News-Times Staff
HAMPTON - As one might expect with two of the best offensive players in the state regardless of class going head to head, touchdowns were not in short supply.
However, two fourth-quarter touchdowns allowed Hampton to pull away for a 50-28 win over Parkers Chapel on Friday night in the 8-2A opener for both schools.
Monta Thomas ran for four scores and threw for another for the Bulldogs (4-0, 1-0).
Dezmon Jackson had four total touchdowns, but Thomas' 38-yard touchdown pass to Dante Rainey along with the senior's 80-yard touchdown run helped the Bulldogs pull away for a key conference win.
Early on, it was a seesaw battle.
Jackson opened the scoring with a 7-yard run with 3:04 left in the opening period, but Kevin Childs answered with a 22-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds left in the quarter, and the Bulldogs took their first lead after the two-point conversion was good.
Hampton led 8-7 after the first period, but the offenses were just getting warmed up.
Thomas began his big evening with a 75-yard touchdown run with 9:58 left in the second period to make it 14-7.
Just 4 1/2 minutes later, Thomas scored on a 5-yard run to push the lead to 20-7.
However, the Trojans (3-1, 0-1) got right back into the game.
Jackson broke free for a 41-yard touchdown run with 3:05 left to cut into the Bulldogs' lead.
On the ensuing possession, Jackson made a big play on defense, as he recovered a fumble and returned it 55 yards for a score that gave the Trojans a 21-20 edge.
However, the Bulldogs would have the final say on matters in the opening half, as Thomas scored on a 2-yard run with 10 seconds left that made it 28-21 at halftime after the two-point conversion was successful.
The Trojans took advantage of a turnover to get back on even terms.
After Brendan Winchester recovered a fumble, Jackson scored on a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 28-all with 9:55 left in the third period.
However, Thomas and the Bulldogs would pull away.
With 6:03 left in the third period, Childs scampered 72 yards for a touchdown that would prove to be the game-winning points thanks to Thomas' two scores in the final stanza.
Thomas finished with 180 yards on 11 rushes.