Boyle County 55 Hopkinsville 0

[SX1250.1]

This was the first game I was able to attend this season and from what I witnessed this Boyle Co. squad is the best “team” they have had since 2017.  Several very good players on both sides of the ball and great continuity.

[LethalPG]

On 12/11/2020 at 7:12 PM, bluecolonels95 said:

How does Boyle County keep continually dominating everyone?  The school is in the middle of nowhere. Where do these athletes come from? I understand Trinity always dominating in 6A,  their in a big city. But Boyle, what’s the secret? 

Getting Jagger Gillis to come play QB for his SR. season didn't hurt their chances.  He's pretty efficient as a player.

[Region2 Hype Man]

On 12/12/2020 at 9:48 PM, BEChargers said:

My only comment about Hoptown that might be considered negative would be this.  From the first series they were on offense they had players walking back to the huddle and had coaches and other players yelling from the sideline to not walk back to the huddle.  It wasn't one player is was 3-5 different ones on each play.  At no time did anyone who was walking stop walking and start jogging, nor at any time did anyone get pulled from the game for not jogging back to the huddle.  This may not seem like a very big deal to some, and all coaching staffs do things differently.  Some keep things very loose and some run a very tight ship.  All I know is that it was yelled almost every play when they were on offense and nobody ever stopped walking.  I will add that they did not seem totally undisciplined.  Nobody was playing dirty.  Nobody was mouthing back to their coaches.  They seemed frustrated at how the game was going but who wouldn't be.  I'm sorry but that just speaks volumes to me. 

During Clayton's first tenure, the kids knew how to win and what was expected. Even in years with less talent, the team bought in and fought hard. They played Louisville Male and tough teams every year. Clayton even had Hoptown close to a 4A state title when 4A was the highest level. They felt their competition was Trinity, Male, Boyle, etc. Kids grew up remembering Hoptown embarrassing Tim Couch with the national media watching. They remembered guys like Artose Pinner and all the players getting big time D1 offers.

This was Hoptown's 1st Semi-State since 2004, the year Clayton left. These kids the next 16 years have known Hoptown football as a mediocre program. The years after Clayton left you slowly saw the program lose it's way & by the time Clayton's players were gone Hoptown had become a bottom tier program by 2010.

They've even been the 2nd program in their own city. They've seen their big competition go from the top in the state to Madisonville, Logan Co, Henderson, Franklin-Simpson, Christian County, etc. The kids view those teams as the teams that are the top competition. They needed to conquer those hurdles first.

Like the guys said above, Boyle Football is a mentality they buy into all in that community. Clayton has had to teach this program what it takes to win again. They've now learned what it takes to win in Western Ky, but then Boyle showed them there's a much bigger state outside of WKY. That's what big time football looks like and now they can teach the next generation of kids what it takes to compete at the highest level in the state. It's hard work & dedication. It's not jogging and taking plays off. It's early morning workouts & studying the playbook. It's listening to the coaches.

Clayton has done a great job of getting the program back to being successful again, but getting to the level they were 15-20 years ago is the next step. The talent is there, but the kids just needed to learn what it takes. That Boyle game should be a good reminder, those kids are MEN and they know how to play football. Hoptown probably can start scheduling tougher games next year, get a Louisville & BG team on the schedule along with Mayfield.

[BillNye]

1 hour ago, Region2 Hype Man said:

During Clayton's first tenure, the kids knew how to win and what was expected. Even in years with less talent, the team bought in and fought hard. They played Louisville Male and tough teams every year. Clayton even had Hoptown close to a 4A state title when 4A was the highest level. They felt their competition was Trinity, Male, Boyle, etc. Kids grew up remembering Hoptown embarrassing Tim Couch with the national media watching. They remembered guys like Artose Pinner and all the players getting big time D1 offers.

This was Hoptown's 1st Semi-State since 2004, the year Clayton left. These kids the next 16 years have known Hoptown football as a mediocre program. The years after Clayton left you slowly saw the program lose it's way & by the time Clayton's players were gone Hoptown had become a bottom tier program by 2010.

