Let’s get it on… Hampton ready to get back to work after bye week
Published 12:50 am Friday, September 27, 2019
- File Photo/Ivan Sanders Conor Jones has been showing a lot of growth and maturity since taking over the quarterback role for Coach Michael Lunsford's Hampton Bulldogs.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
Hampton has had a mixed bag of results in their first four games of the season, so the bye week could either prove to be a good thing or a bad thing.
Head coach Michael Lunsford said that his team hasn’t been trying to come up with something new, just improving on something tried and true.
“We have really been working on not missing assignments as well as working on the fundamentals and tackling,” said Lunsford. “Those were the extra things that needed to be worked on.
“Sometimes a bye week can help, and sometimes it can hurt. We have put a good game plan in and we just need to work to execute it.”
This week, the Johnson County Longhorns come calling at JC Campbell Stadium and Lunsford knows that his team will have their hands full as the ‘Horns come in with an identical 2-2 overall record but records can be thrown out the window when these two teams hook up for battle.
“I expect them to come in with a lot of energy and heart and will be putting several good athletes on the field,” Lunsford stated. “They are fast on defense and like to get the ball out in space. They are a tough, physical football team.”
Coming into the season, Lunsford didn’t know how his young quarterback, Conor Jones, would handle taking over the reins but has been pleasantly surprised at how Jones has picked up on things as he continues to learn each week.
“Conor’s maturity is really coming along,” commented Lunsford. “He has several good receivers to throw to. As he continues to mature and develop and the offensive line provides the protection, it will allow him to be able to get the ball to some of those guys.”
The Bulldogs have only played one conference game to date in a loss to the Happy Valley Warriors, but Lunsford has been around the game long enough to realize that anything can still happen at this point in the season.
“We played Happy Valley pretty tough but made a couple of mistakes. We did enough bad things to get beat. I think the conference is a five-team race and it will come down to the last week of the season,” Lunsford stated.
Hampton and Johnson County will get underway at 7:30 pm.
