Elizabethton methodically pulled away on Friday night.
The Cyclones advanced into the second round of the TSSAA Class 4A playoffs with a 47-14 victory over Carter inside Citizens Bank Stadium in first-round action.
Elizabethton will travel to Anderson County next Friday for the second round.
The Cyclones took care of business with Bryson Rollins leading the way.
Rollins scored the game’s first touchdown with five minutes remaining in the first quarter and scored again midway through the second as Elizabethton held a 13-0 lead with 5:24 to play in the half.
The Cyclone defense came up big in the final minute of the half as Eli Williams intercepted a Carter pass to set up the EHS offense inside the Carter 5.
Jake Roberts caught a Rollins pass for the score on the next play as EHS pushed the lead to 19-0 at the break.
Rollins struck early in the third quarter as he broke free for a 38-yard touchdown to add to the EHS lead. After Carter got on the board, Elizabethton saw Rollins score his fifth overall touchdown of the night with a run.
Dalton Mitchell and the Cyclone defense opened the final quarter with a big play as Mitchell intercepted Carter and returned it 23 yards for the pick-six.
Nate Stephens capped the scoring with a 16-yard score for Elizabethton.
Rollins had a big night as he had 142 yards on 13 carries and went 7-of-10 passing for 58 yards. Cade Russell ended the night with 17 carries for 96 yards.
Stephens tallied nine carries for 57 yards.
