Daisjaun Mercer scored three touchdowns — including two 20 seconds apart — to help Craig Clayton win his 300th game as head coach.
Mercer’s big plays helped Hopkinsville pull away late to deal Caldwell County a 34-14 setback Friday night at the Stadium of Champions.
Clayton, a Caldwell County grad, now has an all-time coaching mark of 300-159.
But his alma mater did not make it easy for him.
Caldwell (1-2) opened the game with a 10-yard interception return for a touchdown by Billy Wallace to grab a 7-0 lead just 1:35 into the contest.
The defenses ruled most of the first half, but Jayden Dillard got Hoptown (1-2) on the scoreboard with 3:38 left in the first half on a 4-yard TD run up the middle.
The game was knotted 7-7 at the half.
The first of Mercer’s big-play touchdowns came early in the second half.
Mercer took a screen pass from Zach Moss but appeared to be bottled up behind the line of scrimmage. However, the shifty Mercer not only got out of that predicament, but sprinted through an opening and raced to the end zone to complete a 50-yard TD play. That helped give Hopkinsville its first lead at 14-7 with 9:04 left in the third period.
Dillard scored on a 2-yard run with 3:23 left in the third as Hoptown extended its lead to 21-7.
But Caldwell got back in the game late in the period when quarterback Jack Stevens found the end zone on a 33-yard run. That came with 59 seconds remaining in the third quarter and trimmed the Hoptown lead to 21-14.
Caldwell twice had the ball on the Hopkinsville end of the field early in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie. Caldwell turned the ball over on downs at the Hoptown 24 with 8:40 to play.
Then, after stuffing Hopkinsville on fourth-and-1 from its own 33 Caldwell had another chance. But Caldwell could get only as close as the Hoptown 27. A sack on fourth down ended that series.
Hopkinsville would not give Caldwell a third opportunity.
Instead, a 65-yard touchdown run by a darting Mercer pushed the Hoptown lead to 27-14. That came with 5:51 left in the game.
Mercer added a pick-six on the ensuing possession, taking the ball 35 yards to paydirt to put Hopkinsville up 34-14 with 5:31 to play.
Hopkinsville totaled 206 of its 304 yards in the contest on the ground.
Caldwell finished with 175 yards with 135 of that in the air.
Mercer accounted for 140 of Hoptown’s yards. He ran for a game-high 85 yards while catching two passes for 55.
Hopkinsville visits Bowling Green next week.
Caldwell is also on the road, traveling to Crittenden County.
