The Hampton Bulldogs proved one point on Friday night at J.C. Campbell Stadium and that is a one-dimensional team can’t beat a multidimensional team. Hampton forced three turnovers and rushed for 230 yards in a 30-8 win that gives the ‘Dogs sole possession of first place in the 1-2A conference.

Senior Lane Potter rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns along with a 2-point conversion run and senior quarterback Alex Hardin passed for 71 yards with a touchdown running and one passing as well as throwing for a deuce.

“Alex made a lot of plays tonight, both on offense and defense,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “He doesn’t play a whole lot of defense being the quarterback but we had a lot of kids step up tonight on defense. Coach (Jake) Jenkins does such a good job with the defense that I very rarely have to look at the defense because of the way he gets them prepared. We got a lot of young kids playing defense that play their butts off.”

Hampton out gained Sullivan North in the first half with 178 yards of total offense against just 78 for the Golden Raiders, but Sullivan North maintained a slim 8-7 lead at the break following a 40-yard drive after stopping the Bulldogs on downs.

The ‘Dogs finished with 333 yards of total offense compared to the 97 yards the Golden Raiders were able to muster. North finished with zero passing yards as Pruitt went 0-for-5 with a pair of interceptions.

Hampton (3-3, 2-0 conference) scored on its opening drive, going 60 yards on 10 plays with senior quarterback Alex Hardin tossing a 7-yard scoring strike to junior wideout Matt Hughes. Michael Harrison booted the point after for a 7-0 ‘Dogs lead.

In the second period, North (4-2, 2-1) got rolling after a defensive stop on fourth and three and marched 40 yards on 11 plays with junior fullback Yancy Dolan lugging the pigskin from three yards out. A penalty on the point after moved North to the 3- yard line from where Dolan ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Raiders the lead.

The second half was all Hampton as Potter capped a five play75-yard drive with a 51-yard scoring run and then added the two point conversion as the ‘Dogs took a 15-8 lead. Sophomore Conor Jones picked off a pass from North quarterback Isiah Pruitt and ran it back 25 yards to set the ‘Dogs up at the North 23-yard line.

From there Hardin scored on a 9-yard scramble and his pass to Hayden Birchfield made it a 23-8 game. Senior Tubby Carden picked off Pruitt on the Raiders next possession and Potter punched it in from six yards out. Harrison added the final point of the game with his successful PAT.

“My seniors were just unbelievable,” Lunsford said. “Tubby Carden, a kid that’s maybe 170 pounds soaking wet played middle linebacker and Potter’s run turned the momentum of the game. From there I told them just get stops and Potter running the ball was a big factor tonight.”

Hampton 30-8

Sullivan North 0 8 0 0 – 0

Hampton 7 0 8 15 – 30

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

H – Hughes 7 pass from Hardin (Harrison kick) 7:31

Second Quarter

S – Dolan 3 run (Dolan run) :58

Third Quarter

H – Potter 51 run (Potter run) :54

Fourth Quarter

H – Hardin 9 run (Hardin pass to Birchfield) 6:59

H – Potter 6 run (Harrison kick) 5:57