For the second year in a row, the Elizabethton football team solved the Science Hill puzzle.
The Cyclones took an early lead and held on late to take a 28-20 victory over the Hilltoppers for the second season in a row. It was the first win for Elizabethton at Science Hill since 2009.
Elizabethton set the tone early.
The Cyclones methodically marched down the field in a drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Bryson Rollins. The Jaxton Holly extra point gave EHS a 7-0 advantage with 4:57 left in the first.
On the ensuing drive, Science Hill marched into EHS territory, but the Cyclone defense held strong and forced a field goal attempt that was unsuccessful. EHS maintained a 7-0 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Cyclones added to their lead early in the second quarter as Cade Maupin escaped for a 41-yard touchdown to take a 14-0 lead.
Science Hill, however, got on the board later in the quarter and added a field goal to close the EHS lead to 14-10 at the half.
In the second half, the first Science Hill drive of the half ended abruptly as Maupin intercepted a Hilltopper pass with a one-handed snag. On the ensuing drive, Elizabethton pushed the lead back to double-digit as Rollins found Jake Roberts for an 11-yard touchdown. The play was set-up in part to a 58-yard pass to Parker Hughes to put EHS in scori
ng position. An SHHS field goal cut the Cyclone lead to 21-13 after three complete quarters.
Rollins added another touchdown on a 32-yard run in the final stanza, and Elizabethton held on in the final minutes to secure the win.
Maupin finished the game with 153 yards on 31 carries with a score. Rollins added 17 carries with 95 yards with 89 yards passing, while Hughes finished the night with three catches for 62 yards.
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