Rough and tough defense allowed the Hampton Bulldogs JV team to pull out an 18-12 win over the Cloudland Highlanders.

The win gave Hampton a 2-1 advantage in this year’s series between the two teams.

“They ran hung 30 on us down there during the first game,” said Hampton head Gary Keith. “Then the last time we beat them in overtime. I just told the guys that we needed to improve. And I could tell they have improved tonight, and I am very proud of them.”

The Bulldogs pulled out to a 12-0 lead in the first half behind two touchdowns from Hampton Lane Potter and Chase Taylor.

With time running out late in the second quarter, the Highlanders were knocking at Hampton’s from within the red zone. With less than 20 seconds on the clock, Cloudland was inside Hampton’s five-yard line. However, the drive would be cut short when Bulldogs’  Jonah Jones leaped high and intercepted a pass from Cloudland QB Malachi Benfield on the back end of the endzone. The interception sent the team to the locker rooms with Hampton leading 12-0.

The second half would see the Highlanders get inside the Bulldogs’ red zone many time but would only score twice.

At the top of the fourth quarter, Cloudland’s Hunter Blair blasted in from three yards out, and with the two-point conversion no good the Highlanders cut Hampton’s lead to 12-6 with plenty time left to play.

The Bulldogs would quickly answer as Potter rushed in a 59-yard touchdown to put Hampton up two scores with just 7:53 left to go.

Late in the fourth, after a lengthy drive that was aided by a unsportsman-like conduct foul, the Highlanders would get on board. Benfield connected with Cloudland’s Jacob Singleton on a 13-yard TD pass that saw Singleton go up and make an athletic catch.

“Jacob made three or four highlight reel catches for us tonight,” said Highlanders head coach Randy Birchfield.

The Bulldogs would run the clock out on their next possession.

The Bulldogs are 4-4 on the season.