Labor intensive… Cyclone JV work overtime for victory over Greeneville
Published 2:17 pm Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Zeth Mullins makes a defender miss a tackle after picking up a nice gain for the Cyclone JV team.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone defensive back Teddy Orton (19) lays a big hit on a Greeneville running back.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone running back Kaleb Holzer breaks to the outside and turns up field for a good gain against the Greene Devil defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone JV quarterback Gib Maupin unleashes a pass during Elizabethton's game with Greeneville on Monday at Citizens Bank Stadium.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jeriah GriffIn scores what would be the winning touchdown on a 10-yard scoring reception in overtime.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Cyclone defense wraps up a Greeneville running back for no gain in Monday's contest.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The Junior Varsity cheerleaders were out cheering on their Cyclones on Labor Day Monday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone wide receiver Jeriah Griffin breaks free after a reception.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders These young ladies came out on their day off from school to support the EHS JV football team.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Kaleb Holzer (27) and Eli Blevins (11) celebrate the Cyclone JV exciting overtime win over the visiting Greeneville Greene Devil JV team on Monday at Citizens Bank Stadium.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
With many spending Labor Day at the lake or having a cookout, the Elizabethton Cyclone junior varsity team returned to the turf at Citizens Bank Stadium still carrying the sour taste of losing their varsity game on Friday night to the Greeneville Greene Devils.
After an early-morning walk through where they were challenged by their head coach Brian Jenkins as well as varsity head coach Shawn Witten to perform up to the level of their ability, the Cyclone JV responded by holding the Greene Devils out of the end zone for four quarters in regulation play and then scored on their first possession of overtime to take a 7-0 victory.
Neither team was willing to break over the four quarters of regulation as most of the action was played between the 20-yard line marks on both ends of the stadium.
When it looked like either team was about to push the football toward the end zone, an untimely penalty or turnover thwarted each opportunity as both defenses played with a lot of passion trying to get the football back for their respective offense.
As the fourth quarter was coming to an end, the Cyclones had an opportunity to win but a 33-yard field goal attempt off the foot of Caleb Campbell slide just wide right of the uprights forcing the extra session.
Greeneville won the coin toss and elected to go on defense first.
Jenkins called on his quarterback Gib Maupin to make a play and Maupin responded by hitting freshman Jeriah Griffin on a quick out. Griffin turned toward the end zone.
Offensive lineman Caden Draine hustled out to take out a Greene Devil defender that sprung Griffin free for the 10-yard touchdown reception. Campbell blasted the extra point and the Cyclones led 7-0 after the first overtime possession.
Greeneville took over at the 10-yard line for their first possession of the overtime. The Greene Devils used their running game to move the ball down to the two-yard line where Corbin Cannon crossed the goal line on fourth down but a holding penalty backed Greeneville up 10 yards making it a fourth and long for the visitors to even the score.
Greene Devil quarterback Carson Quillen took the snap and his pass into the end zone was broken up by a Cyclone defender to end the game and send the Cyclone sideline into celebration mode gaining the win.
“It was a total team effort,” said an elated Jenkins after the contest. “We challenged them this morning just to come out and play. We have not given our full potential this year on JV and we challenged them to come out and do what they are capable of doing and what you have done in practice.
“They came out and responded. We had some things not go our way and a lot of times we would have bowed our heads and cried and pouted but we bounced back and came out with a huge win.”
Coach Jenkins talked about the winning play in overtime.
“We had some success with that play earlier and Coach (Devin) Whitehead reminded me as we went out there and got it set up and I just called the play – Coach Whitehead made that play call. It was great execution and I am really proud of them.
“We take pride in our JV program and it was good to get that monkey off our back. We hadn’t played liked we were capable of and it was a great effort today. They responded to the challenge from me and Coach Witten.”
