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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
Since their first meeting won by Hampton, 34-12, both the Bulldogs and Cloudland have been playing some very good football as Hampton remains unbeaten on the season while the Highlanders have won three straight scoring at least 42 points or better over that span.

Both teams will hook up once again on Friday night at JC Campbell Stadium in Hampton in what could be a high scoring affair since both teams have gotten their game legs under them.

Whenever the two get together, the game is always entertaining for the fans and super competitive even though both teams are in different conferences.

Currently, the ‘Landers are 4-2 overall and in control of Region 1-A after taking care of Unaka last week. Hampton and South Greene are currently tied for the lead in Region 1-2A.

Hampton has been riding the coattails of junior quarterback Conor Jones who has been the field general for head coach Michael Lunsford’s team will be making sure that he utilizes the weapons at his disposal including Aiden Vines, Morgan Lyons, Jonathan Greenwell, and Dylan Trivett among others to make life hard on the ‘Landers.

The Bulldogs have been just as tenacious on the defensive side of the football as opponents have found locating the end zone to be very difficult as of late.

Coach Scott Potter’s Highlanders haven’t been too shabby themselves as of late as last week against Unaka, the boys from Roan Mountain were ripping up chunks of turf on the ground picking up a total of 420 total offensive yards.

Senior Seth Birchfield is coming into his own and last week was a workhorse carrying 26 times for 190 yards and three scores. The offensive power doesn’t stop there as Gage McKinney had 10 carries for 85 yards and one score, Caleb Sluder lugged the pigskin six times for 57 yards and a score, while quarterback Chase Shell rambled for 47 yards on six carries and passed for 33 more yards and a score.

It will be just another Carter County smashmouth football game with the last man standing at the end.

And don’t let the first meeting cause anyone to rest on their laurels as any time a team from either school meets whether on the softball field to the football field, there will be plenty of action and undeterminable outcomes.

The game will kick off at 7 pm and will be the only game being played in Carter County as Unaka and Happy Valley are on the road and Elizabethton is idle.