Hampton to visit Unaka for non-conference clash

Published 9:45 am Tuesday, October 18, 2022

STAR CORRESPONDENT

The Hampton Bulldogs will take the short trip to Stoney Creek on Thursday evening for a non-conference game with the Unaka Rangers at Goddard Field. Both teams come off impressive victories with Hampton taking the region 1A conference title with a 58-8 win over Cumberland Gap and the Rangers took a 64-0 win over Cosby in which they set several team records.

“Landon (Ramsey) is a great quarterback, he reminds me of his brother though I think he might be a better athlete than John Boy,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “They use him to run the ball quite a bit and he’s big and strong and can run and has a strong arm. They have a lot of weapons. The Blamo brothers are really good and coach Bennett does a good job with this group.”

Last season the two teams met at JC Campbell Stadium and the ‘Dogs took a 51-14 decision and the Rangers likely remember that vividly and would like nothing more than to turn the tables on their visitor.

In that contest, then quarterback Conor Jones had a three-touchdown game, running for a pair of scores and connecting with Chance Point on a 59-yard scoring strike, while Jamal Blamo had a 64-yard touchdown reception and a two-yard touchdown run for the Rangers.

Jones passed for 138 yards and the ‘Dogs rushed for 269 yards while holding Unaka to 99 yards of total offense. All of that has nothing to do with what will transpire on Thursday night however as Unaka and Hampton are both different teams this year.

T.J. Thomas rushed for 121 yards and Ramsey added 113 ground yards in a historic win over the Eagles in which the Rangers set team records in points scored and yards gained as they dominated Cosby and clinched a home playoff game.

Unaka (5-3 overall) has averaged 32.2 points per game offensively and surrender 20.6 points defensively, but over the last four games the Rangers have given up just 27 total points. The ‘Dogs are prolific offensively with junior Dylan Trivett under center averaging 40.2 points per game with Point and senior tailback Levi Lunsford providing quick strike scoring ability.

“We need to come ready to play,” Lunsford said. “You can’t take nobody for granted. We are as healthy as we have been all year. It is one of the first times this year we will have a full team.”

Game time is 7:30 pm.