It wasn’t the start the Cyclones wanted, but it was certainly the result they wanted.
Elizabethton scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24-13 victory over two-time defending Class 4A state champion Greeneville to advance to the Class 4A semifinals on Friday night inside Citizens Bank Stadium.
EHS will host Nolensville in next Friday’s semifinals with a berth in the TSSAA Class 4A State Championship game on the line.
The win gave Elizabethton a school-record 13 wins and snapped a 12-game winning streak for Greeneville in the playoffs.
The first quarter saw Elizabethton fall into an early hole.
The Greene Devils marched down the field taking over six minutes off the clock as Drew Gregg capped the drive off when he hit AJ Stewart for a 21-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by the Cyclones.
After Elizabethton was forced off the field on a three-and-out, Greeneville used another methodical drive that was capped off when Ty Youngblood scored on a seven-yard run to give the Greene Devils a 13-0 lead after a quarter of play.
The Cyclones, however, hit back in a big way.
Parker Hughes made a great grab of a Bryson Rollins pass in the endzone to get EHS on the board.
The Cyclone defense held strong on the ensuing drive forcing a three-and-out.
That set-up Rollins second touchdown pass of the night – this one to Zach Hartley who one-handed the catch for the touchdown.
The Jaxton Holly extra point gave EHS a 14-13 lead at the half.
In the second half, the teams traded three-and-outs to open the third quarter.
Elizabethton saw a five-minute drive provide points as Holly kicked a 23-yard field goal with 4:44 left in the third quarter.
Hughes jumped in front of a Greeneville pass on the next drive for an interception. That set up a six-yard Rollins touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Greeneville got a drive going in the middle of the quarter, but Jake Roberts intercepted a pass in the end zone to help Elizabethton secure the win.
Cade Maupin had a big game for Elizabethton has he had 120 yards on 25 carries. Rollins finished with 99 yards on 25 carries while going 7-of-10 passing for 91 yards.
Gregg led Greenville as he went 10-of-15 passing 152 yards with Nick Iezzi recording six catches for 110 yards.
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