It was tough to tell which running game was more effective Friday. Either way, between the ground-and-pound approach on the field and the collective sprint to the postgame buses, the Hopkinsville High School team scorched some Earth at Stadium of Champions in a 43-0 thrashing of Calloway County.
Eager to attend their school’s Homecoming dance, the Tigers wasted little time in dispatching the Lakers, forcing a running clock for all but 30 seconds of the second half and earning a dominant victory in their Class 4A football district opener.
It’s the largest margin of victory for Hoptown (4-2) since a 49-0 win over Calloway two years ago.
One week after senior quarterback Jay Bland threw for a school record six touchdowns, HHS used its legs to take care of business, scoring five of its six touchdowns via the rush. Jayden Dillard and Isaya Brooks each had a pair of TDs on the ground.
Bland, who was named 2019 Fall Homecoming King at halftime, had a one-yard QB sneak, which immediately followed a 57-yard burst by Tyrell Gray-Lewis that was halted just short of the goal line’s threshold.
Gray-Lewis did account for his squad’s lone receiving score, hauling in a 22-yard TD reception late in the first quarter. Senior kicker Mason Marschand, who was one of four Tigers who on the Homecoming Court, went 5-of-5 on PATs.
Much like he has during the first five games before it, Dillard established the tone quickly for the Tigers, capping a 91-yard opening possession with a 23-yard scoring scamper midway through the first quarter. Dillard reached the end zone for the second time with 11:30 to go in the third quarter, and then earned the two-point conversion to give HHS a 36-0 lead and trigger the running clock.
Brooks – who wears No. 28 – scored on a 28-yard breakaway run for the game’s final points with 4:44 remaining in the third period. Freshman QB Jacob Bealle and a cast of younger players got some solid reps and showed promise in relief.
Calloway County (0-6), which had to rely on the arm of backup quarterback Kanyon Franklin, lost its ninth straight game. Its largest play of the game came on a 30-yard gain on a bubble-screen grab by Montrell Rogers. Later in the drive, however, as CCHS looked poised to get on the board, Dejuan Mercer stopped the Lakers’ lone scoring hopes with one of two interceptions on the night.
Mercer, who now has a team-high four interceptions this season, led a Hoptown defense that forced five punts and recovered a pair of fumbles. Since a 28-13 loss at Henderson County on Sept. 13, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 84-13.
The lopsided victory sets up a Thursday night marquee showdown against No. 6 Logan County. The Cougars (6-0) defeated Madisonville-North Hopkins 26-24 on Friday, after a 30-yard Tyler Ezell Hail Mary to Jaden Sells with no time remaining.
(—- Chris Jung)
SCORE BY QUARTER
CCHS (0-6) 0 0 0 0 – 0
HHS (4-2) 14 14 15 0 – 43
SCORING PLAYS
HHS 1Q (6:12), Jayden Dillard 23-yard run (Mason Marschand kick)
HHS 1Q (3:10), Tyrell Gray-Lewis 22-yard catch from Jay Bland (Marschand kick)
HHS 2Q (9:04), Isaya Brooks 7-yard run (Marschand kick)
HHS 2Q (3:01), Bland 1-yard run (Marschand kick)
HHS 3Q (11:30), Dillard 34-yard run (Dillard two-point run)
HHS 3Q (4:44), Brooks 28-yard run (Marschand kick)