Football Game Preview: Elizabethton Fighting Cyclones vs. Grainger Grizzlies

Elizabethton has gone a perfect 8-0 against Grainger recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Fighting Cyclones will head out to take on the Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m. Elizabethton is coming into the contest hot, having won their last five games.

Elizabethton is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They took their game on Friday with ease, bagging a 34-7 victory over Northview Academy. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Fighting Cyclones' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Tennessee football rankings (they are ranked 60th, while the Cougars are ranked 207th).

William McDuffie

Rushing Yards (Career)

09/26/25 vs Northview Academy	123
09/19/25 @ Cherokee	34
10/18/24 @ Volunteer	11
09/05/25 vs West Ridge	9
10/11/24 @ Northview Academy	6

Elizabethton's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was William McDuffie, who rushed for 123 yards and one score on only 13 carries. Those 123 rushing yards gave McDuffie a new career-high. Another signal caller making a difference was Rhett Slagle, who threw for 117 yards and one touchdown.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Elizabethton was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 211 rushing yards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 77.3 rushing yards per game earlier this season, but in their last five matchups they've averaged 172.7.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Grainger, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Friday. They secured a 27-22 W over Sullivan East on Friday. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last five times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.

The victory got Grainger back to even at 3-3. As for Elizabethton, their record is now 5-1.

Everything came up roses for Elizabethton against Grainger in their previous meeting back in September of 2024, as the team secured a 58-6 win. In that contest, the Fighting Cyclones amassed a halftime lead of 44-0, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.