After weather ended last week’s game before it got started the North Greene Huskies are hungry to get back on the field on Friday night as they welcome a new look Hampton squad to the Tundra for a key Region 1-1A contest.
“We have to bring our best effort. It’s not about who we are playing. It’s about how we play and we have to got out and play North Greene football,” North Greene coach Eric Tilson said. “It will be a great atmosphere on Friday night and I expect a great football game. As a player this is the type of game you live for. As a coach it’s one that gives you goosebumps, because you remember that feeling when you went against this kind of opponent. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope our players are looking forward to it.”
Both teams have hopes of winning Region 1-1A and to accomplish that both need to win on Friday. Hampton comes into the game with a 3-2 record, but they have lost two in a row and fallen to 1-1 in league play. Last week the Bulldogs lost to Jellico 36-22 and on September 11 they fell to Happy Valley 44-16.
“Everybody is going to look at the last couple of weeks and see Hampton has dropped a couple of games. But they are a proud program and they are not going to come down here and lay down. They are a very good football team, and I expect them to be absolutely fired up on Friday night,” Tilson said.
North Greene enters Friday with a 2-2 record and is 1-0 in region play. Last week’s game with Cosby was rescheduled to October 9 after lightning prevented the teams from taking the field. The Huskies last played on September 11 and fell to South Greene 41-6.
Last year the Bulldogs beat the Huskies 46-6. The two teams have 30 times in their histories and Hampton has won every one of those contests.
This year’s Hampton team is not the dsame one you have seen in the past. The Bulldogs have scrapped the Power I for the spread and are throwing the ball all over the field.
They are led by quarterback Brycen Blevins who is throwing for 193 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 64.5 percent of his passes.
The normally run-heavy Bulldogs are rushing for just 86 yards per game on 11 attempts per contest. Belvins also leads that effort. On the perimeter Logan Hughes leads the way with 398 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Being sure tacklers in space will be crucial for North Greene’s defense on Friday.
“If you are used to watching Hampton they have been a Power I and power run team, but they are spreading it out this year,” Tilson said. “If you look at their personnel you understand why. They have a lot of good skill kids and they have a quarterback that can really throw it. They look a lot different from what you have seen in the past.”
North Greene goes into Friday’s game looking to stay balanced on offense. Senior running back Leon Johnson is averaging over 140 yards per game on the ground while Jared Swatzell is throwing for 170 yards per game.
Matt Boyd, Kelson Eastep, Levi Gray and Parker Collins have all made big plays in the passing game this year.
Kickoff for Friday’s contest is set for 7 PM at North Greene.
