The Warriors were ready to pull the upset. However, Hampton had the answers.
The Bulldogs held on to take a crucial 43-26 over Happy Valley on Friday night on Warrior Hill to remain undefeated on the season. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak by the Warriors.
Hampton set the tone early by marching down the field on the opening drive. Coby Jones hit J.J. Chambers to set HHS up at the one, and Adam McClain dove into the endzone to give the Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead.
The Warriors answered on their first drive of the night as Sage Haun hit Josh Hammons for a 76-yard pass, and Hicks capped the drive off with a one-yard score. The extra point, however, was unsuccessful as the Bulldogs held a 7-6 lead just past the midpoint of the first quarter.
Hampton answered with a 10-play drive that saw the offensive line open holes to move the ball down the field. The drive was capped as Jerry Lunsford scored on a 5-yard run, and Jones hit Jared Wiltshire for the two-point conversion as Hampton held a 15-6 lead after a quarter of play.
Happy Valley opened the second quarter by moving the ball deep into Hampton territory, but an interception on 4th-and-16 ended the drive. The Bulldogs took advantage by marching down the field on 13 plays as McClain scored his second touchdown of the night to push the Hampton lead to 21-6 with just over two minutes to play in the first half.
Mookie Madison helped move the Warriors to midfield on the last drive of the half, but Happy Valley was unable to score before the break.
In the third quarter, the teams were forced to trade punts to open the frame. Happy Valley struck first as Madison carried HV into the Hampton redzone, and Dylan Street ran for a 10-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed as the Bulldogs maintained a 21-12 lead with just over five minutes to play.
Hampton held the ball for the remainder of the quarter, and took nearly seven minutes off the game clock as McClain scored on an 11-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Jones added the two-point conversion.
The Warriors were forced of the field on the next drive, and Hampton push the lead to 24 points with a Jerry Lunsford touchdown. Happy Valley, however, wasn’t finished.
Sam Blevins caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Haun with 4:43 on the clock, and the Warrior defense stopped Hampton on fourth down at midfield on the ensuing drive.
That set up a quick drive that was capped off by an Austin Hicks two-yard run as the two-point conversion pulled the Warriors within 10 with just over a minute to play.
Hampton, however, iced the win with Lunsford’s 20-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds to play.
Lunsford and McClain finished with 134 yards and three touchdowns apiece to pace Hampton, while Jones finished with 77 yards and 5-of-11 passing for 56 yards.
Street tallied 81 yards on six carries to lead the Warriors. Madison finished the game with 11 carries for 58 yards, while Haun went 8-of-10 passing for 189 yards. Hammond had 82 yards on two catches, and Blevins tallied 75 yards on three catches.
For the game, Hampton held a 405-381 advantage in total offensive yardage.
Danny Winters recorded a solo sack for Hampton, and Bailey Johnson and Josh Pierce combined for a sack. Keet Scalf also had a solo sack for the Warriors, while Seth Chesser and Blevins combined for a sack.
The Bulldogs will host Sullivan North next Friday while Happy Valley will welcome North Greene to Warrior Hill.
