Railroad Rumble… Cyclone scatters aggressively and loses to Science Hill

Released at 12:49 am on Saturday, August 20, 2022

star correspondent

The Elizabethton Cyclones have had the Science Hill Hilltoppers number for the past four years, but on Friday night at Citizens Bank Stadium, they said, “The Toppers finally crossed the hump in Version 2 of the Railroad Rumble.

Science Hill dominated the game with two goals in the first half and aggressively overpowered the Cyclones to take the Railroad Rumble Trophy home to Johnson City with a 17-7 win.

At times, the game went ugly from penalties to bone-wrenching targeting penalties called against Science Hill’s Kellen Hensley for a hit to Cyclone Sr. Cade Russell in the second quarter.

The Cyclones took the opening kickoff and marched until they stalled, “delivering a quarter down near the topper’s 20-yard line.

Manager Sean Witten opted to send in placekicker Caleb Campbell, who splayed the ball wide for Science Hill.

Elizabethton stopped Topper’s trailing drive when junior Cam Baker stepped in front of Jacerne Swartz’s pass.

Toppers managed to get on the board with 1:21 left in the first quarter when Swartz called his number and carried the ball over from the 5-yard line.

Max Turan’s point-after try was good and SH took an early 7-0 lead.

Science Hill scored his second touchdown in the second quarter, just over two minutes in, bolting over speedy senior running back Javin Chester from five yards out.

Turan’s kick was better again and the score was 14-0.

Six minutes before half-time, as Toppers prepared to punt to the Cyclone and Russell was looking for the ball, Hensley ran into Russell like a runaway train, knocking Russell to the ground and sending his helmet to the Cyclone sideline. flew along

Hensley was able to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines while Russell received treatment for his concussion.

The incident set the Cyclones’ bellies on fire, with sophomore Jeria Griffin putting up a high spiral 39 seconds before the half and somehow senior Teddy Orton scoring two defenders for a 45-yard score. Finally reacted with a score when he came out with the ball in between passes.

Campbell’s kick was good as the lead was sliced ​​in half at 14-7 in the half-time intermission.

The Cyclones came out of the locker room but were unable to find an offensive rhythm as their drives had a three-out variety late in the play.

Science Hill tackled a 24-yard field goal by Turan with 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the game’s final score.

The Toppers had 12 first downs on the night, eight for the Cyclones. While the Cyclones only got 84 yards on his 29 carries, Science his Hill for 198 yards and he ran the ball 48 times.

Nate Stevens led with 40 yards on nine rushes, and Griffin accounted for 38 yards on 17 carries.

Elizabethton had 89 receiving yards on 8-of-14 passes with two interceptions as Orton led the way with 77 yards and three catches on the score.

Each team was flagged 10 times, with the Toppers marked 80 yards and the Cyclones 70 yards.

Wes Shankles recorded a sack on the Cyclone defense.

As the Cyclone enters its goodbye week, there are more questions than answers, and the biggest question is how to jumpstart your attacks.

Elizabethton will join the field two weeks after moving to Greenville to face the Green Devils in an important conference showdown.