Bulldogs dominate Cloudland in backyard brawl
Published 11:00 am Monday, September 25, 2023
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders On Friday night, the Highlanders of Cloudland honored their former head, Mike Lunsford, who was holding his granddaughter, Amelia, just prior to the start of Friday evening game against Hampton by naming the football field house in his honor. Lunsford was the head coach of both Cloudland and Hampton for more than 20 years combined before he retired. His son Michael (far right), the current head coach at Hampton, came out with him during the presentation.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldog quarterback Dylan Trivett (18) hands off to Dominique Burleson (12), who scampers 16 yards off left tackle for a touchdown and a 36-6 lead late in the first half.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Former Hampton and Cloudland head coach Mike Lunsford, with his wife Kathy, who helped organize the event, holds a pair of footballs signed by his former players from both schools to help replace memorabilia lost in a house fire late last year.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Mark Bennett (right), who played on the 2001 state championship Highlanders, shakes hands and shares memories and gratitude with his former coach and mentor Mike Lunsford during a pre-game event, Friday night at Cloudland.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Josh McCoury (left) shares some laughs and memories with his former head football coach, whom he played for during the 91-94 seasons, as he signs a football at the table setup to help replace memorabilia lost in a house fire.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders charge onto Orr Field, ready to take on their cross-county rivals, the Bulldogs from Hampton, on a perfect fall evening for football Friday night.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Highlander quarterback Bryce Birchfield (2) turns and hands off to Kyle Birchfield (7) on the opening play of their first drive Friday night.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders A pack of Bulldogs, Geno Carrico (5), JJ McElyea (3) and Dominique Burleson (12), smother Cloudland’s Kyle Birchfield (7) in the backfield for a loss early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs Maddux Wilson (12) hauls in a quick out pass from Dylan Trivett (18), but is immediately tackled by Cloudland’s Bryce Birchfield (2) mid-way through the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s JJ McElyea (3) drags the ‘Landers Bryce Birchfield (2) out of bounds, but not before Birchfield got first down yardage on the play.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Highlanders Auston Caraway (9) drags Hampton’s the final four yards of a 20-yard catch and run for Cloudland’s first score of the night with 7:25 left in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton quarterback Dylan Trivett (18) turns and pitches the ball to Geno Carrico (5), who goes end around and flies down the sidelines 50 yards for the Bulldogs first score of the game with 6:26 left in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs answered Cloudland’s touchdown quickly when Geno Carrico (5) took a pitch from quarterback Dylan Trivett (18) and goes end around, then hit the jets down the sidelines 50 yards for the Bulldogs first score of the game with 6:26 left in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs wasted very little time scoring their second touchdown of the first quarter when Dylan Trivett (18) hit Dominique Burleson (12) with a quick out pass. Burleson then cut back hard on Cloudland defenders Kyle Birchfield (7) and Bryce Birchfield (2) and raced 65 yards to the house with 4:26 left in the quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s Grayson Young (23) wraps up Cloudland’s Kyle Birchfield (7) for another Bulldogs sack in the first quarter Friday night.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs Peyton Townsend (2) gets outside of Cloudland’s containment and races 31 yards for Hampton’s first touchdown of the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s Jaylen Burleson (33) wraps up and sacks the Highlander quarterback Kyle Birchfield (7) early in the second quarter.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
The annual backyard brawl between Hampton and Cloudland became a beatdown as Hampton dominated the Cloudland Highlanders in a 50-6 victory at Orr Field on Friday night. The Bulldogs (4-2 overall) scored 30 second-quarter points to take a 44-6 halftime lead and never needed to look back.
Cloudland scores first in first quarter
On their second drive, Cloudland (2-3 overall) drove from its 45 to the Hampton 20-yard line from where Kyle Birchfield – throwing out of the wildcat formation – found Austin Caraway on a 20-yard scoring pass. The two-point run was no good, so the ‘Landers settled for a 6-0 advantage.
That didn’t last long as Hampton overcame a first and 20 because of a holding penalty and senior Geno Carrico scored on a 50-yard scamper down the home sideline. The ‘Dogs two-point run also was not good, so the score stood at 6-6. One play after forcing a Cloudland punt Dominique Burleson scored on a 62-yard run to stake Hampton to a 14-6 lead after Burleson ran in the deuce.
“Once I got to the sideline, I knew I had it,” Burleson said. “My receivers were out front blocking and it was wide open. This is what we came here to do. My O-line was getting a lot of criticism but tonight, they showed who they are. I give them a lot of credit.”
An avalanche of Bulldog points highlights the second quarter
Hampton’s Bryson Markland recovered a ‘Landers fumble and Peyton Townsend cashed in the turnover with a 21-yard touchdown scamper and Trivett passed to J.J. McElyea for the two-point conversion and the ‘Dogs led 22-6. On the next Bulldog possession, Burleson scored on a 16-yard run and Trivett ran in the deuce for a 30-6 Bulldogs lead.
Burleson then picked off a Birchfield pass and Carrico cashed it in on a one-yard run as Hampton continued to pour it on with a 38-6 lead. Hampton capped off a 30-point second quarter with a 68-yard Trivett to McElyea pass play to make it 44-6 at the half.
Second half sees a running clock and a Landers drive falters
Damian Buckles scored on a 25-yard run to open the third quarter and Hampton took a 50-6 lead after the point after kick sailed wide left. Cloudland then began a drive highlighting Kyle Birchfield that ended at the Hampton 19-yard line after a motion penalty and an incomplete pass on fourth and 17 and the Bulldogs took over on downs.
Mike Lunsford honored pre-game
Former Cloudland head coach Mike Lunsford was honored pre-game by naming the ‘Landers fieldhouse for him. Lunsford won over 200 games in his career as ‘Landers head coach.
“It feels good to come here and play well,” Bulldogs head coach Michael Lunsford said. “Especially on a night where my dad was honored and I know it is awful special to him for Cloudland to do that. And for us to play well on a night like that is special. My offensive line has taken a lot of flack about how they hadn’t played very well and tonight I thought they hit their stride and I told them that they ‘took it personal’ and they dominated on both sides of the ball.”
For Cloudland, Kyle Birchfield rushed for 86 yards on 22 carries and had a touchdown pass on three for nine passing.
Hampton 50-6
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
C – Caraway 20 pass from K. Birchfield (run failed) 7:35
H – Carrico 50 run (run failed) 6:20
H – Burleson 62 run (Burleson run) 4:20
Second Quarter
H – Townsend 21 run (Trivett pass to McElyea) 11:07
H – Burleson 16 run (Trivett run) 4:45
H – Carrico 1 run (pass failed) 2:55
H – McElyea 68 pass from Trivett (Trivett pass to Wilson) 1:30
Third Quarter
H – Buckles 25 run (kick failed) 10:01
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
C – K. Birchfield 22-86, Peppers 5-13, K. Cole 1-5, G. Cole 1-(-1). H – Burleson 8-138, Carrico 2-51, Trivett 7-41, Townsend 3-57, McElyea 1-24, Buckles 1-25, E. McKinney 1-19.
PASSING
C – K. Birchfield 3-9, 32 yards. 1 TD, 1 int. H – Trivett 5-7, 100 yards, 1 TD.
RECEIVING
C – Caraway 1-20, Peppers 1-17, B. Birchfield 1-(-5). H – McElyea 3-97, Burleson 1-7, Wilson 1-(-4)
