Hampton spoils Strong's homecoming Friday 33-16

STRONG - Deveyon Stephens and Gauge Welch each ran for a pair of touchdowns, as Hampton spoiled Strong’s homecoming with a 33-16 win in an 8-2A contest at Jerry Burson Field on Friday night.

Hampton (4-2, 2-1) bounced back from a home loss to Harmony Grove a week ago, while Strong (3-3, 0-3) lost their third straight in league play after a perfect start in non-conference play.

The visitors scored the game’s first 27 points on their way to collecting a road victory in league play.

Stephens opened the scoring with a 4-yard run in the opening quarter with Welch kicking the extra point to make it 7-0.

The Bulldogs led by the same score after the opening period when Welch scored on a 3-yard run and drilled the extra point to make it 14-0 in the second period.

Elian Martinez then scored on a 14-yard run with Welch’s extra point extending the lead to 21-0 with four minutes to play in the half.

Welch continued his big first half by scoring on a 1-yard run to make it 27-0.

However, Strong cut into Hampton’s lead in the second half.

Makaelis Jefferson scored with LeAndrew Greer adding the two-point conversion to make it 27-8.

Hampton led by the same margin after three periods of play, but Strong drew closer in the fourth quarter.

Desmond Newton added a touchdown of his own with Greer’s two-point conversion making it 27-16.

But that would be as close as Strong would get, as Stephens scored on a 26-yard run to make the final margin.