Elizabethton took care of business.
The Cyclones slowly pulled away to take a 41-13 victory over an upset-minded Cherokee squad in Region 1-4A play at Citizens Bank Stadium. With the win, EHS improved to 2-1 on the year.
Elizabethton opened the scoring midway through the first as Rhett Slagle scored on a nine-yard run, and William Bowers added the extra point to give EHS a 7-0 lead.
Cherokee, however, answered as Landon Jeffers scored as he took a quarterback keeper 73 yards for a touchdown as the Chiefs tied the game to end the first quarter in a 7-7 stalemate.
The Cyclones opened the scoring in the second quarter as Landry Buckles broke free for a 34-touchdown run as the Cyclones captured a 14-7 lead with 9:52 left in the second, and then Elizabethton added to the lead when J-Bird Wallin scored on a 48-yard run midway through the quarter.
The Cyclones struck again in the closing minute of the first quarter as Slagle found Justin Whitehead for a 32-yard touchdown.
Cherokee added a late touchdown, but Elizabethton held a 28-13 advantage at the half.
Tucker Taylor opened the third quarter by ending Cherokee’s first possession with an interception that set up a J-Bird Wallin touchdown.
Elizabethton capped the scoring in the fourth quarter as J-Bird Wallin scored on a nine-yard run late in the fourth.
J-Bird Wallin had 144 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns for the Cyclones, while Buckles had 98 yards on eight carries. Justius Walin added 11 carries for 79 yards.
Slagle finished the game 9-of-13 passing for 91 yards while adding 24 yards on the ground.
Whitehead had five catches for 64 yards.
Bowers added five extra points for EHS.
Elizabethton is set to return to action next Friday as they take on Daniel Boone at ETSU’s William B. Greene Stadium.
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Photos by Danny Davis