Bulldogs shut down West Greene
Published 12:37 pm Monday, October 14, 2024
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Hampton’s Dominque Burleson (12) jukes West Greene defenders Austin Franklin (2) and Alex Johnson (3) for an additional 10 yards on his 54-yard run early in the first quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Hampton’s Isaiah Belcher (15) drags three West Greene defenders into the end zone for the Bulldogs' first score of the game at the 9:30 mark of the first quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Hampton’s Kaden Jones (1) and James Cable (44) wrap up West Greene’s Austin Franklin (2) after only a five-yard return on the kickoff following Hampton’s first touchdown of the night.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Hampton’s Maddux Wilson (13) swats away a pass intended for West Greene’s Shane Wilhoit (12) late in the first quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Hampton’s Dominque Burleson (12) tumbles backward into the end zone for the Bulldogs' first touchdown of the second quarter, extending the lead to 22-0 early in the quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Hampton’s Isaiah Belcher (15) bulldozes his way into the end zone with a West Greene defender on his back for the Bulldogs' final score of the second quarter, opening up the lead to 34-0 at the half.
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Star Correspondent
MOSHEIM — With the devastation of Helene still affecting many lives in Carter County, the Hampton Bulldogs found a brief respite Friday night when they took on the West Greene Buffaloes at Jim Sauceman Field.
Hampton rushed for 314 yards, with senior Dom Burleson collecting 199 of those yards and scoring two touchdowns, as the Bulldogs rolled to a 38-0 win in 1-2A conference play.
“With everything these kids have been through, to play this game was not promised,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “Everything has been hard, even getting kids to practice has been difficult, but I’m just so proud of the kids. Everything we want to do is still in front of us.”
Hampton (2-4, 2-1 conference) remains competitive in the conference with a final game at South Greene in two weeks.
Burleson got the scoring started with a six-yard run and added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Bulldogs lead. Junior Isaiah Belcher capped a 10-play, 59-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring run, with Peyton Townsend adding the deuce for a 16-0 Hampton advantage.
“This feels great, to be honest,” Belcher said. “I mean, some of us have lost everything, and I am really proud of my boys. We have worked really hard the last couple of weeks, so this win feels great. We still have a chance to finish the season strong.”
Hampton continued to push through the Buffaloes’ defense, with junior quarterback Maddux Wilson scoring on a 28-yard scramble and Burleson adding the deuce for a 24-0 lead. Belcher extended the ‘Dogs’ lead to 32-0 at halftime with a five-yard run.
Each team traded turnovers in the third period as the continuous clock rolled along without scoring. In the fourth quarter, Burleson scored his second touchdown on a two-yard run for the final margin of victory.
Hampton travels to Stoney Creek for a matchup with Unaka next week and will finish at South Greene in a game that could decide the conference.
Hampton 38, West Greene 0
Hampton 16 16 0 6 – 38
West Greene 0 0 0 0 – 0
Scoring summary
First Quarter
H – Burleson 6 run (Belcher run), 9:30
H – Belcher 7 run (Townsend run), 2:55
Second Quarter
H – Wilson 28 run (Burleson run), 7:31
H – Belcher 5 run (Burleson run), 2:14
Fourth Quarter
H – Burleson 2 run (run failed), 5:23
