Hopkinsville wanted to make a statement in its second-round playoff game with Logan County Friday and needed only two players to do so. Ventrall Baker took a swing pass from Treyvon Jefferson, broke a couple of tackles, and went 41 yards to the house to put Hopkinsville up less than 30 seconds into the contest.
Hoptown was able to sustain its early success and handed the Cougars a 42-20 loss in Russellville. The Tigers won their first district title in three years, and the win was Hoptown’s 50th career playoff win.
After forcing a punt on Logan County‘s first possession, the Tigers were more methodical on their second possession. They drove 73 yards on nine plays and added their second touchdown of the quarter on a 10 yard run by Emmanuel Cheatham.
Logan County answered with a sustained drive of its own, marching 64 yards over 11 plays and taking 6:34 off the clock. The drive culminated with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Blake to Anthony Woodard on a fourth-and-16 play.
In Logan County‘s 31-7 win over Hoptown last month, the Cougars controlled time of possession and took advantage of Hopkinsville turnovers. They were able to do neither Friday night. The Tigers owned the football for 22 minutes and did not turn the football over once.
Hoptown took a 21-7 lead into the locker room at halftime when Reece Jesse caught a 15-yard touchdown from Jefferson with 2:59 left in the second quarter. The Tigers did a good job of utilizing Jesse in key moments in the contest. He had four catches for 68 yards and had a touchdown run called back due to a penalty. His touchdown before halftime was the end result of a 12-play, 75-yard Hoptown drive.
Hoptown put the exclamation point on the contest during Logan County’s opening drive of the second half. Cheatham picked off a Logan County pass at the five and returned it unscathed up the right sideline 95 yards for a Hoptown score and a 28-6 lead.
Daijaun Mercer gave Hoptown a 35-7 lead with 1:27 left in the third quarter when he hauled in a 26-yard pass from Jefferson. Hoptown’s final score came with 3:35 left on an 11-yard run from JeMarcus Jones.
Logan County tacked on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. They both came on 4-yard runs from Jaden Sells and Zach Yates.
The Cougars had trouble overcoming adversity in the contest, as they were flagged 19 times for 182 yards. Hoptown was penalized eight times for 75 yards.
After a 5-for-22 performance and three interceptions in his first game against Logan County, Jefferson was solid in running the Tiger offense. He was 6-of-11 for 135 yards and no turnovers.
Jayden Dillard had 80 yards in 14 carries, and Smith added 31 yards late in the game on three carries. Hoptown ran for 155 yards on 30 carries while Logan County toted the football 40 times for 254 yards.
Hoptown ran 41 plays to 60 for Logan County. While the Tigers were outgained 357-290, Hoptown was 3-of-7 on third downs and a perfect 2-for-2 on fourth down. Logan County was 3-of-13 on third downs.
Blake, who ran for 250 yards against Hoptown last month, had 13 carries for 63 yards before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injury. He was also 6-for-10 passing for 57 yards before the injury.
Woodard caught five passes for 62 yards and ran for 58 yards on four carries.
The win is Hopkinsville‘s 50th postseason victory dating back to their 1965 state championship season. They are 50-32 all-time in the postseason.
Logan County was looking to advance to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in school history. They fell to 0-3 all-time against the Tigers in the playoffs and see their season end with a record of 5-4.
Hopkinsville improved to 6-2 with the win and will host John Hardin next Friday night in the third round of the playoffs at the Stadium of Champions. John Hardin [5-2] beat Spencer County 41-0. It will the first-ever postseason meeting between the two schools.
