In a game that was crucial for both teams as far as playoff implications are concerned the Hampton Bulldogs were just too much for the West Greene Buffaloes, winning 38-0 on Friday night.
West Greene coach Evan Monroe later said, “We didn’t play well in the first half. In the second half we held our own for the most part. We have to lick our wounds, come back and get ready for West Ridge. We knew coming in Hampton was better than their record (1-4), they’ve played some really good football teams, and we just didn’t play well tonight.”
The Bulldogs came out and pounded the ball behind two big fullbacks just as expected while mixing in some misdirection as well. Dominque Burleson did most of the work and scored from six yards out after a 53-yard run set his team up with a first and goal. The two-point conversion was good and the Bulldogs enjoyed an 8-0 lead at the 9:30 mark of the first quarter.
The Buffs went three-and-out and the Bulldogs went back to their powerful ground game. After picking up three consecutive first downs it was Isaiah Belcher crossing the goal-line from seven yards out. The two-point conversion was good once again and the new score was 16-0 with still 2:35 remaining in the first quarter.
The Buffs were still unable to earn a first down and punted again. The first quarter was quickly over with a score of 16-0 and Burleson had already racked up 118 yards on the ground for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs tried to catch the Buffs napping with a surprise pass, but Leland Payne wasn’t fooled. Payne picked off the pass by Maddux Wilson and returned it to the 39-yard line. The Buffs could not take advantage of the interception, with a bad snap on the next play and gave the ball back to the Bulldogs.
Wilson made up for his mistake a scored from 28 yards away on the quarterback keeper around the left end. The two-point conversion was again made and the Bulldogs increased their led to 24-0.
On the ensuing drive Austin Franklin, lined up a quarterback and gained 10 yards and a first down on his first touch of the game. The drive stalled and the Buffs were forced to punt yet again.
The Bulldogs would find the endzone another time before halftime when Belcher ran in from six yards out and Burleson added the two-pointer for a halftime lead of 32-0. The Buffaloes were held to only 16 yards of total offense in the first half, while Hampton’s Burleson had 150 yards rushing in the first half.
The Buffs opened the second half with an Austin Brown to Austin Franklin pass covering 16 yards, but Brown’s next pass was intercepted by Kaden Jones to spoil yet another Buff drive. The Buffs did manage to stop the Bulldogs and force a turnover on downs. A bad snap and a sack put the Buffs behind the sticks and were forced to punt.
The Bulldogs added a late touchdown by Burleson and the two-point try was no good when Alex Johnson intercepted the pass in the endzone.
The Buffs best chance to score came after a 30-yard pass from Brown to Johnson put the ball at the Bulldog 26 yard line. A 13-yard run by Dillon Teston and Trystan Banks put the Buffs inside the 10-yard line. Kendal Caldwell was called upon to attempt a 26-yard field goal, but a bad snap foiled any chance the Buffs had to keep from being shutout on the last play of the game with a final of 38-0.
Burleson rushed for 199 yards to lead the Bulldogs While Franklin had 37 yards on six touches and Brown had 50 yards passing.
