Elizabethton brings back experience in droves at skill positions

ELIZABETHTON — Hosting playoff games has become the standard for the Elizabethton Cyclones.After finishing second in Region 1-4A in 2024, the Cyclones continued a ten-season long streak of at least one postseason game being played at Citizens Bank Stadium. Last year, Betsy defeated Fulton in a thriller before falling to Anderson County in the second round.Leading the charge then as he is this year is quarterback Rhett Slagle. Holding a 16-6 record as the Cyclones' starter, Slagle completed 67.6 percent of his passes as a junior. He tossed for 1,120 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.Slagle also rushed for 244 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season.Elizabethton head coach Shawn Witten said the veteran presence allows the team to have a level of comfortability heading into the season."It just makes things a lot easier," Witten said. "He's been through the fire. Expect Rhett to do things a lot better than he did sophomore and junior year. That's why it's all great to have experience. On top of that, he's got a great group around him."It's a group that features the team's leading rusher from a year ago as well as each of the top four receivers for the Cyclones a year ago.Jaiden "J-Bird" Wallin is set to lead the rushing attack again. He tied for the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns.Jack Blevins, Justin Whitehead, Zack Wallin, and Justius Wallin led Elizabethton in receiving yards from Slagle, and all are back to catch passes from the senior this season.Being able to hit the ground running with the veteran core is a blessing for the coaching staff, according to Witten."It's just not because of the work standpoint, but the mental standpoint," he said. "The ability to retain the information. To expand the playbook. To try and get more plays so they can go out there and show off their athleticism and things on top of that. It's our job to put them in position to make the plays and we're going to rely on those guys heavily throughout the season."Defensively, the Cyclones come into the season after being in the top half of the area in points allowed. In the regular season, they only allowed 149 total points, which was good for eighth in Northeast Tennessee.One of the unit's key pieces was in Kyron Smalls, who recorded six sacks a year ago, but has graduated.In order to have success on that side of the ball again, Witten says Betsy will need to mix up its looks."We've got to be versatile," he said. "We're not as deep or as big in the trenches on both sides. The linebackers and skill positions, we return our defensive ends and defensive tackles. But we've got to keep those guys fresh. Keep them going. We're going to have to play a little more aggressive style than we've been. Try to get after people. That's the challenge."Elizabethton will once again open up the season with historical rival Science Hill on Aug. 22, with this year's game taking place in Johnson City. The last four meetings have all been won by the visiting team.They will then start league play in Region 1-4A at Volunteer on Sept. 12. The annual clash with fellow region giant Greeneville is set for Oct. 30 on the road. It continues a theme for the Cyclones, where they'll play four home games to six road contests."Just have to earn the opportunity to get another one here," Witten said. "The more we win, the more we get to play here. More emphasis on the regular season so we can get home-field advantage. That's been key for us."No. Name Pos. Class4 C.J. Mathes RB/LB Jr.6 Braylon Britt WR/DB Jr.7 William McDuffie RB/DB Jr.8 Rhett Slagle QB Sr.9 Legend Pate RB/LB Fr.11 Sammy Orsburn OLB Jr.12 Lucas Dugger OLB Fr.13 Callen Reed RB/DB Fr.14 Max Fields WR/DB Fr.15 Anthony Orton WR/DB Fr.16 Brycen Blevins QB Fr.17 Justin Whitehead WR/DB Sr.18 Ryan Jones WR/DB So.19 Zach Wallin WR/DB Sr.20 Aiden Cole WR/DB Jr.21 Tucker Taylor WR/DB Sr.23 Jack Blevins WR/DB Sr.24 Connor Cook HB/LB Fr.25 William Bowers PK Jr.26 Bryson Lloyd OLB Sr.27 David Wright LB So.28 Justius Wallin RB/LB Sr.29 Brody Thompson LB So.30 Jeremiah Williams WR/DB Fr.31 Ryan Riberio OLB Fr.32 Eli Whitaker WR/DB Fr.33 Malic Silvers RB/DB Fr.34 Landon Sisanachanden WR/DB Fr.35 Josiah Byrd DL Sr.36 Chase Gilbert WR/LB Fr.39 Riley Smith WR/DB Fr.40 Jaiden Wallin RB/LB Sr.41 Jayce McElroy RB/LB Fr.44 Landon Reedy HB/DE Fr.46 Daniel Overby LB So.47 Cooper Green HB/LB So.48 Nathan Garland HB/DE Fr.50 Kyler McGovern OL/DL Sr.51 Ryan Greene OL/DL So.52 Isaiah Nutter OL/DL Fr.55 Lennox Loveday OL/DL So.57 Dillon Heading OL/DL Fr.58 Elijah Robinette OL/DL Fr.59 Braydon Rainwater OL/DL Sr.60 Cooper Adkins OL/DL Sr.62 John Hornyak OL/DL Jr.63 Rylan Taylor OL/DL Fr.66 Connor Kent OL/DL Fr.68 Brock Mosely OL/DL Fr.70 Lincoln Hornyak OL/DL Fr.71 Brendon Orellana OL/DL So.72 Riley Greer OL/DL So.73 Austin Haskel OL/DL Fr.74 Nolan Loveday OL/DL So.77 Geroge McKintrick OL/DL Fr.79 Stokes Powers OL/DL Fr.81 Riley Jones TE/DE Sr.82 Josh Mann WR/DB Sr.84 Carson Thompson TE/DE Fr.85 Dagan Walker TE/LB So.86 Brian Caster DE Sr.88 Rylan Peters HB/DE Fr.89 Eli Phillips WR/DB Fr.92 Calyx Doughtery TE/DE So.Head coach: Shawn Witten.Assistant coaches: Jordy Harrison, Devin Whitehead, Forrest Holt, Travis Hurley, Terrence Turner, Brian Jenkins, Corey Russell, Connor Johnson, Ryan Witten.Support staff: Tony Briggs, Howell Woods, Rick Walters.Athletic trainer: Amethyst Crawford.Team Physicians: Dr. Justin Smith, Dr. Erin Contreras.