Cherokee bulldozes Elizabethton
from state playoffs, 25-13
By Ivan Sanders
STAR STAFF
isanders@starhq.com
Tears and sweat stained the turf while memories
of many gridiron battles raced through the minds of the 20
seniors that stood in awed silence at a scoreboard that displayed
the final score of the Elizabethton Cyclones' hard-fought
battle with the visiting Cherokee Chiefs.
Using a pounding offensive balance of bruising
running backs Chris West and Brian McMillian, the fourth place
Chiefs from Region II extended its season for one more game
by handing the Mountain Lakes conference champion Cyclones
a solid 25-13 defeat on Friday night on Dave Rider Field before
a sparse crowd of supporters for a Cyclone football contest.
"I am very satisfied with our performance tonight
because we did the things we wanted to accomplish by keeping
(Lester) Bailey in check and running the ball up the middle
on offense," stated Cherokee coach Mike Sivert.
"We received great efforts on both sides of the
ball and have been able to take advantage of an opportunity
to play one more football game this season."
The Chiefs wasted little time setting the tempo
for the game, as Cherokee took possession on its own 41 and
appeared poised to punch the ball in from the ten yard line
on a 12-play drive that ended when EHS stiffened and slammed
the door on fourth down to take over possession at its own
ten yard line.
After picking up only four yards on three downs,
the Cyclones sent in its thunder-footed punter, Brandon Blevins
on fourth down. The Chiefs used a steamroller charge up the
middle to block Blevins punt with Austin Allbright wrapping
up the ball in the Cyclone end zone for the early score.
When McMillan's boot traveled through the uprights,
Cherokee led the contest 7-0. The edge stood for the entire
first quarter, with both teams touching the pigskin at least
a couple of times in the opening stanza.
Elizabethton finally managed to break the goal
line 16 seconds into the second quarter when Justin Grace
used determined running to power in from six yards out to
even the scoring ledger. Grace added an additional seven yards
on a fourth down in the series to keep the Cyclones scoring
drive proceeding.
Cherokee wasted little time by responding to
the Cyclone score. Taking possession of the ball on the Chiefs
33-yard line after a five-yard facemask penalty against the
Cyclones, Cherokee marched the length of the field on 15 plays
behind the bullish running of West to take a 13-7 lead on
a West four-yard score.
The half came to an end with Cherokee maintaining
the 13-7 advantage.
The Cyclones received the second half kickoff
and were forced to punt when its drive stalled. The Chief
receiver mishandled Blevins punt, and Grace pounced on the
ball at the CHS 16-yard line, putting the Cyclones in business.
Bailey covered the distance on three carries
to knot the score at 13-13 with 8:05 left in the third period.
Freeman's extra point was blocked, but the Cyclones looked
to grab a little momentum from the score.
On the ensuing kickoff, Bailey probably had the
hit of the year, as he simply flattened Anthony Sensabaugh
on the return. The hit brought the Cyclone crowd to its feet
and temporarily ignited a fire under the defense.
The fire was quenched moments later when quarterback
Josh Goan found Sensabaugh over the middle for a 35-yard scoring
toss with three minutes left in the third period for a 19-13
Cherokee edge.
After the score, the Chief defense tightened
as Elizabethton was forced to go for a first down, facing
a fourth and five from the Cherokee 43-yard line. Getting
only two yards on a Bailey carry, the Chiefs were looking
to nail the coffin shut on the Cyclones season with 6:59 remaining
to play on the turnover on downs.
West lofted the final flaming arrow into the
Cyclones wagon, as the 6-2, 230 pound back out raced the Cyclone
defense to the end zone on a 51-yard scoring jaunt on third
down. The two-point conversion failed, but the Chiefs already
had the Cyclones on its heels trailing by two scores with
a short amount of time remaining in the game and the season.
The Cyclones showed the same resilience it has
all season by trying to regroup and come back, but the deficit
and the Chief defense was just too much for the orange and
black to overcome. The Chiefs took the 25-13 victory and will
now face a rematch against the Greeneville Green Devils in
Rogersville next week.
"We came up here knowing what we needed to do
to win this game and we did," said West after the contest.
"When we really sensed that we could win, the whole team just
played that much harder."
For Coach Tommy Jenkins of the Cyclones, the
loss was tough but the fact the Cyclones proved so many people
wrong during the season was the crowning glory for this team
and the 20 seniors.
"We talked before the game about how proud of
them we were for their accomplishments during the season,"
said Jenkins. "Nobody gave us a chance to win the conference
championship, especially after the Sullivan East game, but
this team and coaches pulled together and got the job done."
Cyclone Notes: The Cyclone faithful said goodbye
to 20 seniors that have contributed in a tremendous way in
their four years wearing the orange and black. Showing an
undaunted Cyclone pride, these young men weathered many storms
but came out proven and true.
The seniors are as follows: Lester Bailey, Brad
Osborne, Michael Eggers, Ben Fields, Jordan Bray, Craig Estep,
Adam Turley, Cody Nidiffer, Justin Grace, Brandon Blevins,
Cody Bunton, Kelly Adkins, Josh Broyles, Frank Hardy, Cody
Fair, Clinton Vannoy, David Anderson, Daniel Wagner, Jake
Jenkins, and Evan Lindauer.
Coach Jenkins departs Sunday for John Hopkins
Hospital where he will undergo surgery to remove a benign
tumor in the pancreas area. His strength and courage while
awaiting the uncertainty of his health served as an encouragement
to those who have looked up to him and was most assuredly
the driving force behind this year's success in the Cyclone
football program.
Prayers for Coach Jenkins during his hospital
stay and recovery will be much appreciated and needed.
