ROGERSVILLE—It was put up or shut up time in the 2018 TMSAA East Sectional Area 1-A Football Playoffs being played at Cherokee High School in Rogersville as Area 1-A’s two best teams met to settle who would walk away as the champion and remain undefeated as the Rogersville Middle School Warriors played host to the Hampton Jr. Bulldogs on Tuesday.

After taking a 14-0 lead at the half, the Warriors were held scoreless in the second half and fended off the Jr. Dogs to take the championship by the 14-0 score.

Weather unfit for man or beast

If there was one factor that may have played a hand in a big way was a steady rain that fell for the entire contest.

As a result, there were several balls placed on the ground for turnovers and receivers were having a hard time pulling the pigskin into their breadbasket.

Hampton had several pass attempts that just slipped through the receiver’s fingertips that could have resulted in scoring opportunities.

Never give up mentality

Early on it appeared that the Warriors would be able to extend their slim lead, but down after down the Hampton defense rose to the occasion to hold the Warriors out of the end zone and keep the game within reach.

The game could have been over with early but thanks to a defensive effort that showed a lot of heart and spirit, the Jr. Dog defense gave their offensive counterparts the opportunities needed to get back in the game.

Big bruisers up front

Rogersville showed why it has been able to stay undefeated all season by the defensive front line imposing themselves on the Jr. Dogs every time it looked like Hampton might find a running lane.

As a result, the Hampton offense remained as cool as the falling rain as the Jr. Dogs could not sustain a drive resulting in either a punt or a forced turnover that gave the Warriors multiple chances to score.

Meanwhile, the Jr. Dog backs were being roughed up as there just wasn’t anywhere to go as the Rogersville line wound up in the Hampton backfield several times.

Nothing to hang their heads about

Although there were several hanging heads after the contest, the season that the Jr. Bulldogs put together was nothing less than superb.

Going undefeated is something that not too many teams can boast about in any sport, but that was exactly where Hampton was coming into Tuesday’s decisive championship game.

Hampton High School looks to have a solid group of up and coming players that should take the experience of their middle school year and turn it into championships in the upcoming years.

Final words from the head coach

“I was proud of them for coming back and playing hard in the second half,” said Jr. Dog head coach Alex Payne. “We obviously couldn’t get anything going offensively the whole ball game and that is on us as coaches.

“I don’t think that we have seen that type of physical front before, but we still should have found a way to adjusted better.

“They have a great team and a great program,” continued Payne. “I am proud of my kids for not quitting, and they managed to make a game of it. We just couldn’t get anything going up front.”