Tigertalker

BIG: 1) BOWLING GREEN 2) CHRISTIAN CO.: Coaching staff concerned about their O-line play right now. Not a consistent running game and have relied on the big play and been unable to sustain long drives. Defense has been solid especally for being without 2 senior starters. A lot of seniors on this County team 22. 3) MARSHALL CO.: Best Offensive Coach in Western, Ky in my opinion. Go to athlete (Williams) with solid role players. Defense has the best athletes I have seen at Marshall Co. along with speed. Good LB core. 4) OWENSBORO 5) WARREN CENTRAL: Has the athletes and QB to win their region. Right now probably 2 scores behind Christian Co. within their district. 6) HENDERSON CO.: I personally think Duffer and staff have done one of the best coaching jobs around. Lost a lot from last year then the early summer tragedy. 7) HOPKINSVILLE: Been somewhat of a disappointment. Tough early schedule as usual but a couple of poor showings. Getting healthy now and with Antwain Loving back he gives them a difference maker on the outside. He will take pressure off WR Michael Atkinson who has been inconsistent. Loving opens up their passing game and shoud open up the middle for TE Chad Brown and his 6'4 255 frame. Will hit a stretch where they should win but how they win and their O-line continues to progress will be key. O-line did a good job against a bigger Christian Co. front 7. 8) GRAVES CO.: One of the better defensive coached teams in West, Ky. Don't hurt themselves on offense and like Hendo been my other suprise team. 9) WARREN EAST 10) OWENSBORO APOLLO SMALL: 1) MAYFIELD: Adam Shelton is the best leader I have seen this year. Shown a refuse to lose attitude against Hoptown and Paducah. 2) CALDWELL CO.: Rodney Bell might be the best RB in West, Ky that nobody knows about. Doesn't get the hyp of Taylor, Hibbitt, and Williams but a true RB at the next level. New Coach getting great support from the locals and administration. 3) FORT CAMPBELL: Berner has them playing well right now. The Williams kid at TE has shown the ability to take over. 4) OWENSBORO CATHOLIC 5) TRIGG CO.: Inconsistent passing game and have looked poor their last 6 quarters. Still a young team with a good running game. 6) RUSSELLVILLE 7) METCALF CO. 8) LONE OAK 9) HANCOCK CO. 10) FULTON CO.

Madisonville: 33 Central: 6 I think was the final. If not it was something simular

The move of A.J. Murray to FS has proven to be the right move. He wasn't getting it done at OLB. Now it seems sophomore Marshall Stewart is emerging at DE(anchor) he has played well there the last 3 weeks. Kasey Hall didn't play the 1st 2 games but has started the last 3 at DT and played well and shown a descent pass rushing ability not just run stopping. Jacob Johnson and Max Arnold are proving to be the LB's needed. Earlier in the season they wasn't out there at LB. If Brandon Ethridge returns then his 4.4 speed and athleticsm will be a factor. The Christian Co. ASSISTANT COACHES spoke high of the Tigers last night afterwards especially the defense.

Hoptown threw an interception inside the 10 with little over a minute left. Ran the halfback option with E.T. he got pressured let the pass go. Atkinson the WR had the CB beat but the FS rolled over and picked it off. Hoptown drilled Keith Tandy all night sacking him 5 times while putting him on the ground with pressure 9 other times. Hoptown got athlete Antwain Loving back for this game and he locked up his man 1 on 1 all night as did CB Chris Thomas. With Loving back the Tigers pass defense should be in solid shape and they showed tonight they could play with a bigger team up front. Hoptown's defense only gave up 17 of the 24 points to CCHS. Their first score came off a blocked punt and recovered in the endzone. Offensively CCHS had hard time stopping RB Emanuel Taylor. E.T. got well over a 100 but had a costly fumble on the 2nd play of the game when he got into the secondary and the DB had the angle and put the helmet on the ball. Antwain Loving had a big catch and had 6 yeard run on jet down to the 1. He will be a major addition to the Tigers offense as well the defense. QB Chris Thomas played alright did some good and some bad. Hit TE Chad Brown right in the hands early 2nd half that would have been a big gainer but Brown dropped it. Christian Co.'s WR C.J. Trotter had 3 catches 2 for big plays 1 for a TD. Another TD for the Colonels came on a play when DB Eric Colemen fell down and Tandy baught a few seconds and found his WR. Nobody likes to lose but the Tigers proved a lot of outsiders wrong tonight. There some was coaches in the stands scouting ahead and afterwards were very comlimentary of the Tigers and Coach Dixie Jones.

