Region2 Hype Man

The name I keep hearing is Mark Clark. Maybe I’m too old and out of it as I age, but is the Hoptown not that appealing if all they can find to take it would be Clark coming back? I know their fans and player will not be happy. I would think they could get a winner as they once were a big time job. I mean I understand why the CCHS hire happened as my Colonels were under a cloud combined with the consolidation issue. But this Hoptown job is pretty good.

THe games I saw this year, he didn't even have a QB at times and could still take over a game on offense.

Dustin Lopez probably deserves the job. HHS C/O 2003. Played at Memphis and Arena League. He's been Craig Clayton's assistant in Tennessee and at Hoptown the last decade. Craig has groomed him for the job. He's young, but he's a hard worker and knows the modern game of football. A lot of backstabbing and drama on that staff the last few years because there's been jockeying to be the successor. I wanted Lopez to get the CCHS job and bring my school back to glory, but wherever he goes he's going to do great. Everyone in the coaching community around here knows he deserves the job, similar to Lovelace 15 years ago. I hope they get him right. I heard that some HHS people are pushing to bring Marc Clark back? Well? I know that McCracken Co. would gladly love for him to go this way and there would not be hard feelings. Nice hard working guy, but not a guy that can win games. The HHS and CCHS job too are set up to be jobs that should compete for a regional title every season. Too much talent not to do it. Clayton came back in year 1 to HHS and got them further than they did Clark's entire tenure, with a team that had lost almost all it's starters from the year before.

That's what I meant about run oriented as it will force them to get their ball into their playmakers hands more. The former starting QB was a very talented QB, but it seems he lacked chemistry with the group and it wasn't working. The new QB really does not have the football knowledge, but he's a 6'4 athlete and has a cannon arm (D1 baseball recruit) I still would say BG wins double digits, not comfortably, but the game is never in doubt if you know what I mean. Hoptown has played some solid defense all season and they've played some good opponents to get them ready. But, I just don't see them taking on that BG defense without an experienced QB. Note for my BG friends, 4 of the best football games I've ever seen involved Bowling Green and a team from this area. -2003 Playoffs at BG when Curtis Pulley hit Cody Adams with under 20 seconds to win the game. Adams said he just put his arms up and found the ball in the light. -2005 Playoffs when BG held on to a 3-0 win over Hoptown in the Region Title. Hoptown just could not punch it in and the BG defense was stout. -2010 Playoffs when Christian County was down 0-10 going into the 4th quarter. BG misses a field under 5 minutes. Christian scores a TD. Then Christian recovers an onside kick. A very lucky unnecessary roughness call put Christian on the goal line to take a 14-10 lead to win the game. A magical night that was really sad as the Stadium was very empty for such a big game. Christian in the next round beat Warren Central for the Region Title in OT stopping WC's 2 point conversion. -2016 playoffs when South Warren's CJ Hayes intercepted Hoptown on the goal with 30 seconds to go to preserve a 28-24 win. I really do miss the days of when Christian and Warren teams would battle it out, but we've lost a step. Who would've thought years back Christian and Warren Central could go winless and have the worst records in the region?

They can actually hold their own, but they commit a lot of penalties that needs to be cleaned up. Breaking in a new QB is going to be interesting to see. I think them going to more of a run centered offense was better for them on Friday with the new QB. Timing issues will be there as he learns the playclock, but a big advantage the tiger QB has is that he was the punter and is used to taking snaps, just not calling the plays.

BG 17 HHS 6

Hopkinsville will have a new starting QB in Zach Moss. He has been their kicker and punter and a star baseball player. Was a soccer player previously and this is his first year playing anything outside of special teams. QB Tre Jefferson is not starting and I cannot confirm if he’s still with the team. Was offered by EKU last year.

