The Bulldogs clamp down on the Indians (with video)

Published 12:28 am Saturday, November 5, 2022

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Strength of schedule, it’s a term tossed around and debated at every level of football. For the Hampton Bulldogs Coach Michael Lunsford, now in his 7th year with the program, knew the benefits of playing better programs; and while the risk of taking a hit to his win-loss record or rankings didn’t matter; his concerns about losing the war of attrition did. Nonetheless, he took games against both Gatlinburg -Pittman and the 5th-ranked 5A Daniel Boone Trailblazers in stride, knowing that these higher-classified teams with good programs would push his players to perform better come playoff time. It showed tonight as Hampton shutout Oneida 32-0.
Hampton faced a familiar foe in the Oneida Indians, facing them in the last three years in the playoffs and holding a 2-1 record against them during that span. Hampton in their home blues, lost the opening coin toss and received the kick-off to start the game. Three plays into the game a 76-yard run from Dominique Burleson was called back due to holding, but still resulted in a third-down conversion.
On second down from the Indians 28-yard Dylan Trivett connected with Geno Carrico for a TD on a 50/50 ball that Carrico strong-armed away from the Indian defensive back after a failed PAT, the Bulldogs, with 6:07 left, led in the first quarter led 6-0. After forcing Oneida in a 3 and out Hampton took over at their own 16. On third and nine a long Trivett pass just sailed over the outstretched hands of Jonathan Greenwell forcing a 38-yard Chance Point punt, ending the first quarter.
The Indians starting from their own 22-yard line began to march down the field, but that drive was put to an end by an excellent open-field tackle by Dylan Trivett. A bad snap on a punt by the Indians sailed over Indian punter Colby Tyra and was scooped up by senior Brodi Hicks who galloped for a 45-yard touchdown giving the Bulldogs a 12-0 lead. In the spirit of true sportsmanship, both the Hampton and Oneida teams gathered together to pray on the field for Tyra who was injured during the play. After play resumed, Levi Lunsford came up just short on the two-point conversion. Oneida was once again marching downfield but, after a Geno Carrico sack and a ten-yard holding penalty, Oneida faced fourth and 23. Following the Indian 33-yard punt, Hampton took over at their own 12 and quickened their pace, but after a couple of first downs, the Bulldogs faced a fourth and short, unfazed Levi Lunsford powered ahead for 15 yards breaking several Indian tackles along the way. Facing another fourth and five Lunsford once again picked up a chunk of yards taking the ball all the way to the Indian four-yard line. Lunceford finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run off the shoulder of tackle Jonah Bowling, another missed PAT made the halftime score 18-0, a half that saw the Bulldogs outgain the Indians in yardage 200-15.
The second half began with Oneida converting a 33-yard pass to mid-field on third and very long off the arm of Indian QB Caden Rector, the drive would be stalled after Luke Belchers ninth sack of the season. Looking to run time off the clock at the six-minute mark the Bulldogs would go for a fourth and one from their own 24; Lunsford once again would pick up the first and then some with an eight-yard run.
Surprisingly the Bulldogs then went to the air with three passes in a row, Trivett would complete all three passes taking the Bulldogs all the way to the Indian 11-yard line. Junior QB Dylan Trivett would then finish off the drive with a six-yard plunge, with the extra point by Chance Point. Coach Lunsford and his Bulldogs would go into the final stanza with a 25-0 lead.
With their season on the line the Indians would drive to the Bulldogs 49-yard line, but as they had all night long, the Bulldogs would provide pressure on the Indians QB in the form of a sack by Austin Bentley. After a time-consuming drive led by bruising runs by Levi Lunsford and a couple more fourth-down conversions and a 16-yard pass to Josh Sweeney, the Bulldogs scored on a six-yard run by Levi Lunsford. The extra point by Point made the score 32-0 with 3:45 left in the game, With the continuous clock running the Bulldogs finished off the shut-out. The Bulldogs defensively dominated the Indians and then some, holding them to a total of 35 yards and negative 20 yards on 21 carries rushing.
Coach Lunsford talking about his defense after the game said “I think our team speed on defense was the difference tonight, you know it’s hard to complain about a shut-out but we put ourselves in some bad spots tonight, and there are things we have to clean up before next week.” When asked how long they would enjoy this Coach Lunsford replied, “we’ve already moved on.” For the Bulldogs Levi Lunsford had 24 carries for 165 yards and picked up numerous fourth-downs to extend drives, Dominique Burleson chipped in 76 yards on 12 carries. Trivett finished the night 6 for 10 for 77 yards and a TD. Defensively Geno Carrico led the team with six tackles and two sacks. Hampton improved on the season to 9-2 and will host the 9-2 Monterey Wildcats Friday night with kickoff at 7 pm.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders
Pre-game tailgating is a tradition at almost every football game. David Sweeney (foreground left) and James Johnson ( center in hat) have been feeding the Hampton Bulldog football team, the cheerleaders and the band prior to every home game for the last three seasons. What’s on the menu you ask? Absolutely wonderful smoked pulled pork, chicken, thighs, wings and all the fix’ns you could eat.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Bulldog workhorse running back Levi Lunsford (9) lowers his shoulders and drives forward for a first down on Hampton’s opening drive.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Geno Carrico (5) hauls in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Trivett capping a 90-yard opening drive.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Levi Lunsford (9) and Brody Hicks (15) converge on an Indian running back in the backfield and tackle him for a loss mid-way through the first quarter.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Domnique Burleson (12) drags an Oneida tackler forward for a five-yard gain late in the first quarter.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Shayden Oliver (64) breaks into the Oneida backfield, gets a grip on the Indians running back TJ Meredith (21) and won’t let go, throwing him for a five-yard loss late in the first quarter.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Dylan Trivett (18) makes a great open-field tackle on the Indians Colten Daughterty (7) holding him to a short gain early in the second quarter.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Brody Hicks (15) rumbles into the end zone with a scoop-n-score after a bad snap went through the legs of Oneida’s punter Colby Tyra(11). Hampton’s Chance Point (11) slammed into Tyra as he was trying to pick up the ball, knocking him to the ground.
Tyra suffered what appeared to be a back injury on the play and the game was stopped for over a half an hour while EMS was called to the stadium and Tyra was taken to Sycamore Shoals Hospital to be checked out, out of an abundance of caution.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Both the Hampton Bulldogs and the Oneida Indians players met near the Indians sidelines to offer up a prayer for Oneida punter Colby Tyra(11) who had been injured on a play just a few minutes earlier.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Jonathan Greenwell (1) drags the Indians Caden Rector (1) to the ground after a short gain mid-way through the second quarter.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Big Dogs of Hampton’s front line open a huge hole for Levi Lunsford (9) to run through for a Bulldogs first down late in the second quarter.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Levi Lunsford (9) scores on a sweep from one yard out to give the Bulldogs an 18-0 lead with just 20 seconds left in the first half.

 

Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Indians Caden Rector (1) just manages to avoid the sack from Hampton’s Levi Lunsford (9) as the clock winds down late in the first half.