A quick and relentless start helped the Hampton Bulldogs speed out to a 59-20 win over the Rebels at South Greene Friday in some Region 1-2A action.
By halftime, the Bulldogs led 52-7, and the large lead allowed Hampton to rotate in some of their younger guys. Something that Hampton head coach Michael Lunsford said was a good thing.
“It is a good experienced for the younger guys,” Lunsford said. “We came out and took care of business early which allowed us to play a lot of people and get a lot of things done.”
The Bulldogs didn’t waste any time Friday. On Hampton’s first drive of the night, running back Hunter Davenport broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run to set the tone. The Bulldogs’ Dakota Sanchez missed the extra point, and Hampton led 6-0 with 11:40 to go in the first.
The Hampton defense stalled the Rebels on their first drive forcing South Greene to punt. With the ball at SG’s 41, Davenport pushed the ball ten yards, before Hampton quarterback Jason Russell connected with Chris Holtsclaw on a 49-yard touchdown pass. Sanchez popped the kick through, and the ‘Dogs held a 13-0 lead with 9:10 left in the first period.
After another failed drive by the Rebels, Hampton started at its own 47. Russell would keep for a big 37-yard run to put the Bulldogs on the ten, before senior running back Adam McClain finished things off with a seven-yard run and then a three-yard TD rush to help Hampton take a 20-0 lead late in the first.
South Greene’s next drive wouldn’t last long as Sanchez picked off a pass from Rebel QB Levi Myers giving Hampton the ball deep in South Greene territory. Sanchez would score on a 12-yard run on Hampton’s drive after the interception.
The Bulldogs’ defense kept the pressure on the Rebels forcing them to punt once again. Hampton’s next drive would be pushed up field by McClain who had a four-yard and 22-yard rush to put Hampton on the one before Davenport blasted on in for the touchdown.
McClain would intercept a Rebels’ pass before scoring on a 5-yard run on the following possession to help give Hampton a 39-0 lead after one quarter of play.
In the second quarter, Hampton scored two more touchdowns with McClain rushing in a 46 yarder and Russell connecting with Holtsclaw on an 84-yard touchdown pass.
With South Greene scoring late in the second quarter, Hampton led 52-7 at the half.
Hampton would find the board one more time in the game with Bulldogs’ Lane Potter rushing in from 2-yards out in fourth quarter.
It would be a special night for Hampton freshman Tyler DeJode, who made his first career tackle late in the fourth quarter. The tackle made the Hampton sideline erupt into cheers making DeJode feel like a million dollars.
“It felt amazing,” DeJode said. “I have never had that happen to me before. I really wasn’t expecting it.”
In the air, the Bulldogs were led by Russell, who tossed for 151 yards while connecting 3 of 5 passes. Russell also had two passing touchdowns both of which went to Hampton’s Holtsclaw. Holtsclaw had 133 yards receiving on two catches.
The Bulldogs’ ground assault was led by Adam McClain who rushed for 113 yards on sevens carries and three touchdowns. Davenport finished the night with 72 yards on three carries.
The win gives Hampton (7-1 overall) a 4-1 record in the conference and ties them up with Happy Valley (7-1, 4-1) and Gatlinburg-Pittman (5-3, 4-1) for first place in Region 1-2A.
Next week, the Bulldogs will host North Greene on Thursday for homecoming.