Bulldogs will try to end Boone’s unbeaten season

Published 11:52 am Tuesday, October 25, 2022

STAR CORRESPONDENT

In a game of little consequence to the Hampton Bulldogs as far as playoff position in Region 1-2A having wrapped up the conference title the ‘Dogs will attempt to knock Daniel Boone from the ranks of the unbeaten on Thursday night at JC Campbell Stadium.

Boone (9-0 overall) has had a stellar season with quarterback Luke Jenkins compiling a 62.7 completion percentage with a QBR ranking of 101.2. Jenkins has passed for nine touchdowns.

“It’s hard to find a flaw in their game,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “They do what they do very well. Their special teams are excellent and they make you go the length of the field with their kicker reaching the end zone a lot of the time. They are well coached and they are explosive offensively.”

Hampton (8-1 overall) counters with a powerful run game with seniors Levi Lunsford, Brody Hicks and sophomore speedster Dominique Burleson leading the way. Burleson rushed for a game-high 184 yards in the ‘Dogs 36-0 win over Unaka with Lunsford adding 134 rush yards.

Lunsford scored two touchdowns in the contest with Burleson scoring on a 54-yard run and Hicks added a 21-yard scoring run.

Junior RB Aiden Riner has rushed for 737 yards with 13 touchdowns for the Trailblazers this season and senior WR Landon Kirkpatrick has 478 receiving yards with four touchdowns and fellow senior WR Rylan Trout has 336 receiving yards with six touchdowns.

“We have to try and limit big plays,” Lunsford said. “I would rather have them go on long drives and capitalize on a mistake than to give up quick strikes. We are going to have to be disciplined and take advantage of our opportunities.”

The ‘Dogs are solid defensively giving up just 105 points for an average of 11.6 points per game and are exceptional at forcing turnovers. Quarterback Dylan Trivett has several weapons at his disposal in the passing game with junior Chance Point and senior Johnathan Greenwell proving themselves as solid receiving options.

Boone has earned several impressive wins including a 7-0 win over Elizabethton. The Blazers have also beaten Morristown West (38-7), CAK (31-7) and have region wins over Tennessee High (21-13) and Science Hill (22-14).

“They are a very good football team,” Lunsford said. “They are a complete football team with a lot of versatility. They have proven themselves with wins over some very good programs. We just hope to come out of this healthy so we can compete at a high level in the playoffs. I would have rather played this game earlier in the season, but it is what it is, and we have to play the games as they are scheduled.”

Game time is 7:30 pm on Thursday night.