Perennial football powerhouse Mayfield High School (2-0) proved too much for the Hopkinsville Tigers on Friday night, leaving the Stadium of Champions with a 49-20 win. After a competitive first half, the Tigers shot themselves in the foot with a couple of interceptions right before the halftime break, allowing the Cardinals to find some breathing room.
Hopkinsville got on the board on its first possession, scoring on a long pass from sophomore quarterback Jay Bland to senior wideout Gavin Marschand. Senior kicker Taylor Harton would convert the PAT putting the Tigers up 7-0. Mayfield and Hopkinsville would exchange punts on the next two possessions, before Mayfield appeared to have tied the game on a long pass from sophomore quarterback Jaden Stinson to senior wideout Jordan Harrison. However, a penalty would wipe out the score and Mayfield would eventually punt. After a 20 yard pass pick up, the Tigers would fumble at their own 30. Mayfield recovered and eventually got a 5 yard TD run from senior running back Kyle Hurt. The Cardinals would add the PAT, knotting the score at 7 as the quarter ended.
On Hopkinsville’s first drive of the second quarter, an illegal procedure penalty and a sack would pin them on their own 4 yard line. Harton would barely get the punt away, but Mayfield threw the Tigers a lifeline with a roughing the kicker penalty, giving Hoptown a first down on their own 24. Hopkinsville would be forced to punt anyway, and after taking possession Mayfield fumbled on first down, but were able to retain possession. The missed opportunity would haunt the Tigers after the Cardinals completed a 60 yard pass and then got in the end zone with a 10 yard quarterback keeper. The PAT would put Mayfield up 14-7 with 7:19 left until halftime.
Hopkinsville would punt with 6 minutes left, but would get the ball back on their own 28 after a fumble recovery by senior JaKevis Bryant. Hopkinsville would punt again, but Mayfield would give the ball back again when senior Andrew King picked off a pass and returned it to the Mayfield 26. The Tigers looked poised to close the gap going into the half, but on their first play Bland threw out into the right flat and junior Connor Guthrie stepped in front of the receiver and returned it untouched 70 yards for a back-breaking touchdown, making it 21-7 with 2:24 left.
Undeterred, Hopkinsville would advance down the field on the strength of a 45 yard Bland to Marschand pass and a roughing the passer penalty, leaving the Tigers with a 1st down on the Hopkinsville 15. Unfortunately, Hopkinsville’s Bland would be picked off at the goal line by Mayfield sophomore Alonzo Daniel, although the long return would be brought back by a blocking in the back penalty. Mayfield wasn’t done yet, as Guthrie would break a long run with a Tiger personal foul tacked on at the end. The Cardinals found themselves on the Hoptown 10 yard line, but a sack by senior Tavian Sanders appeared to take Mayfield out of scoring position. However, a 20 yard passing touchdown from Stinson to Harrison and the point after would leave the Tigers down 28-7. In the span of 5 minutes the Tigers had the ball in scoring position twice, but instead gave up two touchdowns, effectively putting the game out of reach.
The third quarter began with the Cardinals picking up big chunks of yardage on the ground with Guthrie leading the way. Only 2 minutes into the quarter Mayfield would use a short run from sophomore Travon Halliburton to push the lead to 35-7. After a nice kick off return, Hopkinsville would go 3 and out and have to punt. After a big run set the Cardinals up at the Hoptown 10, Harrison would take a screen pass 10 yards for another touchdown, pushing the lead to 42-7.
To the Tigers credit, they kept attacking and a beautiful 60 yard pass to Marschand put them inside the Mayfield 5 yard line. After three unsuccessful attempts, the Tigers finally got in the end zone on a 1 yard run from sophomore Jevon Leavell. The PAT would be good, pulling the Tigers to 42-14. Any momentum the score provided Hoptown would be quickly extinguished though, as after moving down the field the Cardinals scored again on a short run, restoring the 35 point lead as the third quarter ended.
The 4th quarter would be fairly uneventful and littered by penalties. Hopkinsville would get on the board one last time after senior Deseandre Green blocked a Mayfield punt from the shadow of their endzone. As time expired on the game, the Tigers would add six points on a short run for the final score of 49-20.
The Tigers face the Caldwell County Tigers (1-1) at the Stadium of Champions next Friday.