Hampton routs Avery in penalty plagued contest
Published 11:30 pm Friday, September 3, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs Levi Lunsford (9) takes the handoff from quarterback Conner Jones (4) and goes off tackle right and into the end zone from one yard out.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs Michael Harrison (3) intercepts a Viking pass, on their opening drive, around the 40 yardline and race toward the end zone only to be stopped short by a late tackle at the one.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Michael Harrison (3) will not be denied this time as he catches a pass near the Bulldog sideline, turns and race to the end zone untouched for Hampton’s second touchdown of the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Hampton free safety Conner Jones (4) lays out completely trying to tip a pass away from a streaking Elijah Holtsclaw (35) on a deep route over the middle that resulted in the Vikings first touchdown of the night.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Bulldog tailback Levi Lunsford (9) breaks through Avery County’s front line and look for additional yardage on a first quarter run.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Hampton quarterback Conner Jones (4) didn’t find anyone open so he tucked the ball away and scampered 27 yards for the Bulldogs third touchdown of the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Michael Harrison (3), with Conner Jones (4) holding, connects on the PAT after the Bulldogs third touchdown of the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Bulldog fullback Ryan Crumley (48) burst thorough the line and gets into the secondary for extra yardage late in the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Hampton quarterback Conner Jones (4) breaks right, through a hole big enough to drive a truck through, and runs for the end zone for his second touchdown of the quarter, capping the Bulldogs four touchdown outburst in the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs Will Thorton (67) and Austin Bentley (53) collide with Avery County’s Chad Giarrusso (13) in the backfield, dropping him for a loss ot three on the play in the second quarter.
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BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Senior quarterback Conor Jones rushed for a pair of first-half touchdowns and passed for two more as Hampton toppled Avery County 54-26 on Friday night at J.C. Campbell Stadium.
Jones run for scores of three yards and 26 yards and had a pair of touchdown tosses to Michael Harrison of 40 yards and 24 yards as the Bulldogs opened a 41-20 halftime advantage.
Harrison had three interceptions of Avery County sophomore quarterback Will Stanford and two touchdown receptions for the Bulldogs.
“Harrison is a kid who has been a good athlete here for a lot of years,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “He’s a super talented athlete who catches everything and can go up high to get it.”
Stanford passed for 209 first-half yards on 10-for-21 completions including touchdown passes of 77 yards to Elijah Holtsclaw, 34 yards to Logan Gilliam, and 38 yards to Mason Thomas.
Jones rushed for 83 of Hampton’s 209 first-half yards with Levi Lunsford rushing for 42 yards on 10 carries including a three-yard scoring run. Jonathan Greenwell had a three-yard scoring run for the ‘Dogs.
The third quarter saw Chance Point score on a 27-yard scoring toss from Jones and Chad Giarrusso scored on a two-yard run for the Vikings. Greenwell scored his second touchdown of the contest in the fourth quarter to make it a 54-26 game.
Stanford finished the game with 250 yards passing on 15-of-35 completions but the Avery ground game was held in check with just 58 yards on the ground.
Hampton rushed for 322 ground yards and Jones completed 6-of-9 passes for 133 yards.
“The line is the strength of our team and we kind of put it on their backs to carry us,” Lunsford said. “They did a heck of a job. Dylan Trivett was a kid we wanted to get some reps and he has a good arm. We give him a lot of reps in practice but it’s just different on Friday night.”
In a penalty plagued game Lunsford said, “We aren’t good enough to afford to play that way and get behind the sticks.”
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Hampton 54-26
Avery Co. 14 6 6 0 – 26
Hampton 28 13 7 6 – 54
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
H – Lunsford 2 run (run failed) 10:00
A – Gilliam 34 pass from Stanford (Giarrusso kick) 9:06
H – Harrison 40 pass from Jones (Lunsford run) 6:52
A – Holtsclaw 77 pass from Stanford (Giarrusso kick) 6:21
H – Jones 26 run (Harrison kick) 3:30
H – Jones 3 run (Harrison kick) 1:25
Second Quarter
A – Thomas 38 pass from Stanford (kick blocked) 11:50
H – Greenwell 3 run (Harrison kick) 2:53
H – Harrison 24 pass from Jones (run failed) :03
Third Quarter
H – Point 37 pass from Jones (Harrison kick) 8:03
A – Giarrusso 3 run (kick failed) 1:05
Fourth Quarter
H – Greenwell 11 run (kick failed) 3:19
