The Hopkinsville Tigers ended a two-year skid in season openers with a 35-21 victory over hosts Kenwood, TN on Friday night in Clarksville. Tiger quarterback Jay Bland was victorious in his return to the field from an injury that ended his junior season prematurely.
The Tigers got on the board on their first possession, capping an eight-minute drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Bland to Reece Jesse. Bland and Jesse hooked up again to double the advantage with two minutes played in the second quarter, and the Tigers looked to be in control.
However, Kenwood’s Kavarius Moody gave the Knights some life with an interception that he returned to the Hoptown 15 yard line. On the first play after the turnover, quarterback Jaylen Washington hit Anthony Smith to cut the Tigers’ lead in half at 14-7.
The Tigers got some breathing room on a 14-yard TD catch by Lane Rushing with 7:34 to go in the third, before they stretched the margin to 28-7 when Bland connected with Tyrell Gray-Lewis for a 25-yard score with just over eight minutes to play.
However, less than a minute later Moody struck again for the Knights, collecting a pass and zig-zagging to the endzone for a 69-yard score. Hopkinsville answered with a 20-yard TD run by Isaya Brooks with just over six minutes left, before the Knights made it more respectable with a late score.
Up next for the Tigers is a visit from Mayfield, who were 45-22 winners over Lausanne Collegiate, TN. The Memphis school won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and ’17.
