MOSHEIM— The field at West Greene is affectionately named the Range where the Buffaloes call home, but on Friday night it might be more accurately called the prairie after the Elizabethton Cyclones blew through and left a bunch of hides lying on the field and little else in a 55-0 thrashing.
The Cyclones (7-1, 6-0) continued to mow their way through their league opponents putting 50-plus points on the board for the second week in a row.
“Johnny Ray (Woodby) and Cujo (Cameron Coleman) have led our defense all year long with their effort, their motor, their tenacity, and their toughness,” said Cyclone head coach Shawn Witten about his team’s defense pitching a shutout against the Buffaloes.
“We just feel like our defense has led us all year long, and they had another outstanding performance tonight.”
While the defense continued to shine, the offense continues to click along at a scary pace to any defensive coordinator as quarterback Carter Everett had another outstanding night connecting on 14-of-18 passes good for 265 yards and four scores.
Everett’s big target of the night was senior wide receiver Conner Johnson who hauled in scoring tosses of 49, 30, 8, and 61 yards in the Cyclones rout of the Buffaloes.
“We practiced with high intensity all week, and we came out here to execute,” Johnson said on the Cyclones approach to the contest. “Carter made some great throws—probably fitting it in the best he has all year.
“We spent all the off-season together since my sophomore year, and we were inseparable. That has a lot to do with our chemistry this year.”
When the Everett-Johnson show decided to take a few snaps off, Corey Russell stepped into the spotlight and continued to showcase his talents as the sophomore phenom toted the pigskin for over 200-rushing yards and three scores to help the Cyclones build the 35-point lead which led to a running clock in the second half.
Russell scored on runs of one, seven, and nine yards in the contest—many set up by Russell’s uncanny athletic ability to slip through small running lanes and changing direction in midstream.
Logan Norman also continued to show signs of becoming the big-time player Witten has been looking for as the speedster cross the goal line for a four-yard score in aiding the Cyclones’ victory.
But the talk of the game was the defensive effort highlighted by senior lineman Woodby’s (6’3, 310 lb.) chase and tackle of the West Greene quarterback in open field that gave the Cyclones the ball on a fourth down play which fired the Cyclone sideline up.
Elizabethton linebacker Nestor Grubb compared Woodby’s play to one made by Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers.
“We’re just being very disciplined and doing our job,” Nestor said of the effort by the entire defensive side of the football. “We are trying to do everything right and keep things we are doing in practice and using them in the game.”
The Cyclones will have their last regular-season game next week in Citizens Bank Stadium when they host Chuckey-Doak for Senior Night.
West Greene (3-6, 2-4) will host Claiborne next Friday night on Jim Sauceman Field.