Cyclone-led West squad wins FCA East-West All-Star contest, 24-17

Published 12:26 am Tuesday, December 17, 2019

By Ivan Sanders

BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
BRISTOL – With one remaining game for selected All-Stars from throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, there was a no-holds-barred mentality as players left everything they had on the field in the FCA East-West All-Star game.
With cold, blustery conditions prevailing in the air, the action was all but that as bone-jarring hits and dazzling plays filled the day at Bristol’s Stone Castle as Elizabethton head coach Shawn Witten led his West All-Stars to a thrilling 24-17 win.
The West team was filled with Cyclone players who just last week captured the Class 4-A BlueCross Bowl Championship along with players from Hampton, Cloudland, Greenville, Rye Cove, VA, Twin Springs, VA, and other schools scattered throughout the area.
All of the West All-Star came from players from Carter County as Cyclone placekicker Jaxton Holly put the West on the board with a 28-yard field goal as the West trailed early 7-3.
The tide changed when Elizabethton defensive back Jordan Haynes stepped in front of Cherokee quarterback Collin Trent’s pass attempt and turned the interception into a 65-yard pick-six score that put his team out front for good.
Elizabethton’s Zach C. Hartley who just missed reeling in an acrobatic reception in the end zone as the first half ended was not to be denied in the second half as he took a pass from Trinity’s Titus Brooks and raced 45-yards for a score that extended the lead to 17-7 in favor of the West.
Hampton’s Gage Chambers made a big catch in the contest as well when the athletic Bulldog out jumped a defender in the corner of the end zone to haul in a 13-yard touchdown from West Greene’s Alick Daughtery.
The East made a comeback late in the game getting a field goal from Cherokee’s Peter Egbert and a 34-yard scoring toss from Science Hill quarterback Connor Batchelder to teammate Solomon Dunn before the West was able to fend off the late charge in the final seconds.
The game wasn’t about winning or losing but just an opportunity for each team to come together and establish new friendships and enjoy one last hurrah as a high school football player.
Members of the West team from Carter County included Elizabethton’s Joseph Kechter, Zach C. Hartley, Jordan Sproles, Zach A. Hartley, Jaxton Holly, Jordan Haynes, Carson Streseman, and Remington Tyree.
Hampton was represented on the West squad by Caleb Oaks and Gage Chambers while David Miller from Cloudland also was on the West Roster.
Members of the East squad from Carter County included Unaka’s Logan Benway and Nick Bowers as well as Happy Valley’s Cameron Slone.
**Zach C. Hartley was selected the West offensive MVP as the wide receiver had nine catches for 110 yards and the score.
Cyclone placekicker Jaxton Holly will have one more prep game on his schedule as the senior found out after the contest that he was invited to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Game on January 13th at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The game will be televised on ESPN3.

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