The West Greene Buffaloes will take on the Hampton Bulldogs at home on Friday Night in a game that was very much in jeopardy just a few days ago. Hampton High School has been temporarily closed and the students have been moved to the Carter County Central Office due to the flooding. The football field is also out of commission, Happy Valley has been generous enough to allow the Bulldogs to use their field to practice, but both coaches wanted to play this game.
The Buffs evened their record at 3-3 last week in a 40-0 win over Cumberland Gap on the road, they also evened their all-important conference record to 1-1.
Coach Evan Monroe said, “This is a must win for us, we really control our own destiny as far as the playoffs go. A win Friday night would put us in the drivers seat for a playoff spot and that was one of our goals in the spring.”
In that 40-point victory the Buffs rewrote the record books, breaking or tying six school records with Austin Franklin finding his way in the state record book with his six touchdowns and a 466 all-purpose yard game.
Franklin says, “I wasn’t aware that I was close to a record until after the game. I just tried to play hard and fast on each play. Having the school record is cool and all but to get into the state record book …now that excited me. I enjoyed it all weekend long but Monday morning it was time to get ready for Hampton, because this is our biggest game of the year. We need this game to make the playoffs.”
With 314 receiving yards Franklin is tied for ninth all-time in the state for single-game receiving yards, and his four touchdown catches in one game are tied for eighth all-time in the state.
With a performance like that Franklin will most likely have a target on his back and he is fully aware of that saying, “I just got keep doing what I do and us get a win”.
That game is in the rear-view mirror now and the focus is on Hampton, the Bulldog come to Mosheim with a 1-4 record on the season, but don’t let that record mislead you as they have lost two very close games they could have easily won.
The Bulldogs sit at 1-1 in the conference and have their eyes on a playoff spot as well.
Monroe says, “They’re big and they’re powerful, they run a two-fullback set most of the time and pound at you. They run a traditional set from time to time and throw the ball just enough to keep you honest. There’s no big secret to their offence, they come at you and keep coming. We have to be disciplined. Everyone has to do their job and if we can do that Ilike our chances”.
The game is a 7 p.m. start at Jim Sauceman Field in Mosheim, at this time the water situation is unknown so be prepared for that.