They've even been the 2nd program in their own city. They've seen their big competition go from the top in the state to Madisonville, Logan Co, Henderson, Franklin-Simpson, Christian County, etc. The kids view those teams as the teams that are the top competition. They needed to conquer those hurdles first.

Like the guys said above, Boyle Football is a mentality they buy into all in that community. Clayton has had to teach this program what it takes to win again. They've now learned what it takes to win in Western Ky, but then Boyle showed them there's a much bigger state outside of WKY. That's what big time football looks like and now they can teach the next generation of kids what it takes to compete at the highest level in the state. It's hard work & dedication. It's not jogging and taking plays off. It's early morning workouts & studying the playbook. It's listening to the coaches.

Clayton has done a great job of getting the program back to being successful again, but getting to the level they were 15-20 years ago is the next step. The talent is there, but the kids just needed to learn what it takes. That Boyle game should be a good reminder, those kids are MEN and they know how to play football. Hoptown probably can start scheduling tougher games next year, get a Louisville & BG team on the schedule along with Mayfield.

Lets not act like Clayton took over a losing program from Marc Clark.  Hopkinsville had gone 10-2 in both 2015 and 2016 playing against the same type schedule the Tigers have played the past 4 years.  They've not won 10 games in a season since Clark left.  The Tigers are 3-3 against Logan and 1-5 against Madisonville in that time.   They won a region for the first time in 16 years this year and that is a good accomplishment.

Hoptown should be the favorite in their district again next year but they are a long way from  being the type of program they were from 1995 - 2005.  The talent just isn't there.  They are a fringe top 10 4A team right now after 4 years of Clayton coming back.

[Region2 Hype Man]

2 hours ago, BillNye said:

Lets not act like Clayton took over a losing program from Marc Clark.  Hopkinsville had gone 10-2 in both 2015 and 2016 playing against the same type schedule the Tigers have played the past 4 years.  They've not won 10 games in a season since Clark left.  The Tigers are 3-3 against Logan and 1-5 against Madisonville in that time.   They won a region for the first time in 16 years this year and that is a good accomplishment.

Hoptown should be the favorite in their district again next year but they are a long way from  being the type of program they were from 1995 - 2005.  The talent just isn't there.  They are a fringe top 10 4A team right now after 4 years of Clayton coming back.

He took over a program that had 2 good seasons, not a good program. The Clark era had those 2 good records, but those 2 years they lost to Christian County and their 2nd round playoff opponent. He'd never got past the 2nd round. When they played Christian, FS, and South Warren those years you could tell they just were over matched. They ran up good records against average teams they should beat.

The Clark era was honestly bad to below average. Historically awful beginning and then beat up a weak schedule the last 2 years. I can't really think of 1 game or win he beat a good team in his tenure. He never even got past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Clayton inherited a team that lost 10 of 11 starters on offense, that's a big reason Clark left. Immediately take that team PAST the 2nd round and went up 21-0 on the eventual state champion Franklin Simpson. A team with much less talent. In 1 year, he did more than the program had done in the time he was out.

The year he left, Curtis Pulley signed and played division 1. They did not have a single player sign to play FBS football during the time he was out and now they have a guy with UK, UL, WVU, and many other schools. You see it though in kids like Reece Jesse who was in Clayton's first freshman group back. You see it with Mercer who is setting records now.

Yes, they are far from where they were during his first tenure, but it takes some time to build a program on the level Clayton had Hoptown. It takes gaining confidence. It starts with "ok we won region, but we're supposed to win region. Now lets see how we measure up to the Louisville, BG, and Lexington schools"

Not downing the other teams around here, but the only Western Ky schools that Hoptown/Christian should be in competition with are Mayfield, Henderson, McCraken, Paducah, the Owensboro Schools, and Bowling Green schools. The talent level here is too high.

As a Christian County fan, I'm surprised that we haven't gotten past the 2nd round in 10 years and they have had multiple losing seasons. We are in a tough district, but we have had a lot of talent over that time.

[WKY_Football]

3 hours ago, BillNye said:

Lets not act like Clayton took over a losing program from Marc Clark.  Hopkinsville had gone 10-2 in both 2015 and 2016 playing against the same type schedule the Tigers have played the past 4 years.  They've not won 10 games in a season since Clark left.  The Tigers are 3-3 against Logan and 1-5 against Madisonville in that time.   They won a region for the first time in 16 years this year and that is a good accomplishment.

