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Star Correspondent

In his junior year at Hampton in 2023, Dominque Burleson rushed for 1,477 yards, which placed him second in Northeast Tennessee behind Cloudland’s Kyle Birchfield’s 1,507. This year, he hopes to reach the top of the heap.

However, after a 151-yard, two-touchdown performance against Pigeon Forge, he had just 44 yards against Johnson County in a game that spanned two days and 82 versus Pisgah of North Carolina.

“On Friday night, no one will work harder than Dom,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “We ask a lot of him and put a lot of weight on his shoulders, but he can handle it.”

Burleson is looking forward to Friday night when the Bulldogs will travel to Warrior Hill for a conference clash with Happy Valley, knowing that the season rides on the outcome.

“We have to play better and make the plays we need to make,” Burleson said. “We have to block and tackle better, and I have to make plays. We are sticking with the power running game; we just have to play better.”

Burleson credits his parents, Fred and Tracie, for supporting him in his athletic endeavors and is a hard worker in the classroom as well. Burleson’s brother, Jayden, also plays for the Bulldogs as a tight end and defensive back, and Dom also goes both ways and is known as a solid safety.

“He is one of the better tacklers on the team,” Lunsford said. “He is one of the leaders in tackles on the team. He is always near or at the top when we figure tackles.”

Hampton hopes for a breakout game from Burleson, and the entire squad, on Friday night as the Bulldogs’ season is riding on it.

“It hasn’t looked too good for us so far, but we have to battle our way out of it,” Burleson said. “I know we can do it.”