After an 8-4 season that came to an end with a 28-21 loss to Madisonville-North Hopkins in the 2nd round of the 4A playoffs, ten Hopkinsville Tigers have been named to the All-WKC Football Team.
Leading the way on the 1st Team are junior WR Reece Jesse and senior DL Denarius “Red” Barnes. Jesse led the Tigers with 67 catches for 1,184 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 98.7 yards a game. Barnes led the Tigers in tackles with 34, 24 solo, along with 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
After returning to the field after a knee injury cut short his junior year, QB Jay Bland makes the team after he threw for 2,408 yards, with 28 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
Junior tight end Lane Rushing was one of Bland’s favorite targets, making 33 catches for 401 yards and 6 TDs, while another frequent target, senior RB/WR Tyrell Gray-Lewis, is also honored after catching 23 balls for 400 yards and 4 scores, to go with 120 yards and a TD on the ground. Also on the offensive side, senior OL Keane Mumford was named after starting all 12 games.
A quartet of defensive players round out the list, with senior LB Conner Lackey and senior DE/OLB Hayden Lackey each recording 29 tackles, tying for 3rd-best on the team. Conner had 1 tackle for loss, while Hayden recorded 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 7 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Senior DB Jevon Leavell had a fumble recovery and an interception with 10 tackles, while also carrying the ball 14 times for 125 yards and a score. Freshman Daisjaun Mercer led the Tigers with 8 interceptions, tying a school record, with 127 return yards and 7 tackles, 1 for a loss.
