Elizabethton kept on track Friday night.
The Cyclones jumped out early and never looked back to take a 35-7 win over East Hamilton in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. It was the 27th consecutive win for Elizabethton, and the Cyclones improved to 12-0 on the year.
Elizabethton is slated to host Greeneville – who scored in the closing seconds to upset Anderson County – next Friday in the third round.
The Cyclones set the tone early.
After Jake Roberts put EHS inside the East Hamilton 10 with a 51-yard punt return, Cade Russell found his way into the endzone on an eight-yard touchdown.
The Hurricanes had a strong drive going on the ensuing possessions, but a fumble inside the Elizabethton 5 was recovered by Trenton Taylor at the East Hamilton 2. A couple of plays later, Parker Hughes broke free for a 94-yard touchdown run and Sean Smithdeal added the extra point to give EHS a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Cyclones continued to have the momentum in the second quarter as Bryson Rollins scored on a 10-yard run to push the advantage to 21-0 with just over eight minutes remaining in the half.
Elizabethton extended the lead once again when Rollins and Hughes connected for a 79-yard touchdown with just over four minutes left in the quarter. That allowed EHS to take a 28-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
East Hamilton broke onto the scoreboard midway through the third quarter, but the Cyclones answered to erase any thoughts of a comeback as Hughes scored on a 25-yard run to account for the final scoring.
Hughes ended the night with 149 yards on 10 carries. Russell had 184 yards on 27 carries, while Rollins finished the game with 140 total offensive yards – 81 through the air and 59 on the ground.
As a team, Elizabethton held East Hamilton to four yards rushing while the Cyclones combined for 380 yards on the ground.
Haynes Eller led the Hurricanes as he went 30-of-52 for 305 yards.
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