Tandy is best I've seen of late, and that includes Pulley.

62-0 Hopkinsville got (OT) T.J. Shepard 6'4 250 back for this game and finally have some size up front. The previous games they started 3 guys in the O-line weighing less then 175 pounds. If they stay healthy up there they should be in good shape. Soon they will get DB/WR and their best athlete Antwain Loving back. E.T. scored 3 TD's and QB Chris Thomas had a TD passing, rushing, receiving, and on a punt return. Hoptown started mixing in their JV kids early in the 2nd quarter. One of the better prospects in the program sophomore LB/RB Joe Harris got several reps at FB early in the game and did a good job blocking. Hoptown got a long look at their youngsters. The Pendleton Co. kids played hard throughout the game and aggressive.

Worry about them next week. Worry about them a little more next year when it's a district game. Right now it's just a regular season game before the district starts.

Hopkinsville hasn't exactly been playing like world beaters this year. Some possible changes in the Tigers lineup could get some kids refocused hopefully.

In your opinion is Dixie Jones in a no win situation? If he wins it's because he should he's at Hopkinsville with tallented athletes. If he loses then it's the he hasn't beaten anybody worth a dime and so on and so on. 2004 Coach inherrited a good team at Madisonville with a born leader in Blake Boyd. Coach Jones led them to the region championship and nearly beat Hopkinsville. In the playoffs they went on the road won at undefeated Bowling Green. Andy Corbin and staff couldn't win at Madisonville but in Dixie's 1st year there they win and were competitive in their losses. Then in 2005 Coach Jones takes over at Hopkinsville. Prior to the season most had them picked 3rd in the region and some had them at 4th. Some were even saying a 5-5 season would happen. He takes Hoptown to the region title game before loseing to Bowling Green 3-0 in a game that many of the experts said Hoptown didn't belong on the same field with. If Craig Clayton was coaching at Hoptown last year the record would have been the same. Hoptown is off to a 0-3 start and in one game they did look like a JV team. But Male is gonna make a lot of teams they play look bad. The loss at Mayfield doesn't bother me and Ridgeway is as tallented in the skill spots as Male and bigger up front. What this team lacks that last years had is size up front. T.J. Shephard will give them some size and help the line. Right now though a couple of skill kids that had good weightroom sessions in the offseason and strong summers are off to slow starts. When everybody is out there and if they continue to struggle then I won't hesitate to say so but the season isn't decided in the first 3 weeks.

Ridgeway mediocre? According to their COACH & insiders this is one of their better teams but they lack good depth. Coach John Cooley compares this years team to his 2002 team except this team has a great running game and an adequate passing attack. Hopkinsville won't see a better set of DE's again this year like Ridgeway had and I know we won't see that size again. Hopkinsville held their own with them in the 1st half until the wheels came off in the 2nd.

Antwain Loving will return in 2 weeks. Ethridge I am not sure about. The kids aren't feeling sorry for themselves or pointing fingers. They practice hard and realize the season isn't decided in the 1st 3 weeks of the season. Kasey Hall a 6'0 230 Junior started last night at DT and did a descent job. He hasn't played much up to this point but last night against a huge O-Line he showed some promise. More playing time and reps and he will give the Tigers some more help up front. Hoptown missed 3 golden scoring opportunities last night. 3rd play of the game Chris Thomas rolled out and had Michael Atkinson down field who had beat his man by 10 yards. When Thomas threw it he was off balance due to pressure and the ball sailed behind Atkinson out of bounds. Later in the 1st half they put together 2 drives that put them inside the 20 and 10 of Ridgeway but penalties backed them up and they had to settle for 2 missed FG's. The Tigers defense was solid in the 1st half and twice after the offense turned the ball over at their own 25 & 35 yard lines the Tigers defense stepped up and stopped Ridgeway from scoring. But the 2nd half was simply a disaster.

