Hopkinsville knew coming in that points would be at a premium in their second round playoff football game at Madisonville. However, the Maroons were able to capitalize on Tiger mistakes and limit Hoptown’s big-play capability in a 20-0 win Friday at Maroon Stadium.
The Tigers amassed only 141 yards on 48 plays as they were shutout by Madisonville for the second time this season. Defensively, the Tigers did their part. They limited Madisonville to 229 yards on 48 plays. Only one of the 34 Maroon rushing attempts went for longer than 10 yards and only four plays all night were for more than 10 yards.
Hopkinsville was able to move the football deep into Madisonville territory twice only to see mistakes be their undoing.
On the game’s first drive, it looked like Hoptown was going to be the first beneficiary of a mistake. The ball hit the ground after Jeriah Hightower was tackled on a short run. However, the officials said Hightower was down before the ball popped out. Following the discussion, the officials apparently lost count of the downs, giving Madisonville a fifth down. Even after the public address announcer confirmed the upcoming 4th-and-1 play, the officials said it was third down. The Maroons picked up the first down with the aid of the extra play and capped off the 16-play drive with a 1-yard run by Hightower with 6:16 left in the opening quarter.
Hopkinsville’s best chance to score in the first half came late in the second quarter when the Tigers had first-and-goal at the Maroon 7-yard line. Consecutive penalties and consecutive sacks took the ball back to the 31. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty tacked on 15 more yards. Ellis Dunn picked up 33 yards on a scamper to the 12-yard line, but a 25-yard field goal was missed just left.
Hoptown again drove into Madisonville territory in the third quarter, but the drive ended with a Dunn interception.
Madisonville’s biggest play of the night came when J.D. Gilbert found Marquise Parker down the left sideline for a 55-yard pass play to the Hoptown 1-yard line. Gilbert scored on a quarterback sneak on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Hoptown’s final scoring threat ended with 6:24 left when a Tiger fumble was scooped up by Aaron Miller and returned 83 yards for a touchdown.
Dunn, who holds college offers from Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay, finished with 53 yards rushing on 19 carries but was sacked seven times. Hoptown 100 yards rushing on 32 carries. Dunn was 7-of-16 passing for 41 yards. Jordan Hopson had 24 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving.
Hightower, who has rushed for over 1,500 yards in consecutive seasons for Madisonville and has been offered by Tennessee-Martin, was held in check for the most part with 67 yards on 21 carries. While his longest carry was for seven yards, he didn’t lose any yards on the night.
Gilbert was 7-of-10 passing for 110 yards. Miller had 26 yards rushing and 39 receiving for the Maroons.
Madisonville outgained Hoptown yardage-wise 229-141.
Madisonville (10-2) will play for their first region title since 1971 when they travel to defending Class 4A state champion Franklin-Simpson next week. The Wildcats dispatched Logan County 55-19.
Hopkinsville ends their season with a record of 5-7.