We had a good group in 2015-2017, but overall they just best down on a bad schedule. We haven't been past the 2nd round since 2010 when we had the best luck ever getting to the title game. A lot of those records were due to Lovelace really weakening the schedule during the later part of his tenure, which during his early years the schedule was tougher and they were much stronger. I mean I go through the years and I really don't see one BIG WIN over that time. Like no games against the big boys or wins. Just the usual Hoptown, Caldwell,Henderson, Graves, Owensboro type wins, but no real wins over BG teams, Louisville, Lexington, NKY, Nashville, etc type programs. Early in Lovelace's tenure you'd see them play Franklin TN, Boyle County, and teams like that but not lately. 5 of the last 8 seasons Christian County has had a losing record. We are (6-24) in our last 20 games played. We are (2-18) in our last 20 games. Look at the program since 2011 in the playoffs 2011: Lost 49-0 to Warren Central 2nd Round 2012: Lost 31-17 to Bowling Green 2nd Round 2013: Lost 48-17 to Bowling Green 2nd Round 2014: Lost 13-0 to Graves 2nd Round 2015: Lost 42-21 to Bowling Green 2nd Round 2016: Lost 44-29 to Bowling Green 2nd Round 2017: Lost 24-6 to South Warren 2nd Round 2018: Lost 29-7 to Bowling Green 1st Round 2019: Lost 37-6 to Bowling Green 1st Round 2020: Lost 36-6 to South Warren 1st Round

Christian County as a program is just gone. I've attended games for 30 years and there just is not a fanbase for my Colonels in football. Hoptown has a loyal legion of fans as they've been a fun tradition for over 100 years. The Hoptown/County game is usually the biggest event in WKY no matter how down either school is and it is the biggest event in the community. Once they consolidate, I doubt you'll ever see that many people in the stadium again for a high school football game. The problem with this area is that it's not a football area anymore. After Clayton left in 2004, Hoptown was the program that knew how to build a football team. Lovelace did that at Christian, but he mainly just maximized his athletes and played tough defense. They never really were a threat as a top team in the state. We haven't really seen a team here with elite potential since probably 2002 when Hoptown narrowly went down to Jacob Tamme at Boyle. The kids here love Basketball and this school will become a basketball powerhouse. I really think you'll see this school win like 18 of 20 region 2 titles. But with that comes competition, the best athletes will now focus on only 1 sport, and that will hurt football. They'll know if they play baseball or basketball that their spot will be gone if they miss time for football. And that's what has happened, the best athletes now play basketball and football gets the leftovers. I think you'll see the consolidated school as a team that probably can be a WKY power, but that is about it. They won't have a chance in 6A and apathy in the community will set in. Hopefully my Colonels can have one more big run in the next 2 years before it's over and Hoptown too. IT will be a very sad day and shame on the school board for making it happen.

It was a defensive showdown, but the Cardinals were their usual disciplined selves and knew when to strike at the right time. The model program in WKY. Craig Clayton’s teams always start sloppy but by November they’re well oiled.

7-3 Mayfield 1:15 to go in the 1st half

Christian has went 1-16 the previous 2 seasons. They’re now 2-17 in their last 19 games. Logan is a good team, but this was just a lopsided matchup.

It’s 9:08 and we may not be outta here until close to midnight. Hoptown is shooting itself in the foot with penalties, mainly just not being lined up right. Mayfield’s discipline could win out if Hoptown doesn’t clean up.

3-0 Hoptown 5:43 to go in the the 2nd Hoptown came up short in 2 red zone trips

Hoptown is down 12 players and will only be dressing 33 due to contact tracing. (no players have tested positive. So, this one looks like it'll be Mayfield unless they weren't starters?

McCombs was an excellent player and beloved here in Christian County. One of my favorite alumni from my Alma-mater. That said, there is a history of him trying to take charge and he never stays anywhere very long. He came into Hoptown the last year of Dixie Jones. That program was falling apart, but they had some decent talent. He got a relative in as a transfer who was a legit division one talent. They were decent the first part of the year, but then he saw the gap and pretty much took over the offensive play calling and put his relative at QB and the whole rest of the season pretty much was about getting good film for that player. There was no coaching and no one knew who was in charge. Even in the worst times of the Jones era at Hoptown, the team did have order and discipline, but it became such a toxic environment and no one knew who was running the show. They did not even make the playoffs that year and the staff was all let go. With his NFL pedigree and time being a coach, you would think he'd get more consideration for a HC job. I won't make any accusations or assumptions, but just look at what are the facts, no one around here considers him for a job and no one wants him on their staff in a big role. Good football mind, but it seems like he does not stay places very long and does not get looks in interviews.