Hoptown should be the favorite in their district again next year but they are a long way from  being the type of program they were from 1995 - 2005.  The talent just isn't there.  They are a fringe top 10 4A team right now after 4 years of Clayton coming back.

The schedule is nowhere near what Clark played. Logan wasn’t Logan & Madisonville wasn’t what they were the last two years. Clark never played Mayfield, Paducah, Henderson County or Caldwell County during that time either. 

Clark did a great job resurrecting the Hopkinsville program but comparing schedules is apples to oranges. 

[WKY_Football]

1 hour ago, Region2 Hype Man said:

He took over a program that had 2 good seasons, not a good program. The Clark era had those 2 good records, but those 2 years they lost to Christian County and their 2nd round playoff opponent. He'd never got past the 2nd round. When they played Christian, FS, and South Warren those years you could tell they just were over matched. They ran up good records against average teams they should beat.

The Clark era was honestly bad to below average. Historically awful beginning and then beat up a weak schedule the last 2 years. I can't really think of 1 game or win he beat a good team in his tenure. He never even got past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Clayton inherited a team that lost 10 of 11 starters on offense, that's a big reason Clark left. Immediately take that team PAST the 2nd round and went up 21-0 on the eventual state champion Franklin Simpson. A team with much less talent. In 1 year, he did more than the program had done in the time he was out.

The year he left, Curtis Pulley signed and played division 1. They did not have a single player sign to play FBS football during the time he was out and now they have a guy with UK, UL, WVU, and many other schools. You see it though in kids like Reece Jesse who was in Clayton's first freshman group back. You see it with Mercer who is setting records now.

Yes, they are far from where they were during his first tenure, but it takes some time to build a program on the level Clayton had Hoptown. It takes gaining confidence. It starts with "ok we won region, but we're supposed to win region. Now lets see how we measure up to the Louisville, BG, and Lexington schools"

Not downing the other teams around here, but the only Western Ky schools that Hoptown/Christian should be in competition with are Mayfield, Henderson, McCraken, Paducah, the Owensboro Schools, and Bowling Green schools. The talent level here is too high.

As a Christian County fan, I'm surprised that we haven't gotten past the 2nd round in 10 years and they have had multiple losing seasons. We are in a tough district, but we have had a lot of talent over that time.

Clayton hasn’t done it by himself over the years either though Region 2. He has had some really good staffs over that time as well. 
 

WKY football is down right now as far as too heavy teams but there are more decent to good teams in the western part of the state then that has been in a while. Trigg, Madisonville, and Christian County should be better next year as well. 

[Region2 Hype Man]

3 hours ago, WKY_Football said:

The schedule is nowhere near what Clark played. Logan wasn’t Logan & Madisonville wasn’t what they were the last two years. Clark never played Mayfield, Paducah, Henderson County or Caldwell County during that time either. 

Clark did a great job resurrecting the Hopkinsville program but comparing schedules is apples to oranges. 

Clark really benefitted from Hoptown moving down to 4A. Dixie Jones actually was doing good when he was in the old 3A with PT, MadVille, Union, and Calloway. Dixie had some good defensive teams and played a tough schedule, but the offensive side of the ball was non-existent. Too loyal to bad assistants was always my opinion. The year after Goble left to go to Christian, he took Dan with him and you could see the drop off.

When they then became a 5A school, that began their run of not winning a district title. Owensboro, Christian, Madisonville, and Ohio was a step up. That staff and system was better suited to 2A and 3A. Fun fact, Hoptown went 3-8 one season and one of their wins was against Paducah Tillman who went on to win the 3A state title. (2009 or 2010) Now that’s another down program, those old PT teams were FUN to watch. You youngins probably don’t remember the Hoptown/PT rivalry at its best.

The year Hoptown moved down to 4A was the year they won district and went 10-2. The 2015/16 teams had the most talent I had seen a Hoptown team have in many years with size and speed. I really wish Craig had gotten to coach that group, as 4A was a bit weaker and he could’ve probably won state with that group.