by Bryce Phillips

Star Staff

bryce.phillips@elizabethton.com

It was a record setting night for senior Coby Jones on Thursday as the Hampton High School Bulldogs ended their regular season with a 54-8 win over the Panthers at Cumberland Gap High School.

Jones, who threw for 110 yards on four completions Thursday, surpassed Hampton High School’s record for most yards thrown in a single season. After Thursday’s game, the senior QB has 1,537 yards passing on the season, breaking the previous record of 1,430 by 107 yards, a record set by Michael Lunsford in 2006, by 107 yards.

In typical form, Jones was humble when told the news of his achievement.

“I am extremely blessed to have the team that I do,” Jones said Thursday night. “The coaches have pushed me and have helped me to train. Our line has given me great protection, and our receivers have run great routes, while catching the ball. It makes it easy when you are surrounded by team that wants to work hard and a God that is looking over you.”

The play that sent Jones over the record mark came early in the game. On the Bulldogs’ first drive, Jones found receiver Jared Wiltshire for a 56-yard touchdown pass. Wiltshire ended the regular season with 567 yards of receiving.

The Bulldogs finished the night with 351 yards rushing. Adam McClain led the way with three TDs and 114 yards on eight carries as he surpassed the 1,000 yards rushing mark, while Hunter Davenport recorded 81 yards on three carries. Jerry Lunsford closed the game with 72 on two carries, while picking up a touchdown.

With Jones’ 110 yards of passing and Jason Russell’s 46 yards on eight of four completions — one of which was for a touchdown — the Bulldogs had 156 yards passing. Hampton recorded 507 yards of total offense.

In the first quarter, Hampton opened up their scoring with Jones’ 56-yard touchdown pass to Wiltshire. McClain would then punch in two in a row, one of which came after a punt block by Wiltshire to put the ‘Dogs deep in Panther territory. After some driving by the ’Dogs, McClain got in the end zone from a yard out to put Hampton up 21-0.

Still in the first quarter, Lunsford picked up the next Hampton TD, scrambling in from 65 yards out. Trevor Waycaster booted in the extra point, putting the Bulldogs up 28-0. Waycaster went 6 of 8 on the night.

The last touchdown of the first quarter came from McClain, who pushed in from 20 yards out.

In the second quarter, the ’Dogs picked up one touchdown, with a 32-yard TD pass from Jones to Nathan Norris. With the PAT good, the Bulldogs went into the locker room ahead 42-0.

In the second half, the Bulldogs’ first string went to the bench as the second string took to the field.

The Panthers finally found their footing as they scored on their first drive of the second half, with QB Ethan Ellison connecting with Preston England for a 15-yard TD pass. With the two-point conversion good, the score moved to 42-8.

Hampton picked up one TD in the third quarter, with Dakota Sanchez running in a 21 yard TD.

In the fourth quarter, after Davenport ran for 61 yards to get the Bulldogs on the 5-yard line, Russell connected a pass to Wyatt Lyons, setting up the final score of 54-8.

With the win, the ’Dogs secured an undefeated season, going 10-0, giving them momentum going into playoffs next week as they host Sweetwater for game one on Friday.

“I think we have a lot of fire and willpower as we come in ready to work on Monday,” Jones said.