Region2 Hype Man

The 2nd region did not have a lot of size this season. I think the earlier matchup serves UHA well as they won't be shocked by it on the first play. But, BG just has such a large talent advantage.

I listened online, but it seems that Lyon was not able to handle the Hopkinsville speed very well. Good group of talent that has more time at Lyon, but next year they can schedule some BG, Louisville, & Lexington teams where they can get used to playing better athletes. This will be a good loss going forward for Lyon. Good job for Larry Miller. An underrated coach that stepped into a very tough situation at HHS. He has been trying to get his system in at that school and it may finally be working. He really teaches the game and is patient. One of the good guys in region 2. HHS/Madville and UHA/Hendo in the semis, that's some good R2 Basketball.

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.

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.

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.

I remember the Hoptown FS game from 2017. Hoptown was way overmatched, but they got out to a 20-0 lead. Then the "lights went out" and caused a big delay. After the delay, FS asserted their will & came all the way back. In 2020, you can't really make big determinations as there have been so many setbacks. Hoptown had 2 COVID breaks due to other teams. They struggled, but now look much stronger as they're getting more reps. John Hardin appears to have had a more consistently dominant season than Hoptown. You can't tell who has had better schedules or practices. You can't tell how the kids are going to respond being out of school. It's weird. They are predicting snow in Hoptown on Friday? It's gonna be cold. Will the 2 hour bus ride effect JH?

This probably was the most down the district has been since??? I can't think of a year where not 1 team in the city of Hopkinsville wasn't a top team in the Western part of the state.

They've had quite a bit of injuries all year and they played a very tough schedule to prepare them for the postseason.

Kerry Stovall wins postseason basketball games. It’s what he does best. They’ve been hurt and played a tough schedule this year, but his teams build and build for the tournament. Don’t count the Colonels out in region 2. But, it’s still Madisonville’s region to lose. Hoptown brings back a lot next year and I think Coach Miller will have his program established.

Good test for Hoptown playing an aggressive defensive team like PT going into the tournament, because they'll pay the toughest defensive coach in WKY when they play Kerry Stovall on Tuesday. Hoptown is playing great basketball when it matters. I think they're the 2nd most talented team in Region 2, but there's just been a flow issue to their team all season where the parts didn't work well together. Watts seems to have gotten the chemistry and flow to their offense a lot stronger. Christian County at their gym will be tough, especially if they're fully healthy. Should be a fun matchup. It's not often you get HHS/CCHS in the 1st round of district(2nd year in a row), so this will be a fun one on Tuesday night.

Shocker would be an understatement. Just 2 weeks ago the Tigers lost 38-79 to Warren Central and turned it around tonight. The return of starting point guard Alijah Watts has Larry Miller’s Tigers playing with new energy.

Hopkinsville should be adding Alijah Watts to their roster this week. He is one of the better scoring guards in the region and hasn't played a varsity game since early in last season. 8th district race will heat up this week. CCHS vs. UHA tonight Hoptown vs. UHA Saturday

Great to see Coach Haworth back competing for a state title. As much talent as he had at Hoptown...I believe he's working with so much more at Male. I know he's hungry for that first title.

Saturday afternoon games can be weird. Both teams are used to 4 days of practice. Going to school on Friday and getting ready to fight on Friday. This week both teams have had to miss school and practice indoors or not even at all. It's been a weird week. On top of that, waking up on Saturday morning and getting up to play is different than going to school on gameday. Will it be better for Madville to be focused on a 30-40 minute bus ride to get their minds right, or will it be out of the ordinary? Will it be better for Hoptown to be at home and comfortable, or will getting out of bed and getting to the stadium make them more comfortable. IT won't be a traditional game by any means.

It's the playoffs and Craig Clayton is coaching. His teams peak this time of year. Last game? Hoptown scored 3 TDs and Madisonville scored 3 TDs. Hopkinsville had an injured kicker and did not convert a single extra point all night. The difference in the game was the missing kicker. That won't be the case Friday. Hoptown will be motivated from a loss earlier in the year to Madville and more focused after a scare against Calloway on Friday. 27-17 Hopkinsville.

Christian County plays a BRUTAL schedule. Already has losses to Caldwell, Christian Academy of Louisville, Henderson, Madisonville, and Hoptown. They still have to go play at Pope John Paul II (Nashville), Greenwood, Warren Central, Bowling Green, and Mccracken. Hoptown is looking pretty good down the stretch. Their matchup with Madisonville will determine a lot.

Usually it just starts with a connection and it continues over the years through different administrations. Good hospitality and a clean game can carry over time. Madisonville is always a great host in every sport.

They did not look as strong as in past years, but their line is amazing in pass blocking. I think Hoptown had a good scheme tonight, but I bet Mayfield’s running game is much better in the next few games.

I think people underestimated Hoptown because of last seasons misleading record. They started out playing a tough schedule last season, but then they lost their starting QB and backup QB in the span of a week. They did not have a single QB on the roster that could throw the football. They converted a receiver to QB and had to change the entire offense mid year. And even with that, they hung with Madisonville the entire game in the playoffs last year. No offense whatsoever and only lost 20-0 in a game that was much closer. I’m picking them to come out of this side of the state in 4A after what I saw tonight and the level of talent on their team.

The Mr. Football's from this part of the state for reference: Kurt Barber Pookie Jones Damon Hood Bill Jack Haskins Curtis Pulley Micah Johnson Cory Robinson Antonio Andrews Nacarius Fant Elijah Sindelar Jamale Carothers

Yeah, I'd say don't sleep on Hoptown. They lost their QB and backup midseason last year. They had to move a wideout to QB and lost their entire vertical threat and became one dimensional. They played a very tough schedule and return their whole team, and add their QB back under center. And Craig Clayton is their coach, I expect a big jump from them.

But back then the state tournament was a factor. Darius led his team to a title and I don't think it was super controversial. I do believe Scotty would have won it had he signed with UK, but Darius was plenty deserving.

I'll preface this with the fact that I am a UHA grad and fan, so I am a bit biased haha. And let's be real, Tandy had a better career if we want to be technical. And even if you think the careers are close, the senior year should matter. Look at the level of competition he played. Look at where he led his team. Look at the numbers. And the eye test sold it for me.

A heartbreaking night for BlazerNation in Madisonville. After our blowout win on Friday against Caldwell, we could not get up for the game Saturday. Madisonville was HUNGRY after that loss earlier in the year. They used it as fuel all year and came out ready to ball. Size and depth were issues to start the year, and they undid us on Saturday. The box score tells the story. The Big 3 all scored double digits, but that was basically all the production. 2 of those 3 guys had 4 fouls by the end. The game was allowed to be physical, and Madisonville's size just was too much. Beshear put on a coaching clinic and really ran circles around the Blazer staff. I know he really felt slighted about not getting Coach of the Year, and he proved his worth over the guy that won it on Saturday. Madisonville has a great team and will have some fun at Rupp. Scary part? They return pretty much their whole roster next season and this run at Rupp will be great experience as they make a run at a championship in 2020.

CC fought hard with Stovall's trademark defense and effort from his players. They just ran out of gas and never really found a consistent offensive game plan this season. What they lacked in high level talent like a Ware or Jaylen Sebree, they made up for in effort and it was a testament to good coaching. Madville was asleep to start the game and the press threw them off. They woke up at halftime and showed why people think they can break the District 8 streak this year.