Elizabethton overcame the weather but was unable to answer a late Science Hill touchdown.
The Cyclones fell 27-20 in the season opener at Kermit Tipton Stadium on Friday night in a game that featured an hour-long weather delay due to lightning in the area.
After Science Hill jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, the game went into a lightning delay with 1:40 left in the first.
Elizabethton grabbed momentum shortly after play resumed.
EHS went into the playbook as Rhett Slagle pitched the ball to Justin Whitehead on a reverse, and Whitehead found Zach Wallin for a 74-yard touchdown. William Bowers added the extra point.
The Cyclone defense came up big shortly after as Justius Wallin nabbed an interception and set the EHS offense up inside the SH 5. Wallin caught a six-yard pass from Slagle to tie the game at 14-14.
The Hilltoppers moved back in front late in the half to take a 20-14 lead into the half.
Elizabethton answered once again to open the fourth quarter.
With 11:26 left to play, J. Wallin caught an 11-yard pass from Slagle for a touchdown, and the game was tied at 20-20.
The Hilltoppers, however, took advantage of a short field with four minutes to play as Nalique Anderson caught a nine-yard pass from Lane Clement to give SH the lead.
After Elizabethton was stopped on downs late in the game, the defense forced a Science Hill turnover in the closing minutes. However, the Cyclones were unable to rally late.
Slagle went 16-of-30 passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while J-Bird Wallin added 27 yards on the ground on seven carries. Whitehead had eight catches for 89 yards. Z. Wallin finished with three catches for 97 yards.
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