Elizabethton was looking to make it a clean run through Class 5A competition this season when they played host to the Tennessee High Vikings at Citizens Bank Stadium Friday night before a full house.

The Cyclones bolted out to a 21-7 halftime lead and never looked back in handing the state-ranked Vikings their second loss of the season by a 35-21 score.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Super-Corey

The difference in the game came down to one of the most prolific athletes in Northeast Tennessee as Corey Russell did it with not only his legs but his arm.

Russell had 23 carries for 82 yards and two rushing touchdowns, went 6-of-9 through the air for 166 yards and two touchdowns, and hauled in seven passes for 111 yards and a score.

There are not too many players in this part of the state that can say they had a hand in all five of their teams scores in a contest.

The effort led to the Cyclones recording 445 yards of total offense on the night.

Another fast start sets pace for Cyclones

The Cyclones got it going right out of the gate once again as they marched from their own 30-yard line on a 15-play drive that culminated when Russell blasted in from seven yards.

Elizabethton recovered the onside kick and looked prime to score again before turning the football back over to the Vikings on a fumble by Bryson Rollins.

The Cyclone defense picked Rollins up by holding the Vikings to a four and out to get the football back on the Tennessee High 45.

Russell added his second rushing score on the drive, this time from two-yards out to put the Cyclones up 14-0.

After the Vikings responded with a score, the Cyclones went to their two-minute offense with 2:15 left in the half.

The Cyclones showed why they are one of the most potent offenses in the state when quarterback Carter Everett stepped back and put a perfect strike on Russell’s chest and Russell did the rest covering 60 yards for the score.

Elizabethton went to the locker room up 21-7.

Going under center

Russell came out of the locker room and went under center as Everett got a little dinged up, but the Cyclones never missed a beat.

Russell found Evan Perkins on a 19-yard scoring toss to extend the lead to 28-7 and followed that up with one of the prettiest passes of the season as he found a streaking Parker Hughes on a 75-yard bomb to extend the lead to 35-7.

Failing to close

The Cyclones once again failed to close out the game like their coach would have preferred as the Cyclone offense gave the Vikings two opportunities to score which weren’t wasted.

Witten felt like the score should have been 35-7 and realized there was a lot of work left for his team to do over the next four games and into the post season.

Consistency strong in the kicking game

Junior Jaxton Holly continued a solid season of place kicking converting all five point-after attempts and helped place the ball in position for a couple of opportunities to collect on-side attempts which the Cyclones capitalized with one recovery and had the second within finger-tip reach.

Wisdom from Witten

“We continued to get off to a fast start. It was a big night and a big battle, and our guys came through for us.

“We have the right pieces in the right places with Corey taking over for Carter. I was disappointed that we didn’t put plays together.

“We showed what we are capable of, and we will take a win any way we can get it. We need to take a deep look at ourselves to be a great team in November. We can’t make mistakes.”

Russell not fazed

“We practice it all the time by mixing up reps. It makes it hard to game plan for both of us because we (Everett) have two different styles. It just gives them one more thing to prepare for.”

Catching a break

The Cyclones get a much-needed bye week next Friday. They return for homecoming when they play host to Union on October 5^th.