Seems that way, but the usual suspects aren't looking as strong. Now we can re-assess mid-year as a team always rises up and gains confidence. Logan has a big test with my Colonels on Friday. Madisonville looked awful in week 1. Franklin-Simpson played a tough Bardstown team and lost. Calloway is well coached and plays hard, maybe them as a sleeper?

Hoptown is pretty lonely representing the western part of the state. Is there anyone from WKY that you all see rising up this year to challenge Hoptown?

I will say it's very good that this old Rivalry has returned after years of not playing. But it is sad that it probably will not continue once the CCHS/HHS consolidation makes them a 6A school.

Hoptown's defense showed they're one of the better units in 4A in week 1. Their offense has work to do. But, if they clean up their special teams mistakes they probably win the game against a good 6A Ballard team. I think that was a good week 1 test and Hoptown wins a 17-13 type game.

The city and state have wanted to do it for years. They've intentionally not repaired both schools and let them get in such disrepair where they said "Well we need 2 new schools and it's much cheaper to build 1. If you don't build this school you hate kids" It's more about the city business developers wanting to sell this big school on a tourism brochure to get people to move here rather than the actual education. Both private schools are planning to expand and Trigg and Hopkins county are preparing for a big influx of parents moving their kids into their district.

They have the money to build both schools. This was purely just a cheaper model. If they were doing it for academics, the studies show that 800-1000 is the ideal size for a High School.

Christian made the 5A title games in 2008 & 2010. Have not been past the 2nd round since 2010. I think County has won 1 game in the last 2 seasons. Hoptown moved to 5A from the old 3A in 2007. Hoptown had maybe 1 winning season during their time in 5A. Moved down to 4A in 2014 and have been very successful. I think Hoptown probably is one of the better 4A teams, but as of now it's hard to beat Boyle. Since Craig Clayton returned, you can see their program is being built back the way it was years ago. Even combining the schools now would honestly make them a top 4A team and maybe a decent 5A team. But they generally will just be just winning their district yearly and having a battle with the Hardin County teams for the region title. They aren't close to Trinity, St. X, or Male. The community stopped going to games as Hoptown stopped winning and Christian games have never drawn well. Kids lost interest as they didn't see the teams winning. And years of not playing big games and such, you'll see more of an empty stadium and more apathy. The better athletes won't play multiple sports, because they'll want to specialize to make sure they don't lose a spot.

Awful decision. The community was against this, but the board and community leaders played dirty politics. There was a school board election last November and consolidation was never mentioned. Then right after the election they start planning the process and rush this vote through where voters did not have a say. Very shameful to not let the actual people have a say in their future. They knew this community wasn't for it and did everything they could to keep it off the ballot. They youth sports in Hoptown have declined because most kids give up when they they know they aren't on the best travel or all star team and that is going to be worse now. Basketball will be a powerhouse and UHA will gain a lot from this as well. They will never win in 6A football unless changes are made and the Catholic schools are gone.

I mean it's possible, but they're installing a whole new system. There's rumors of transfers, but that remains to be seen. But CCHS is just filled with unknowns at this point. Steve Lovelace was a great coach. They struggled the last few years, but it was mainly due to scheduling. The players loved Coach Love and played hard for him, but I guess we'll see about the new guy. If there was one complaint about Love, he was a defense first coach. The new guy, Rick Gehres, was an offensive coordinator at Campbellsville. High school QB and college and semi-pro wideout. He's going to bring a bit of a new flavor to CCHS than we've seen maybe ever? Goble & Whitaker before Lovelace were physical coaches. CCHS has always had speed and maybe an offensive guy is the guy to lead them? But this will be new for him. He hasn't coached high school outside of a year as a wideout coach 15 years ago. He's getting together a pretty new staff trying to develop chemistry. I think year 1 might be rough, but I think he's got the mind to get it right.