Christian Co. has been playing well defensively. (This is the 1st year in the Mike Whitaker era that he's had the same Defensive Coordinator for 2 straight years). The've lost 2 key defensive starters for the year but with over 20 seniors are getting kids to step up. They was expected to be solid up front returning 4 starters and their top 2 reserves. Whitaker wants to establish a better running game then he's been getting from his RB's and quit relying on the big play and Tandy's scrambles.

At the half Ridgeway led 6-0. Hoptown played alright defensively in the 1st half. The 2nd half was a different story. The snowball started rolling and it couldn't get stopped. Hoptown played a few more younger kids that have earned playing time. At times they played well and other times they looked like a deer in headlights. 1st half the Tigers played hard and got after it. But the 2nd half was a disaster. In some good news for the Tigers 6'4 250 OL/DL T.J. Shephard got in some playing time tonight and played well in a limited role. RB/CB Brandon Ethridge did not play. Ridgeway will be the biggest team Hopkinsville plays this year. Up front their smallest man was 260. Are they loaded? Well their not hurting for tallent. DE/TE---Desmine Cathey 6'5 225 has 7 D1 offers. RB---Aarron Crawford 5'11 185 is the best back Coach Cooley has ever had he says and has 8 D1 offers. PK---Has committed to LSU DE/O--- LaGrone Shields 6'3 260 is an active player with not great athleticsm but getting D1 looks. OG---Demardre Dean 6'4 330 could be the most saught after of the bunch when it's all said and done according to his coach. Coach Cooley says this is his most tallented team since 2002. Kicker Josh Jasper was 3/3 on FG attempts tonight including a 54 yarder.

Christian Co. is rumored to be playing Franklin, Tennessee coached former Hoptown coach Craig Clayton. Then the following year Hoptown would play Franklin, Tennesee. Hopkinsville and Marshall Co. agreed to a 2 year deal to play in the Trigg Co. bowl.

Wow the name Hopkinsville getting back and forth in different. And people said when Dixie Jones was hired Hoptown would fall off the map. Is Hoptown a top 10 3A team RIGHT NOW? I would say no. Will they be a top 10 3A team when everybody gets back? I see no reason why not. Full strength or not Hoptown was not going to beat Male at this point in the season. Could have, probably should have beaten Mayfield with what they had. Losses to Male and Mayfield are nothing to squirm about. Last year Hoptown started out 0-2 with a thumping to Alcoa and a close loss to Male but the season turned out pretty good from what I remember. It's not uncommon for Hoptown to start 0-2 or 1-2 that's a proven fact. They've never been concerned about the preseason it's about the district always has been since I can remember. This Hoptown team has more team speed than last years with more potential playmakers. Brandon Ethridge showed a glimps of his abilities with the 70 yard catch and run for a TD against Mayfield and showed the 4.4 speed. When Antwain Loving returns in 3 weeks he will gives them another threat being the teams best athlete. But what this team doesn't have that last years had was some descent size up front. T.J. Shephard 6'4 250 should return next week and he gives them a big body in the line along with Will Beville. When healthy if they continue to play sloppy then I'll be the first to say it. But 2 games into the season I'm not going to pass judement on team. 1) Bowling Green (Showed their abilities when at full strength) 2) Christian Co. (Need to find a running game & can their defense continue to play well after loseing their starting MLB. They've seen 2 offenses that are 1 demensional) 3) Marshall Co. (Best Offensive minded coach in West Ky and the most versatile back) 4) Warren Central (Have the athletes and speed but right now Christian Co. is 2 TD's better) 5) Owensboro 6) Hopkinsville 7) Graves Co. 8) Henderson Co. (One of the better suprises but I'm a little biased to Duffer and staff) 9) Warren East 10) Paducah (Could be dangerous by the end of the year)

Yes they did and thank you! You can't win them all but there is no shame in a loss to Mayfield. Some of the Hoptown kids need to look at the way Adam Shelton played last night and put out the same effort. I've seen some great Mayfield players over the years but I was more impressed with Shelton last night then any others. He wasn't going to let Mayfield lose and his attitude rubbed off onto the rest of the players. Has the Heath kid had injury problems in the past? It seems like they've had a Heath on their roster every year and I thought last year or in 04 a Heath was out with a injury.

