, the Jr. Cyclone offense got the ball back and cashed in for another score with 1:43 left in the opening quarter when Justius Wallin banged his way into the end zone from 17 yards out to give TAD the 13-0 advantage as the two-point conversion failed.
Early in the second quarter, it was the J-Train once again as Jaiden Wallin rumbled over the goal line from the 11-yard line. Bowers booted the PAT and the Jr. Cyclones were in firm control at 20-0.
The Jr. Cyclones kept adding to their total as quarterback Rhett Slagle made his way to pay dirt on a 16-yard scamper to make it 27-0 on Bowers kick after the score.
For good measure, Slagle tacked on a two-yard run with 19 seconds remaining in the first half. The two-point conversion failed and at the intermission, the Jr. Cyclones were in cruise control with a 33-0 lead.
The Cyclones got their final score with 5:25 on the third-quarter clock as Brock Shelby got the carry for the score from the five-yard line. Bowers kick gave the final margin of victory.
“This is unbelievable,” said Jr. Cyclone head coach Brock Pittman. “I just told the kids that they worked really hard and had a great attitude the whole time. Those are the results you get when you mix those two things together.
“It was all about the team. I am really proud of the coaches – they did a great job of getting the team ready every week. We had some adversity but we fought back. Early in this game, we had to make some adjustments because they did things that we hadn’t seen before.
“It was just a great season. We played to win every week.”
