Cyclones Look to Finally Seal the Deal vs. 'Toppers
by TREY WILLIAMS
TriCitiesSports.com
August 17, 2017
When Elizabethton coach Shawn Witten played for the Cyclones in the late ‘90s they beat Science Hill twice in four meetings.
As a senior he produced touchdowns five different ways (run, pass, catch, interception return, punt return) when his coach/granddad Dave Rider’s Cyclones waltzed past the Hilltoppers at Brown-Childress Stadium.
But Witten, who’ll begin his 11th season as head coach when Elizabethton visits Science Hill on Friday, has failed to defeat Science Hill since Stacy Carter took over prior to the 2010 season. The Cyclones have been close several times.
“Ultimately, we’ve come so close over the last several years but we haven’t been able to come away with a win since 2009,” Witten said. “In ’15 we had the ball twice inside the 30-yard line with a chance to take the lead. In 2013 they stopped Ethan Thomas on the 1-yard line. It’s always a great battle.
“My career was kind of known for Science Hill. We beat Science Hill two out of the four years I was there. … But Science Hill’s a different program right now. Stacy’s an elite coach. … The kids are playing hard for him. He’s got the talent out. He’s got the Science Hill football program moving in the right direction.
“He’s a tough guy to beat. When you get the chance you’ve gotta really try to put ‘em away. They’re just that good. So a lot of respect there for him.”
Carter’s feelings for Witten and Cyclones defensive coordinator Stan Ogg are mutual. Carter is quick to tell you he’s coaching at a school with a larger enrollment than Witten’s, and that the Cyclones are always a formidable opponent. Elizabethton bounced back from last year’s season-opening heartbreaker to win 11 straight games before losing by a field goal to Alcoa in the Class 3A quarterfinals.
“Those guys can play with anybody,” Carter said. “It’s an impressive program; it really is. … Him and Stan both – they work at it hard and they’re good at what they do.”
Science Hill rallied to win 28-21 in double-overtime last year thanks to Tate Overbay’s left-handed touchdown catch on a pass from backup quarterback Jake Blankenship. A Colby Martin interception sealed it.
Science Hill’s offensive line created no push most of the hot, humid night and the Cyclones knocked quarterback Jaylan Adams out of the game on the first half’s next-to-last play. Science Hill running back King Russell also left the game, but backup Ahmik Watterson, then a sophomore, entered and took jet sweeps 83 and 65 yards for a pair of second-half TDs to fuel the Hilltoppers’ rally. They also needed a blocked field goal from Avery Conkin after an exceptional catch by the Cyclones’ Corey Russell.
It appeared to be a night the streak was destined to end. Science Hill was playing without Nakiya Smith, who’s now a freshman at Eastern Kentucky. And offensive line coach Andrew Beck was out due to a death in the family. But the battered and bruised ‘Toppers made a speedy recovery.
“The speed is just a nightmare,” Witten said. “You can’t coach the speed. You can’t catch the speed. You can’t miss the speed. It’s just speed, speed, speed. And that’s a huge difference in what you see this year.”
Indeed, Carter said this could be his best Science Hill team, certainly his best offensive line and collection of running backs. Watterson is joined by fellow junior Drew Morrison, a power back, and sophomore speedsters Malik Bowman and Chris Thomas.
“They can run the ball, now,” Carter said. “We’ve got some pretty good runners, for sure. Ahmik – every time he touches it he can take it. Malik Bowman’s played outstanding. The two juniors – Ahmik and Drew are talented, and the two sophomores are. Malik and Chris Thomas are very good running backs. And every one of them brings something a little bit different.”
Oh, by the way, Adams rushed for more than 300 yards last season in a 56-35 win against Dobyns-Bennett.
“Jaylan Adams has got a year under his belt and obviously he’s got a lot of confidence,” Witten said. “At the end of the year he had some big games.”
Last year Elizabethton’s Alex Norwood knocked Adams out of the game with a clean but brutal blow to the chest near the Cyclones sideline just after Adams threw a pass. But Norwood graduated, as has powerful defensive lineman Johnny Ray Woodby. The Cyclones still have a heck of a defensive lineman in Cameron Coleman.
“Our defensive line last year was probably as dominant as there’s been in this area for a long time,” Witten said. “We had five defensive linemen that could flat-out play. Three 300-pounders and two defensive ends that were quick as cats. We gave ‘em fits a little bit and we were able to make some plays and got a lead.
“But nothing’s ever safe when you play Science Hill. They’ve just got too much speed. Between chasing Adams, chasing Watterson, chasing Bowman – the sophomore running back No. 6 – and chasing the receivers, it’s a lot of things that we’ve gotta do. We’ve gotta be disciplined. We’ve gotta play our fundamentals and techniques. Most importantly, we’ve gotta compete. We’ve gotta fight our tails off.”
Science Hill’s players are aware that Elizabhethton won the majority of battles up front last season. It’s been a source of motivation for an offensive line that shouldn’t need any.
Thanks to the likes of Tre’ Stuart, Blake Austin and Trey Gasteiger, Witten says Science Hill might have the largest O-line in the state. Beck says it could be the best offensive line he’s had.
“I know they feel like they really got after us – and they did – last year,” Carter said. “So we’ve gotta turn that around, but they’re very good. Fifty-five and 50 (Woodby, Coleman) were unbelievable last year and you’ve still got 50 (Coleman) back. He’s a good player and a big ole rascal, too.”
Elizabethton’s Russell, a junior with scatback stature, a fullback’s physicality and a receiver’s hands. He rushed for 1,403 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2016. He was 35-of-50 passing (70 pct.) for 462 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions after taking over for Carter Everett, who is back from his injury and looking good.
Russell had 22 catches for 278 yards and two TDs, and scored 29 TDs overall.
“He’s a player,” Carter said while recalling Russell’s twisting, one-handed reception against the ‘Toppers last year. “Oh, my goodness, and heck, it was clutch. To come down with that catch, basically, it set ‘em up to win the ballgame. That was right before we blocked the kick wasn’t it?”
Carter anticipates a more crisp performance from his team Friday at Kermit Tipton Stadium.
“We made too many mistakes last year,” he said. “A lot of stuff going on. … They’re a good football team, and heck, they were a good football team last year. Having those big, strong defensive linemen doesn’t hurt anything at all. They are stout.
“Our kids are gonna come to play. They’re gonna be ready to play. I definitely don’t think we’ll beat ourselves, and that’s a good thing. They’ll have to beat us. And I think they’re gonna be ready to play, too. I think they’ve got a good bunch. They’ve got an (experienced) quarterback back. They’ve got Corey back. (Coleman) back. They’ve got a couple of linebackers.”
Witten said Elizabethton’s players have conditioned stringently to avoid cramping and caving to fatigue.
“Last year there were 160 snaps total and I imagine Corey played about every one of ‘em probably but two or three,” Witten said. “You’re chasing Adams sideline to sideline. You’re chasing Watterson sideline to sideline. That’s a pretty tall task for our defensive linemen.
“I mean this is obviously a huge challenge. Science Hill is loaded this year. They’re loaded every year – talent, size, speed, depth. Some of our best players are play maybe 90 plays to some of their best players playing, you know, 30 or 40 plays. They have the potential to wear you down. … But our kids are always gonna play hard. Our kids are always gonna fight.”