It will be win or go home tonight when the Hopkinsville Tigers play host to the Daviess County Panthers in the first round of the Class 6-A high school football playoffs.
Hoptown enters the game on a three-game winning streak and is 6-4 on the season. Daviess County is 5-5 on the season.
Tigers’ Head Coach Dustin Lopez said his team is prepared for its first playoff game since 2022 and its first home playoff game since 2021. It also will be the final home game in the history of Hoptown football.
Daviess County is led by quarterback Garrison Barker, who has thrown for 1,463 yards and 11 touchdowns. Running back Ridge Roberts has run for 847 yards and 13 scores and wide receiver Jace Hunt has caught 45 passes for 702 yards and eight touchdowns.
On defense, the Panthers are led by Hunter Corbin, who has 119 tackles.
Lopez said Daviess County reminds him of Henderson County, who the Tigers beat 31-29 earlier this season.
Hopkinsville is led by senior James Bradley Jr., who has run for 1,704 yards and 17 scores and caught 19 passes for 398 yards and six scores. Senior wide receiver Aiden Jesse has 30 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers are led by lineman Foster Jackson, who has 90 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
This is only the fourth meeting between the schools and it’s the first time they’ve played on the football field since 2000 when the Tigers won 37-7. Hopkinsville leads the series 2-1.
The winner advances to play No. 2-ranked South Warren in Bowling Green on Nov. 14.
Tonight’s kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with airtime set for 6:30 p.m. on Newsradio 99.3 FM and 1230 AM WHOP.
File Photo by Danny Vowell