Elizabethton Junior Cyclones achieve triple WJAL Championships sweep, finish season undefeated
Published 12:44 pm Monday, October 23, 2023
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Grasscutters center Lucas Greer looks at the DT before snapping the ball.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Warriors Linebackers Colt Absalom and Rhett Sandos close in on the ball carriers.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel EHS Cyclones Head Coach and Jr. Pee Wee Assistant Coach Shawn Witten goes over offensive plays with his other Cyclones team.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Will Lewis pauses a moment during pre-game.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Cyclones Black Luke Slagle kick-off after a 3rd quarter score.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Jr Pee Wee Orange storm Burley Field in Greenville.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Warriors QB JuJu Bowling looks to throw a block for his tailback.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Grasscutters got the running game going in the 3rd quarter and put the game away against the Warriors.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Easton Baggett celebrates with mom and dad after the big Cyclones win.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Parker Burleson, Collin Clemson, and Neyland Street gather to celebrate after claiming stake to a WJAL League Championship.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Cam Patton and Cash Absolom try to wrestle the Cyclone ball carriers to the ground before he hits the endzone.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Jr. Pee Wee Captains gather with their Greene Devil counterparts before the coin flip.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Cyclone's ground-n-pound was on display in the 2nd half against the Greene Devils.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Shanning Hendricks stiff-arms the Greeneville defender as he looks upfield for more yardage.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Cyclone's defense, led here by Luke Whaley, made two goal-line stands early that made a big difference in the outcome.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Wideout Nolan Smith looks to explode off the line in the 2nd quarter action.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Cooper Fair and Shanning Hendricks have the WR blanketed on 4th and goal.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Peyton Wallen paves the way for Cyclones QB Rider Witten for a first down.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The extra point is good as Shanning Hendricks pushes it through the uprights.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Cyclone's ball carrier tries to shake off the defender.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Cyclones O-Line fires off the ball as it makes room up front for the Cyclones rushing attack.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Despite the face mask Rider Witten keeps the legs moving and punches the ball in for a 14-0 lead.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Late in the game, the Cyclones trust the legs of Elijah Odom to drain the clock.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Cyclones Jr. Pee Wee Cheerleaders root on the boys!
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Rider Witten leads his team out to the 50 postgame to shake hands.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Cyclones lineman Jax Richardson starts to celebrate.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel With Cyclones helmets and pom-poms raised high, the Cyclones Jr Pee Wee enjoy yet another League Championship!
Contributed Photo High fives all around as the Grasscutters finish off the Warriors for the WJAL League Championship.
Contributed Photo Cyclones Black QB looks to complete the quick out.
Contributed Photo The Cyclones Mighty team held in for the 14-12 win in the 9 am game.
Contributed Photo The scoreboard says it all as the clock hits all zeros for the Mighty Mites.
Contributed Photo The Mighty Mites gather to celebrate their league championship.
Contributed Photo Cyclones Grasscutter QB makes the completion for a first down.
Contributed Photo Parker Burleson looks towards the sideline for instructions.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Elizabethton Junior Cyclones blew into Burley Field, Greeneville, with three Watauga Junior Championships on the line. When all was settled they walked out with all three titles. The Cyclones Mighty Mites were able to hold off Boone for a 14-12 win. In the game, Easton Chambers scored twice and added the first extra point, while Asher Adams chipped in the other extra point conversion. Defensively for the Mighty Mites, Levi Shepherd, Vaughn Wickizer and Jaxon Rader had strong efforts.
In the Grasscutters Championship, two county rivals met in the Grasscutters Black Cyclones and the Happy Valley Warriors. The Cyclones distanced themselves late as they pulled out a 32-0 win. QB Ben Ringley had a day as he scored on both offense and defense. Ringley had two rushing TDs and added a 30-yard pick-6 to boot. Colin Clemson caught a 20-yard TD late in the game off Rinley’s arm. For the Warriors Cam Patton, Zamari Bowling, JuJu Bowling, and Colt Absalom all put in a day’s work for the HV Warriors. Defensively for the Cyclones Andrew White had two interceptions, while Neyland Street, Liam Simerly, Cash Reece and Jensen Cross had big days for the Cyclones in black.
Looking for a clean sweep, the Jr. Peewee Orange squad made two big defensive stops early in the game and then used a solid ground game to post a 21-0 win. With time running out, Rider Witten hit Elijah Odom on a crossing route for a 50-yard TD pass to close out the first half and give the Cyclones a 6-0 lead before the break.
Rider Witten would tack on a three-yard rushing TD and Shanning Hendricks would boot in the extra point for a 14-0 lead. Elijah Odom would score late to push the lead to 21-0 and then the Cyclones would drain the final moments off the clock with a powerful running game for the clean sweep for the Cyclones. Not only were the Cyclones WJAL League Champions, but all three teams also went undefeated as well, a perfect 30-0!
This comprehensive coverage was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Citizens Bank.
