Jr. Cyclones bloody nose of Greeneville, 28-14

Published 11:08 pm Thursday, September 13, 2018

There are three things certain in life—birth, death, and smash-mouth football when any team from Greeneville tangles with a team from Elizabethton.
The large crowd that piled up until halftime inside Brown-Childers Stadium Thursday evening got their money’s worth once again as Coach Travis Smithdeal’s Jr. Cyclones kept their unbeaten streak in tack with a 28-14 thrashing of the visiting Jr. Greene Devils.
Russell’s opening half sets tone
Leave it to another Russell in a Cyclone uniform to cause headaches for an opposing Greeneville team as Cade Russell’s two forty-plus touchdown runs in the first half put the Jr. Greene Devils on their heels.
On his first run, Russell covered 46 yards to put the Jr. Cyclones up 8-0 after quarterback Dalton Mitchell converted the 2-points conversion.
Russell’s second score came two plays into the second quarter on a 47-yard gallop to give T.A. Dugger a 14-0 lead after the point-after was inches wide.
Russell finished the first half with 109 yards rushing.
Great supporting offensive cast
Russell is blessed much like his older brother, Corey, at Elizabethton High School as there are multiple offensive weapons available on the 2018 Jr. Cyclone team.
Mitchell connected with Peyton Johnson on a one-yard scoring pass to push the lead to 20-8 in the third quarter with a failed conversion.
The scoring was completed when Nate Stephens plunged over from 6 yards out to make the score 28-8 when Mitchell went from quarterback to receiver and hauled in a 2-point conversion from Johnson.
Give the trench hogs their due
Elizabethton line coach Jordy Harrison was licking his lips thinking about the future of the line at the high school level as the Jr. Cyclone trench hogs opened up gaping running lanes while providing protection to their quarterback during pass attempts.
On the defensive side, the line was bringing the hammer in stuffing many of the Jr. Greene Devils’ running attempts.
Undoubtedly, there will be many sore bodies walking the hall at Greeneville Middle School tomorrow.
Cheering sections phenomenal for middle school play
As mentioned earlier, parking spaces were at a minimal as the lines awaiting admittance stayed long and flowing until halftime was reached as both teams had great support for the contest.
It was one of the larger crowds in memory as everyone knows what they are going to get when these two teams hook up.
Also, kudos to the T.A. Dugger Jr. Cyclone Marching Band who gave a fantastic rendition of the national anthem and followed that up by keeping the pep tunes flowing throughout the contest.
Smithdeal’s take on the contest
“That was a good team we played tonight. We were all in, and everybody played their tails off tonight. We are proud of everybody on the field tonight as it was a team win. It was a grind. Greeneville is a tough team.
“Our defense stepped up when it had to. Hopefully, we learned a little bit tonight as we have four games left.”
On the horizon next week
The Jr. Cyclones will look to improve on their 4-0 record when they travel to Grandview School next week to take on David Crockett. Game time is 6 pm on Thursday.

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