Coach Shawn Witten’s Elizabethton Fighting Cyclones beat the Grainger Grizzlies 63-16 in a TSSAA Region 1-4A matchup in Rutledge, Tennessee, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By MIKE BLACKERBY
For the second consecutive year Elizabethton and Meigs County found their way back to Cookeville.
The Class 4A Cyclones and 2A Tigers will represent the 5Star Preps coverage area Saturday in the final day of competition at the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl state football championships.
Defending champion Elizabethon (14-0) will face Haywood (10-3) at 11 a.m. Central at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium.
Meigs County (14-0) squares off against two-time defending champion Peabody (13-0) at 3 p.m. Central in a rematch of the 2019 title tilt.
Here’s a look at both games:
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Elizabethton-Haywood
Quarterback Bryson Rollins and the Elizabethton Cyclones took down the Springfield Yellow Jackets in the TSSAA Class 4A state championship on Overall Field at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. (Photo by Danny Parker)
The Cyclones, riding a 29-game winning streak, looked unbeatable last week in a 56-21 semifinal win at Nolensville.
Can they carry that momentum over into Saturday’s finale?
“Last week we played a flawless game,” said Elizabethton coach Shawn Witten.
“We scored on all eight of our possessions and only had two penalties.”
Now, the Cyclones need to hit the reset button and pull a repeat performance – or better – against the West Tennessee Tomcats.
“After last week I told our kids we still haven’t played our best football game,” said Witten.
“Last week showed what we’re capable of. We need another performance like that Saturday morning.
Witten said Haywood won’t wilt under the pressure of being on the biggest stage in high school football.
“Here’s a team that has been to four straight semifinals,” said Witten.
“They’ve been there before.”
Haywood has made it to three state championship games in program history, but the Tomcats have never taken home the gold football.
They lost 56-21 to Greeneville two years ago in the state title game.
Haywood has won seven games in a row. The Tomcats edged Lexington 17-14 in the semifinals.
“They’re super athletic and they have lots of speed,” said Witten.
“They’re about 90 percent run and they rely a lot on broken plays. They’re very talented and kind of a scary football team.”
Witten said senior Jadian Stewart is a catalyst for the Tomcats.
“He plays slot receiver and they’ll move him to running back. He makes them go.”
The Cyclones have their own Mr. Go.
In fact, they have two of them.
Elizabethton figures to ride senior receiver Parker Hughes and junior quarterback Bryson Rollins in the state championship game, just like they’ve done all season.
Both are Mr. Football finalists.
“As coaches, you’ve got to keep it simple and get your best player the ball,” offered Witten.
Rollins has amassed 3,051 total yards (2,124 passing, 927 rushing) and accounted for 50 touchdowns.
Hughes, a fast and physical 6-2, 205-pound receiver, has 57 catches for 1,252 yards and 19 TDs.
Hughes’ role has expanded in the playoffs.
The catalyst was the Oct. 16 meeting with Greeneville where the Greene Devils’ defense focused on stopping Hughes with double-team coverage.
“Greeneville really made it tough just to get Parker the ball that night,” said Witten.
“We weren’t going to let that happen and we realized we needed to find more ways to get him the ball.”
Last week against Nolensville, Hughes rushed for 191 yards on 14 carries and scored on an 85-yard run.
“We realized against Nolensville we had to get him more opportunities and touches,” said Witten.
“He was in the very first play at running back last week. The second play he was at wide receiver.”
Hughes has rushed for 472 yards and averages a whopping 12.8 yards a carry.
Expect Hughes to get the ball in every conceivable way Saturday.
“He gives you everything you want in a player,” said Witten, who is 135-41 in his 14 seasons at Elizabethton.
“He’s so strong and physical. Like a lot of great backs in the state, every time he touches it he has the ability to go the distance.”
After going 81 years between state football championships, the Cyclones have the rare opportunity to post back-to-back titles Saturday.
“Early in the season it looked like we weren’t going to get a chance to defend our title (because of COVID),” said Witten.
“Now we’re finally here with a chance to defend our title and it’s a special feeling to get the chance to do that.”
Meigs County-Peabody
Will Meadows (34) and Meigs County defeated Trousdale County, 16-13, in a 2A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (Photo: John Fitzgerald/5Star Preps)
Meigs County got a taste of being in the state championship game for the first time in 24 years last season.
Saturday, the Tigers aim to win it.
It won’t be easy.
Peabody has won 36 consecutive games over the last three seasons.
The Golden Tide knocked off Meigs County 27-16 in last year’s state title game.
“Last year (just being at state) was a little more celebratory,” said Tigers coach Jason Fitzgerald.
“This year our kids want to go win the state championship. Last week (16-13 semifinal win at Trousdale County) made it 62 wins in our last 68 games, so our kids expect to win as well,” Fitzgerald continued.
“We’ve won so many games over the last five years and been in so many big games. I don’t think it’s going to be too big for our kids.”
A year ago the Tigers led the Golden Tide 16-7 at the half.
“They came out and tried to dink it and throw it around,” recounted Fitzgerald.
“In the second half they decided to line up behind their 300-pound offensive line and hand it off to (Walter) Dickson. We couldn’t do a lot about it.”
Dickson ran for 155 yards and Peabody outrushed Meigs County 271-76 on its way to another title.
Fitzgerald has no doubt that the team that runs the ball best Saturday will win.
Meigs County averages 297 yards a game on the ground.
The Golden Tide features junior running back Khalik Ganaway, who has rushed for 1,860 yards on 236 carries with 24 TDs.
The Tigers counter with senior Will Meadows, whose totals on the ground include 1,780 yards on 198 carries and 31 scores.
Both are Mr. Football finalists.
“As a game, it’s going to come down to ‘can you stop the run,’” said Fitzgerald.
“You’ve got two really good running backs who are really close to the same ability. I’ll take Will against anybody and I’m sure (Peabody) coach (Shane) Jacobs feels the same about Ganaway. It (the difference) is going to be who can win the line of scrimmage.”
In last year’s championship game the Tigers tried to rely on senior quarterback Aaron Swafford to do everything.
This year, Meigs County has been more multi-dimensional.
Quarterback Logan Carroll has passed for 856 yards, rushed for 986 yards and accounted for 24 touchdowns.
Running back Cody Cawood is another threat. He has rushed for 463 yards and five scores.
Cameron Huckabey is the Tigers’ best receiver. He has 22 catches for 408 yards and nine TDs.
“We spread the ball around a little more this year,” said Fitzgerald.
“We feel like, offensively, we’re doing a little more than we have in the past.”
Meigs County is seeking its first state football title in program history.
In addition to last season, the Tigers were state runners-up in 1995 and 1980.