Hopkinsville is ranked in the top 10 of a pair of preseason high school football rankings. The Tigers, who advanced to the region championship last year before losing to eventual Class 4A state champion Franklin-Simpson, are ranked fifth by Bluegrasspreps.com and seventh by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The Tigers return several key starters on both sides of the football and have added some new players expected to fill some gaps. In addition, Hoptown welcomes back running back JaTorian Dillard who missed 2017 with a knee injury.
Hopkinsville’s schedule features seven schools that are ranked in either the H-L or BGP preseason rankings. The Tigers open with South Warren (Aug. 17), who is ranked third in both Class 5A polls; Mayfield (Aug. 24), who is ranked No. 1 in both Class 2A polls; Caldwell County (Aug. 31), who is ranked seventh by BGP and eighth by the H-L; Christian County (Sept. 7), who is ranked ninth by the Herald-Leader; Paducah Tilghman (Sept. 14), who is ranked seventh by the H-L; Madisonville (Sept 28), who is ranked eighth by BGP; and Logan County (Oct. 5), who is ranked seventh by BGP and tenth by the Herald-Leader.
Hopkinsville will scrimmage at McCracken County Friday.
Lexington Herald-Leader Preseason Class 4A Top 10
1 Johnson Central
2 Franklin-Simpson
3 Wayne County
4 Collins
5 Ashland Blazer
6 Rockcastle County
7 Hopkinsville
8 Knox Central
9 Mercer County
10 Logan County
Bluegrasspreps.com Preseason Class 4A Top 10
1 Johnson Central
2 Franklin-Simpson
3 Ashland Blazer
4 Knox Central
5 Hopkinsville
6 Wayne County
7 Logan County
8 Madisonville
9 Greenup County
10 Scott