Hampton invades Pigeon Forge to kick off season – www.elizabethton.com

Hampton invades Pigeon Forge to kick off season

Published 3:58 pm Tuesday, August 16, 2022

After being the first team in school history to punch a ticket to Chattanooga for the 2021 Class 2-A BlueCross Bowl, the Hampton Bulldogs are ready to start the 2022 season.

Hampton will open the season Friday night against the Class 3A Pigeon Forge Tigers, who they defeated in a thriller, 20-14 in the season opener last year.

With the graduation of quarterback Conor Jones, the Bulldogs turn the reins over to Junior Dylan Trivett, who will be playing behind a young offensive line.  Hampton will be fielding a team that only has 11 seniors with various levels of experience and only returning five starters on offense and five on defense.

On a good note, the Bulldogs return senior running back Levi Lunsford and a lot of experience in skill positions. Hampton is traditionally a power-run team but with Trivett that is about to change. Look for Hampton to be more of a passing and explosive team with Trivett behind center.

Pigeon Forge is picked to finish second in Region 2-3A behind Alcoa.

“They are a predominantly run-heavy team with two really good, strong, running backs,” said Lunsford. “We will have to tackle well and play assignment football.”

Kickoff for Hampton against Pigeon Forge will take place Friday night at 7:00 pm in Pigeon Forge.