HAMPTON — Replacing Northeast Tennessee’s leading rusher won’t be an easy task, but very few things surrounding Hampton football are easy.
Traditionally a gritty, ground-and-pound program, the Bulldogs had their resiliency tested last fall in the aftermath of Helene. Students at Hampton High were forced out of the building due to storm damage, and the football program was forced to find alternate places to practice and play remaining home games.
The team, understandably, had its struggles down the stretch due to the external factors, finishing at 3-7 and losing in the first round of the playoffs.
While some of the challenges persist, such as not having classes on campus, the Bulldogs are slowly returning to normal. They have been able to hold summer workouts and practices back on campus, and Happy Valley has been designated their home field for 2025.
Senior running back Peyton Townsend said that the team’s mentality hasn’t changed, even if circumstances have.
“We’re going to put in the work, regardless,†Townsend said. “But it’s good being back at the high school and putting in the work there. We’re glad to be back and we’re ready to play.â€
One of the biggest on-field challenges for the Bulldogs will be in replacing the production of Dom Burleson. He rushed for 1,449 yards in the regular season with 17 touchdowns. The rushing total paced the area, while he was tied for third in touchdowns.
Head coach Michael Lunsford doesn’t the numbers to be replicated by one back, instead by committee. Townsend is expected to lead the way, given his experience as Burleson’s change-of-pace back last season.
“Dom was my guy,†Townsend said. “He was a great player. In the fourth quarter, he would never give up. He was always putting in the work. I’m trying to learn from him and do what he did.â€
Knowing that he will likely see an increased workload, the senior added he put an emphasis on his running between the tackles in the offseason.
“A lot more staying in my holes, hitting the holes hard,†he said. “Staying behind my blocks and hopefully scoring more touchdowns for my team.â€
Being a Hampton running back is just part of Townsend’s lineage. His father, Adam Townsend, was a member of the class of 2007 and was part of one of the Bulldogs’ most successful stretches of football. Every year from 2005-07, Hampton made it all the way to the Class A Semifinals.
As a junior in 2005, Townsend had one of the best rushing seasons in Northeast Tennessee history. He ran the ball 239 times for 2,079 yards and 28 touchdowns, including postseason stats.
Peyton said his father has been a great resource in following the Hampton way.
“I love my dad,†Townsend said. “He was coaching last year, unfortunately he’s not this year. He always has helped me out. I’ve looked at him and I’m going to try and do just what he did.â€
The 2025 Bulldogs will be like the mid-2000’s counterparts in that they will be back in Class 1A. It’ll be Hampton’s first year back in the classification since 2014 after being in 2A for the past decade. It reunites Hampton with Carter County rivals Cloudland and Unaka in the conference, as well as the likes of Cosby and North Greene.
However, they will open up the season on Aug. 22 both out-of-conference and out-of-state with a home game against Avery County, N.C. at Happy Valley.
