The Bulldogs bulldozed out to a 59-12 win over the North Greene Huskies Thursday night as Hampton celebrated homecoming at J.C. Campbell Stadium.
“Homecoming games always come with a lot of distractions,” Hampton head coach Michael Lunsford said. “It is good having a mature team that knows when it is playing time and when it is time for business. They let the distractions go, and they did a great job.”
With the win, Hampton moved to 5-1 in Region 1-2A football as the Huskies dropped to 1-5.
The Huskies came out with a little steam. Using a persistent passing attack, North Greene, starting at its 20, drove to Hampton’s 35 in eight plays. However, the Huskies would come up short turning the ball over on downs.
Hampton would push down to North Greene’s 30-yard line before Jason Russell found Chris Holtsclaw on a 30-yard touchdown toss. Hampton’s Dakota Sanchez kicked through the extra point, and the Bulldogs led 7-0 midway through the first.
During North Greene’s ensuing drive, a big sack by Sanchez would push the Huskies back to their ten bringing up a fourth and long. The Huskies punt would give Hampton the ball on the Huskies’ 45.
Sanchez would lead Hampton throughout night, as he cleared running lanes for McClain and Davenport on offense and, while on defense, wreaked havoc on the Huskies offense
“Sanches is an unsung hero,” said Lunsford. “He has played well at middle linebacker. He is blocking for Adam and Davenport. You know, a lot of these runs don’t happen without him. He is a mature kid and has been a leader for us.”
On second and short at the 36, Russell faked a handoff to McClain before keeping the ball down to the 13-yard line. Mclain rushed the ball down to the two before popping on in during the next play. Sanchez would connect on the PAT kick giving the ‘Dogs a 14-0 lead with just four minutes left in the first.
Hampton forced another Huskies’ punt, and on the first play of the following drive, Hampton’s Hunter Davenport sped to the outside of the Huskies’ defense before burning up the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown to help give Hampton a 21-0 late in the first.
The Huskies’ next possession lasted only one play as Davenport picked off a pass by Briggs Kikers giving Hampton the ball on North Greene’s 34. On the next play, Russell connected with Brett Deaton on a 21-yard pass play to put Hampton on the 13, before Russell rushed it on down to the 5, where Sanchez plowed it on in. And Hampton took a 28-0 after the PAT with 1:06 still left in the first.
North Greene finally found some momentum as Jaques Powell returned a deep kickoff to the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line. Kiker found Bryson Story on the next play for a 2-yard touchdown cutting Hampton’s lead to 28-6 late in the first.
On Hampton’s next drive, McClain broke loose for a 67-yard run to the Huskies’ two-yard line, where Davenport took it on in for Hampton’s last touchdown in the first quarter, and Hampton lead 35-6 heading into the second quarter.
The Bulldogs’ started the second quarter with a 25-yard pick-six by Davenport to jump Hampton out to 41-6.
After a drive that saw McClain rushes 40 yards on three plays, Hampton got on the board again with 3:15 left in the half as Davenport punched the ball from two yards out to give the Bulldogs a 47-6 lead.
Hampton’s last touchdown of the first half was set up by an interception by Sanchez, which was his second interception in two games.
“I haven’t picked up an interception in a long time; this is the first two in two games, so it feels pretty good,” Sanchez said.
“I don’t know what to do with the ball,” Sanchez said with a laugh. “I just take off running and try and get and a touchdown.”
Sanchez’s interception put the Bulldogs on the 8-yard line before McClain rushes it on into the end zone to give Hampton a 53-6 lead heading into the half.
McClain led Hampton on the ground with 145 yards on ten carries. McClain finished the night with two touchdowns.
In the second half, the Bulldogs picked up one more touchdown when Lane Potter rumbled to the end zone from 49-yards out to give Hampton its final tally, 53-12.
North Greene had one touchdown in the second half as QB Tyler Stroud connected with Story on a 39-yard toss.
For Hampton, Russell finished the game with 105 yards of offense with 55 coming from the ground and 61 from the air. Russell connected 3-of-6 passes with one interception and one touchdown.
Davenport closed out the night with 44 yards on three carries.
The Bulldogs will host Cumberland Gap next week to finish out the regular season.