The back-to-back state champions took care of business Friday night.
Elizabethton outlasted Greeneville in a matchup of the last two state champions in Class 4A to take a 13-7 victory in the Class 4A State Quarterfinals at Burley Stadium in Greeneville.
For the third straight year, the Cyclones advanced to the Class 4A Semifinals. EHS will host Upperman, who defeated Red Bank 42-28 in their quarterfinal matchup.
The matchup in Greeneville proved to be the heavyweight fight it was expected to be.
Neither offense was able to break into the scoreboard in the first quarter as the game was scoreless after 12 minutes.
Early in the second quarter, the Greene Devils got on the board when Brady Quillen found Adjatay Dabbs for a 31-yard touchdown to give GHS a 7-0 lead with 10:46 left in the frame.
Elizabethton, however, answered in a big way.
The Cyclone offense reeled off a 15-play drive that covered 90 yards and tied the game up at 7-7 when Cade Russell scored on a five-yard run.
Points continued to be hard to come by in the second half as the Elizabethton defense continued to stymie the Greene Devil offense.
After the third quarter ended in a 7-7 stalemate, Bryson Rollins hit Jake Roberts for a 20-yard touchdown that gave the Orange and Black a 13-7 advantage.
Greeneville marched into scoring range on the ensuing possession, but the Cyclone defense held strong once again and forced a turnover on downs.
Elizabethton reeled off four first downs on their final drive – including drawing Greeneville offsides on a fourth-down play – to secure the win.
Rollins finished with 200 yards rushing on 38 carries, while he was 11-of-15 passing for 101 yards.
Roberts finished with eight catches for 78 yards.
Greeneville’s Quillen was 13-of-20 passing for 131 yards, while Mason Gudget added 76 yards on 15 carries.
As a team, Elizabethton outgained the Greene Devils 301-220.
