After decimating the West Greene Buffaloes last week on the road 55-0, the Elizabethton Cyclones return home for their final regular-season home game of 2016, and it will be a special night for 19 Cyclone seniors.

The seniors will be recognized for their contribution in helping the Cyclones (7-1, 5-0) continue their traditional, winning ways for the last four years as Elizabethton welcomes the Chuckey-Doak Black Knights (2-6, 1-4) to the friendly confines of Citizen Bank Stadium.

“A number of these guys have been in the program for four years, and we have seen them come in as young boys and now they are leaving as young men,” said Cyclone head coach Shawn Witten. “They have won a lot of football games over those four years and have meant a lot to our program and the community.

“”I think this is the tightest bunch of seniors that we have had. A lot of them are interior lineman and have been a tight-knit group,” Witten added. “It hasn’t been just the ten games a season they have played, but these guys have worked hard in the weight room, the agilities, and the summer workouts—they have worked hard for four years to have the opportunity to play those ten games and whatever we have played in the playoffs.”

The 19 seniors include Dylan Nordby, Jacob Turner, Jordan Simerly, Keelan Hall, Bailey Gwinn, Alex Norwood, Conner Johnson, Logan Norman, Sam Seipert, Alijah Egolf, Mason Kechter, Johnny Ray Woodby, Sander Jones, Brandon Vilayseang, Hunter Nelson, Luke White, Russell Carter, Tristan Stressman, and Max Ramsey.

Undoubtedly, this group doesn’t want to see their high school football careers come to an end and that has become evident by the output the Cyclones have been receiving the last few weeks as just like the color in the fall leaves, Elizabethton is starting to peak just at the right time.

Last week the Cyclones squeezed the life out of the Buffaloes allowing only 73 yards of total offense while racking up 542 of their own.

The Cyclones hope to continue the same scenario this week.

“We are starting to play with a chip on our shoulder and prove just what we are about,” Witten stated about his team. “I don’t think these guys are ready to call it quits and are ready to play where we need them to be.

“I feel like from top to bottom this team can make a run. They have been great young men on and off the field,” continued Witten. “This whole team is built around our seniors, and we will only go as far as they are going to take us.”

Although the Cyclones are rolling along, Witten and his coaching staff know it falls on their shoulders not to allow the success to this point to derail what they have been working for since last season ended.

“From a coaching standpoint, we cannot allow the kids to get comfortable because there is always room for improvement,” said Witten. “We cannot be satisfied with where we are at. We need to challenge ourselves to see if we can grow even more.

“I love this bunch of kids, and I think they have accepted that challenge. I feel like we are playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. The young guys are giving us a spark on special teams and in other roles to help our football team.”

Here is a look at some offensive statistics for the Cyclones heading into this week’s contest with Chuckey-Doak.

Passing:

Carter Everett— 92-of-136 (67.6), 1388 yds., 19 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.

Corey Russell— 5-of-7 (71.4), 44 yds., 1 touchdown.

Jaxton Holly— 3-of-4 (75), 37 yds.

Leading Receivers:

Conner Johnson— 31 receptions, 721 yds. (23.3 avg.), 12 touchdowns.

Corey Russell— 20 receptions, 213 yds. (10.7 avg.), 1 touchdown.

Jacob Turner— 18 receptions, 223 yds. (12.4 avg.), 3 touchdowns.

Evan Perkins— 13 receptions, 132 yds. (10.2 avg.) 1 touchdown.

Rushing Leaders:

Corey Russell— 97 carries, 872 yds. (9.0 avg.), 15 touchdowns.

Jacob Turner— 42 carries, 268 yds. (6.4 avg.), 2 touchdowns.

Carter Everett— 60 carries, 263 yds. (4.4 avg.), 5 touchdowns.

Logan Norman— 44 carries, 252 yds. (5.7 avg.), 2 touchdowns.