Hampton secures thrilling victory against Bledsoe County in TSSAA playoffs round 2

Published 10:09 pm Friday, November 10, 2023

By Ron Marvel

Star correspondent

Hampton hosted Bledsoe County in Round 2 of the TSSAA Playoffs; it would be a game that would live up to its hype.  Hampton would get on the board first, as a healthy dose of pass and run would set up Hampton with fourth and two. Dominique Burleson would plunge in off a dive play and then run off tackle for the 2-point conversion to give the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead after the first quarter.

Bledsoe County would respond with a touchdown on their next series as Sam Agee would score on a three-yard run but the 2-point conversion would fail. After a Bulldog three and out, Bledsoe County would hit on a 57-yard TD pass and make good on the 2-point conversion to go up 14-8 with five minutes left in the second. The RPO would continue to work as Dylan Trivett would bounce off the line of scrimmage to tie the game at 14 all. Bledsoe County would hit a 27-yard field goal to end the half to go up 17-14.

After a Hampton punt, Bledsoe County would pick the pace up on offense and chew up 81 yards including a 37-yard touchdown run from Dallas Bridges to make the score 24-14 with 4:04 left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs would go on a long drive as the third quarter ended, a drive that ended with a Dylan Trivett 25-yard pass to Geno Carrico; a failed 2-point conversion would make the new score 24-20. Hampton would recover an onside kick and Trivett would hit a 29-yard pass on a post route to JJ McElyea. Trivett would run over the left side for the 2-point conversion to put the Bulldogs back up 28-24 with nine minutes left. Bledsoe County would drive deep into Bulldog territory, but Shayden Oliver would stuff the tailback on fourth down. The Bulldogs would look to drain the clock but would have to punt with four minutes left in the game. Bledsoe County would respond by driving 55 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, retaking the lead 31-28 with just 1:25 remaining on the clock. Hampton would drive to the Warriors 49-yard line, where Trivett would hit Carrico for a 35-yard pass, setting up first and goal at the six-yard line on second and goal from the two. Trivett would force his way in for the TD and then make good on the 2-point conversion to make the score 36-31 with just :22 seconds left. The Bulldogs would make one final stand as Dylan Trivett would pick the ball off to end the game.