Elizabethton came up short in a heartbreaker on Friday night.

The Cyclones nearly erased a 21-point deficit but came up short in a 49-33 loss at Gibbs in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. With the loss, Elizabethton’s season came to a close.

After Gibbs took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter, Elizabethton battled back.

Peyton Lingerfelt found Callen Reed for a 15-yard touchdown, and then Lingerfelt added a short touchdown to pull EHS within 21-14 with 5:25 left in the second.

Ryan Jones recorded an interception for the Cyclone defense, but Elizabethton was unable to capitalize as the Eagles held a 21-14 lead at the half.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the third quarter before Will Bowers added a 31-yard field goal for Elizabethton. The Cyclones closed the gap to 28-24 with 2:18 to play in the third as Jonathan Lisi and Lingerfelt connected for a 45-yard touchdown with 2:18 left in the third.

Gibbs extended the lead to 11 on the opening play of the fourth quarter, before Braylon Britt caught a Lingerfelt pass for a 64-yard touchdown with just over nine minutes to play.

Bowers closed the gap to 35-33 with a 33-yard field goal for the Cyclones with 5:28 to play. Gibbs, however, was able to add a late score and then added a defensive touchdown to secure the win.