Hampton was unable to complete a rally on Friday night.
The Bulldogs saw a late rally fall short in the season opener on Friday night as Hampton fell 20-14 to Pigeon Forge on the road.
Hampton took the opening drive inside the PF 20, but a fumble ended the drive short of the endzone. The Bulldog defense recorded a big stop on the first Pigeon Forge drive, but Hampton saw their second drive stall out as they were stopped on fourth down.
The first quarter ended scoreless.
Pigeon Forge took control in the second as Wyatt Howard scored on a five-yard run to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 9:54 left in the first half.
After a Hampton fumble at midfield, the Tigers pushed the lead out to 14-0 when Andrew Lewis scored a nine-yard touchdown with 5:16 left.
Hampton moved the ball into PF territory but was unable to get onto the board as the Bulldogs trailed 14-0 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Bulldogs kept battling.
Dom Burleson scored on a 36-yard run and then added the two-point conversion to pull Hampton within 14-8 with 8:10 to play.
The Tigers, however, answered as Howard scored on a 56-yard run quickly to push the lead to 20-8.
Hampton went back to work, moved the ball methodically, and got back on the board as Burleson scored on a two-yard run with 4:31 to play. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
Pigeon Forge was able to recover the ensuing onside kick and was able to run out the clock to secure the win.
Burleson ended the game with 151 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns, while Peyton Townsend added 37 yards on the ground and 33 receiving yards.
Maddux Willson was 3-for-6 passing for 49 passing yards.
The Bulldogs are set to host Johnson County next Friday for the home opener at J.C. Campbell Stadium.
Photos courtesy of Chad Wells/The Mountain Press