The Elizabethton Cyclone junior varsity came out early and quickly laid a foundation with a jackhammer approach that was just too much for the visiting West Greene JV to handle.
When the final horn sounded, the JV Cyclones continued their late season surge to deal the Buffaloes a 35-6 defeat at Citizens Bank Stadium on a chilly Monday evening.
Freshman Corey Russell set the tone early, taking the Cyclones first possession all the way to the house on the kickoff to stake ‘Betsy to a 7-0 lead after Dylan Nordby’s point after.
The Cyclones kept the heat on the Buffaloes when quarterback Carter Everett connected with wide receiver Ryan Wetzel for the second score of the contest and a 14-0 lead after Nordby’s kick.
While the offense continued its push, the defense was taking care of its side of the business in completely shutting down the Buffaloes charge.
Russell was putting on a show for the home fans as the scat back broke off his second rushing score of the night, this time on a 20-yard touchdown scamper to extend the lead to 21-0 at the half on Nordby’s PAT.
Elizabethton didn’t slow down in the second half as Russell recorded his third score of the night when he took a pass from Everett and turned it into a 35-yard touchdown reception.
Nordby stayed true and connected for the extra-point to push the lead to 28-0.
With the defense continuing to stymie the Buffaloes, the offense continued to throw fuel on the fire as Alijah Egolf continued his strong junior varsity season by bursting out a 29-yard run to pay dirt to push the advantage to 35-0 with Nordby down the middle of the uprights on the PAT.
West Greene managed to keep from getting shut out when Brian McCrarey refused to be stopped by the Cyclone defense and scored from 25 yards out to give the Buffaloes their first points of the game.
The two-point conversion by Juliun Lane was stuffed by an alert Levi Reynolds, who hit Lane so hard he jarred the football out of the back’s hands to keep the score at 35-6.
One of the biggest plays of the night didn’t result in a touchdown, or even a first down, but it did accomplish something special for the junior varsity players.
Coach Brian Jenkins inserted Brandon Dial into the game with two minutes left to play.
Calling a timeout, Jenkins dialed up the ‘Dial Express’ which was executed to perfection as Everett fired the ball out to tight end Garrett Jennings who executed a semi hook and ladder connection to Dial.
Dial would then cover eight yards before being brought down to end the contest. For his inspirational play, Dial was given the victor’s ride on the shoulders of Jennings and Jackson Killion to bring the win its grand finale.
The Cyclone JV will bring their season to an end next Monday night when they travel to Chuckey-Doak for a showdown with the JV Black Knights.