The Logan County Cougars came into Friday night’s meeting with Hopkinsville undefeated and putting up 52 points a game. while the Tigers have averaged just over 6 points per outing since quarterback Jay Bland went down with a knee injury in the fourth game of the season. A stellar effort from the Hoptown defensive unit held the Cougars to their lowest point output of the year, but the Tigers fell 10-6 at the Stadium of Champions.
A Mason Marschand 34-yard field goal gave the Tigers the lead with just over a minute to play in the first quarter, however the Cougars answered on their next possession with a 39-yard touchdown run by Maurice Gordon. With 2 minutes left in the first half, Logan County quarterback Tyler Ezell was sacked by the Tigers’ Erick Grubbs and was injured on the play. Nate Woodall came in for the Cougars, and was intercepted by the Tigers’ Jaime Cooper-Roman and the Hopkinsville 16-yard line.
With 7 minutes left in the third, Marschand was on target again, this time from 32 yards, to cut the lead to 1 at 7-6. The Tigers looked to Marschand’s leg again with a chance to take the lead with a minute to play in the third, but his 39-yard attempt was no good.
The Cougars had a 1st and goal from the 8 early in the final quarter, but a series of penalties forced them to settle for a missed 35-yard field goal. With 7 minutes to play and the Tigers still trailing by a point, Logan County punter Ethan Haley pinned the Tigers on their 1-yard line. Hoptown moved the ball out for a 1st down at the 12, but Tayshaun Barker fumbled and the Cougars recovered at the 10. A tackle for loss by Cooper-Roman and a third sideline warning against Logan pushed them back to the 31. Kicker Lucas Arevalo redeemed himself from his earlier miss by drilling a 42-yarder to stretch the lead to 10-6.
On their final possession, Tiger quarterback Ellis Dunn found Reece Jesse for 24 yards to the Cougar 41-yard line. Dunn hooked up with Jordon Hopson to the 34, but the Cougar defense came up with back-to-back sacks to push the Tigers back to midfield. On 4th and 13 from the 44 with just over a minute on the clock, Dunn’s pass fell incomplete to end the Tigers’ chances.
Ellis finished 5-12 for 50 yards through the air, while JaTorion Dillard had 78 yards on 14 carries and Hopson picked up 62 yards on 15 carries for the Tigers. Woodall was 4-9 for 54 yards with an interception for the Cougars, with Gary Hardy running for 62 yards on 16 attempts. Anthony Woodard hauled in two passes for 53 yards. Logan County had 211 yards of offense and the Tigers 189.
Next week the Tigers go on the road to face the 3-4 Calloway County Lakers, winners of two-straight.
