Scattering feathers… ‘Dogs leave Falcons plucked on Volunteer Homecoming, 49-7
Published 12:37 am Saturday, October 24, 2020
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jonathan Greenwell is wrapped up as he crosses the goal line for a Bulldog touchdown.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Aidan Vines picks up some tough yardage in Hampton's 49-7 win on the road at Volunteer.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Morgan Lyons is wrapped up by a pair of Falcon defenders during Friday nights contest in Church Hill.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton defensive back Blake Peavy tries to bat the football away from a Volunteer receiver.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders 'Dog running back Ty McElyea finds the sledding tough against the Volunteer defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Morgan Lyons had several highlight reel catches Friday night against Volunteer.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton quarterback Conor Jones follows his blocking to gain a first down to keep a 'Dog drive alive.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The 'Dogs Morgan Lyons hauls in a reception to bring his team close to the goal line.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
CHURCH HILL – If one has ever seen the chicken coup after its raided by an old fox with feathers scattered from here to yon, then you can imagine all the feathers left by the Hampton Bulldogs but from a different bird as the ‘Dogs took down the Class 5A Volunteer Falcons on the Falcons 2020 Homecoming Night.
Maybe more surprising for many was the way the ‘Dogs did so as they simply controlled every aspect of the contest to take a 49-7 victory on a school three classifications larger than Hampton.
After a short feeling out process in the first quarter, it didn’t take long for the scoreboard to start flipping numbers so fast the scorekeeper couldn’t stop the clock fast enough.
Hampton put the first points on the board on a Conor Jones one-yard plunge with 3:33 showing in the first quarter. Michael Harrison blasted the point after and the ‘Dogs led 7-0.
Volunteer looked to keep the game close by responded with a quick score on the ensuing possession when Rayshawn Simmons took the ball to the house on a 69-yard scamper to pull the game even on Dawson Dykes point after just 26 seconds after Hampton’s score.
That would be as close as the Falcons would get to the ‘Dogs as Hampton took charge beginning in the second quarter when Jones stepped back and found Morgan Lyons on a 16-yard scoring toss just 1:04 into the quarter.
Harrison’s PAT was true and it was 14-7.
Senior Aidan Vines struck for the ‘Dogs with 4:33 remaining in the half on a 36-yard touchdown run pushing the lead to 21-7 on Harrison’s kick.
For good measure to end the half, Jones added his second one-yard run with 20 seconds left on the clock. Harrison’s kick sent Hampton to the locker room with a 28-7 edge.
The only thing that even looked pretty for Volunteer was the lovely young ladies vying for the Homecoming Queen at the half as the second half played out about the same as the first for the home Falcons.
Lyons found the end zone once again but this time on the ground as the junior plowed the row on a two-yard touchdown plunge. Harrison kept up the good work with another PAT with the game slipping away for Volunteer, 35-7.
Hampton scored twice in the final 12 minutes when the Jones to Lyons connection worked again for a nine-yard scoring pass with 10:23 left to play. Harrison’s kick split the uprights and Hampton was in cruise control leading 42-7.
The final score of the game came with just 1:43 remaining when Jonathan Greenwell bullied his way into the end zone from three yards out to give Hampton its final margin of victory on Harrison’s kick, 49-7.
“Just so proud of the guys,” said Hampton head coach Michael Lunsford.
“It’s so easy after last week to have a letdown, to lose focus and attention to details and just super proud of the guys for being able to overcome that adversity, to keep their heads screwed on. to keep the goal in mind and continue to play and do the job.”
Hampton will wrap up their regular season next week when they host the Cosby Eagles before heading into the playoffs.
