Ethan Davis ran for 267 yards against Elizabethton in 35-28 loss for Rhea County on 10/7/22.(Photo:BillynthiaHill)

Eagles Finish Region Play With Crucial Test on Road At Howard for Playoff Spot

10/14/22

Evensville, TN -- Rhea County Football saw a late push by Elizabethton break open a tie game for the 35-28 win over the homestanding Eagles on Friday, October 7, 2022. Elizabethton brought a 2-4 record into the game, while the Eagles came into game 1-5. Both teams were not where they normally have been this time of the year. But despite the records, each team needed the win for momentum and pride, not for state ranking. Eagles will need the next game played on Friday, October 14th at Howard Tech in Chattanooga with 7:30 kickoff. If Rhea gets win, they will have 2-2 region record and own tiebreaker with Ooltewah. A loss would give Howard Tech the tiebreaker with Eagles and both teams would have one 5A District 4 win, thus eliminating Eagles from postseason.

Cyclones 35 Eagles 28

Eagles received the ball first and drove down the field for the first score, beginning on their 27-yard-line. The drive took just shy of six minutes and several plays to complete with Ethan Davis taking most of the snaps on the drive. Ruehling made the kick for the 7-0 lead for Rhea. The Cyclones' first possession fizzled after a couple of first downs and they punted the Eagles into a hole at their own 13 yard-line.

Eagles moved past midfield, but drive stalled and they punted to put Cyclones in business at their own 35 and they quicly found the endzone on a 65 yard touchdown pass from Dalton Mitchell to Jeriah Griffin. Caleb Campbell made the kick for a 7-7 tie with 5:49 left in 2nd quarter. After the kickoff, the Eagles began next drive on their own 29 yard-line. Eagles appeared to be patiently driving down the field with Davis running, but Eagles threw little wrinkle with Davis finding Keshawn Smith for the long completion for a first and goal at the Cyclone 5 yard-line. Two plays later Davis walked into the endzone and Eagles were up 14-7 after the successful kick with 5 seconds left in half. Cyclones began their drive on their 20 after the kick sailed into endzone. One play later it was the same connection as earlier with Mitchell finding Griffin over the middle and Griffin streaked down the sideline until Wilkerson pushed him out-of-bounds on the 20 yard line, a 60 yard gain. On the next play, Nate Stephens scooted outside and found the endzone from 20 yards with 39 seconds left in half. Successful kick tied the score 14-14. Rhea took the kick and the clock ran out with scored tied 14-14 at half.

Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter, but Cade Russell scored on 1-yard run with 11:15 remaining in 4th quarter to give Cyclones 21-14 lead. After kickoff gave Eagles ball at their own 20, Ethan Davis took the ball to the house with 80 yard touchdown and game was tied 21-21 after Ruehling kick with 11;02 left in 4th quarter. Barely a minute went by before it was Nate Stephens scoring from 16 yards out for 28-21 lead for Cyclones with 9:59 left in game.

With 3:41, Nate Stephens found the endzone for his third touchdown run of the game and Cyclones went up 35-21 with 3:41 left in game. Davis scored a late touchdown for the Eagles with 59 seconds left in game to pull Eagles within 35-28. Elizabethton recovered onside kick and ran out clock to preserve the 35-28 win.

Ethan Davis and Nate Stephens together totaled over 500 yards rushing for night with Davis setting new single game carry record for Eagles with 41 carries for 267 yards. Stephens had 29 carries for 245 yards. Davis had 4 touchdowns, while Stephens had 3 touchdowns on the night. Caleb Carr came in late to play quarterback and went 5 for 7 for 30 yards. Keshawn Smith had the big catch of the night for the Ealges with 42 yard pass from Davis. Dalton Mitchell went 7 for 10 for 182 yards and a touchdown. Both kickers Ruehling(4-4) and Caleb Campbell(5-5) were perfect on the night. Maurice(Mo) Shirley led the Eagles with 9 tackles. Other tackle numbers were 7 by Hunter Crowe, and 6 by Cole Mayberry and trent Edwards. Mayberry(2) and Edwards(1) each had tackles-for-loss. Eli Williams led the Cyclones with 13 tackles and Zeth Mullins had 12 tackles to lead the Cyclones.

Both teams had 14 first-downs and there were no turnovers. Rhea County punted three times for 85 yards and Elizabethton punted 3 times for 124 yards. Eagles had ball 28:21 minutes and Cyclones had the ball 19:39 minutes.