An Elizabethton rally fell short on Friday night.
The Cyclones erased a 14-0 halftime deficit but were unable to answer a late Dobyns-Bennett score as EHS fell 28-21 in nonconference action at Kermit Tipton Stadium in Johnson City. The game had been moved to Science Hill due to the ongoing recovery efforts in Carter County.
After Elizabethton was unable to get anything going on their opening drive, DB went on an 11-play drive that covered 69 yards and took a 7-0 lead after Austin Sykes scored on a 25-yard run.
EHS was unable to get anything going on the next drive, but the Cyclone defense was able to force a three-and-out to open the second quarter.
After EHS was stopped on fourth down, the Indians used a methodical drive that took 14 plays and most of the second quarter.
The drive was capped by a five-yard touchdown from Sykes as DB took a 14-0 lead into the half.
Elizabethton, however, wasn’t going down without a fight.
After the Cyclone defense forced a quick stop on the opening series of the half, EHS marched down the field on a 10-play drive. Landry Buckles scored on a four-yard run and Will Bowers added the extra point.
The Elizabethton defense came up big on the next drive as the Cyclones forced the Indians off the field, and the EHS offense struck quickly as Rhett Slagle hit Justin Whitehead for a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Bowers extra point tied things up at 14-14 after three complete quarters.
DB, however, answered in the opening minute of the fourth as Rome Pruitt caught a 26-yard pass from Sykes to reclaim the lead for the Indians.
Elizabethton was forced to punt on their next drive, but the defense saw Tucker Taylor nab an interception. EHS went to work and covered 62 yards on nine plays, and J-Bird Wallin tied the game with a three-yard touchdown with just over two minutes to play.
Dobyns-Bennett took advantage of two Cyclone penalties on the next drive and reclaimed the lead with 41 seconds left as Pruitt and Sykes connected for a 14-yard touchdown.
EHS was unable to mount a final minute drive to force extra time.
J-Bird Wallin had 74 yards on 11 carries, while Slagle added 28 yards rushing. Through the air, Slagle was 12-of-20 for 108 yards. Justin Whitehead had four catches for 67 yards.
Tegan Begley had 79 yards rushing for 15 carries, while Sykes went 12-of-18 passing for 137 yards while adding 53 yards rushing.
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