Hopkinsville's defense wasn't great but exleast tonight they competed. Hoptown made some changes defensively that I think will help them as the season goes. Right now the defense is like a ugly sister that you wanna fix up on a date but you don't want nobody to see her until they get there. Mayfield completed 3 4th downs and about 4-5 3rd and longs. Adam Shelton's refusal to lose it was this game boiled down to. E.T. and Chris Thomas (Hopkinsville) showed their big play abilities. Michael Atkinson WR (Hopkinsville) right now can't catch a cold. It's a disappointment because he had a good offseason and summer. Tonight he dropped 3 balls that would have moved the chains. In a few weeks Hoptown will get Antwain Loving back and he will take pressure off Atkinson on the oher side. Any loss is disappointing but tonight the Tigers played with emotion and effort unlike last week. Last week they looked like a JV team but showed improvement this week.

E.T. is expected to start for the Tigers and play more then last week. Eric Coleman will be a nice addition to the Tigers offense. For Hoptown it starts up front. The good news the O-Line won't see the type of athletes/speed they saw last week.

Male will make most teams look bad this season. At this point in the season both teams are not as good as they were last year. I look for Hoptown to come out on top with a hard fought game. I just don't don't see a freshmen back doing to much damage to the Tigers. Hoptown's offense will get a little spark from wr Eric Colmen who did not play much last week because of a foot injury. Should be a good game.

Don't know the exacts: Hoptown completed 3/13 passes for 13 yards. (5 dropped balls) Male was 8/11 passing Male well over 300 yards of offense on I think 59 plays. Hoptown 140 total yards Hoptown 3 turnovers. Male 1 turnover QB Chris Thomas (Hopkinsville) rushed for 102 yards.

Tonight the O-Line started 3 kids that didn't start last year. 2 of them saw no action a year ago. They are also without starting OT 6'4 250 T.J. Shephard but could return this week or the next. This O-Line has more upside then last years and more athleticsm. Going in Hoptown knew they would need a few breaks. Male fumbled twice tonight and got both back. Hoptown fumbled twice and lost both. Key play was when Chris Thomas fumbed the KO after Male's 2nd TD with the score 14-7. It gave Male the short field and looked like a shark smelling blood in the water. After that the Tigers could get nothing consistent going.

E.T. was taken out to avoid injury. Taylor has a injured shoulder but tonight ran hard. A youthful Hoptown O-Line had trouble with the Male Confusion/Junkyard defense. OG Will Beville a senior for Hoptown I thought played well. Hoptown had only 1 pass option it seemed all night and it was the fade. Few times it was there but the WR couldn't hold on. 2 times the fly was open but fell incomplete. The Male defense was on top of the Hoptown QB's quick. Male looked in midseason form and Hopkinsville looked like it was their opening scrimmage. The Tigers O-Line will get a challenge in 2 weeks when Memphis Ridgeway comes to town. Ridgeway brings in 2 stud D1 DE's and a RB that Coach Cooley calls the best he's ever had. By then Antwain Loving should be availble and probably OT T.J. Shephard.

Best athlete in the state. Looked better then Anderson did last week in my opinion. Elusive runner that's hits the hole with a burst.

This years Hoptown team is faster then last years team. I do KNOW that!!! I'll wait to judge the Tigers in a few weeks when they got everyone back. Last year Hoptown opend the season with a lopsided loss and some of the experts when on their rants of Hoptown was no good and Dixie Jones wasn't the right hire and blah blah blah. E.T. played 2 plays in the 2nd half before being taken out. QB Chris Thomas had 5 dropped balls. When Antwain Loving returns he'll give Hoptown that deep threat at WR and a WR that will take it over the middle. No shame in this loss. Everybody knew Male was ahead of Hoptown at this point of the season. The staff isn't going to throw in the towel just yet but please go ahead and pass judgment after tonights showing.

Male is ahead of Hoptown at this point in the season. Hopkinsville will be a different type of team in the next few weeks when Antwain Loving (WR/FS) and T.J. Shephard (OT) return from injury. Both teams know each other from playing each other regularly. Hoptown has the tallent/athletes to win this game but right now Male has it clicking. Special Teams play could be a factor. Hopkinsville is coming off 2 real good weeks of practice. After a heart to heart talk from the coaches the team has rallied around one another and gotten after it in practice.