Northview Academy hasn't had much luck against Elizabethton recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Cougars will challenge the Fighting Cyclones at 7:30 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Friday, Northview Academy was able to grind out a solid victory over Grainger, taking the game 21-8. The win continues a trend for the Cougars in their matchups with the Grizzlies: they've now won four in a row.
Elizabethton not only won on Friday, but they posted their biggest win since October 18, 2024 (when they won 42-0). They were the clear victors by a 30-7 margin over Cherokee. The Fighting Cyclones pushed the score to 24-0 by the end of the third, a deficit the Chiefs cut but never quite recovered from.
Northview Academy better keep an eye on Cj Mathes. He was instrumental in Elizabethton's win, rushing for 78 yards, while also throwing for 131 yards and one TD while completing 71.4% of his passes. Mathes didn't just play on offense: he also picked up a sack and made three total tackles.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Elizabethton, adding 12 points to the final score. All those points came courtesy of William Bowers: he added nine points with three field goals and another three kicking extra points.
One reason for the win was Elizabethton's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Mathes, Samuel Orsburn, and Justius Wallin, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Elizabethton's victory bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Northview Academy, they picked up their first home win, bumping their record up to 2-3.
Northview Academy was dealt a bruising 49-20 loss at the hands of Elizabethton when the teams last played back in October of 2024. That game was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Cougars were down 35-12.
