Tigertalker

Trigg should have beaten Hoptown this bad. This isn't the Hoptown teams of passed. Hoptown played with them for a half before the wheels fell off. Trigg has a lot of Juniors and Seniors while the Tigers rely on 4 Sophomores, and 1 8th grader for extensive minutes and playing time. They do have 4 Juniors that give them good minutes and effort. Their 3 seniors are not experienced Ladson and Downs missed last year and Chuck Thomas hasn't played since his freshmen year. I'll give Terry Hayes the credit for keeping the team playing hard. They haven't quit on the season or in games this year but they just don't have the great tallent as has been there in previous years. That will change with the up and coming classes for the Tigers. But for this year they lack that true go to guy.

Mack is not healthy and the coaches considerd holding him of last nights game. But it was senior night and only the 3rd home game of the year for the Blazers. He had a good scoring game but was in noticeable pain thoughout the game.

I doubt it but he might try to get Goble. Why would Goble leave Hoptown to go to Madisonville for the same position on the staff? Goble could have had the Madisonville job last year if he wanted it and I think this year if he applied he would have gotten it. Burcham was a good choice young, energetic, and smart. He's been passed over at other school's when they had openings. Madisonville could be the right situation for him. Like every new coach that goes to a new school he will have to sell himself and his philosophy. Just an oppinion on my part but if Lewis doesn't go with Burcham then Scotty Vance will probably get the Offensive Coordinators job. bigred1234- You see anybody else on the Trigg staff possibly going with Burcham to Madisonville?

Higgins likes the Confusion/Junkyard defense. He loves to talk it up. Everybody in West KY knows he will still run that defense. But who will he hire as his Defensive Coordinator? It could be interesting because not everybody is high on that defense as Higgins is. Just my opinion it would not suprise me if some of the current Trigg assistants go with Burcham to Madisonville. Just my opinion though.

Madisonville has hired Shannon Burcham to be their Head football Coach. Burcham has been the Defensive Coordinator at Trigg Co. the past several seasons. Who does he bring with him to run his offense? Colby Lewis or does Scotty Vance stay on as offensive Coordinator? Vance is a good football minded Coach. Don't know him but he seems to work hard and enjoys the game. Who does Curtis Higgins get to be his Defensive Coordinator at Trigg Co.?

Ricky Lumpkin (Kenwood H.S.) Clarksville, Tennessee has signed with KENTUCKY. He's a good player and a player that could turn out to be a steal. Kenwood has a good deal of athletes at their school. Next year Jeremy Johnson (Kenwood) (FB/DE) will be a nice prospect for somebody. Dustin Lindsey (Alcoa) has signed with TENNESSEE Brandon Warren (Alcoa) has signed with FLORIDA STATE.

The Tigers aren't as inexperienced as outsiders want to think. Alcoa will again be the best team they face all year including the playoffs. Mayfield lost their share of players and Hoptown always plays well there with the exception of the 2000 team. Christian Co. lost 16 seniors 14 of which started or was in their rotation. Tandy is back but he lost his RB and top 2 WR's and their depth won't be as strong as it was this past year. Ridgeway may or may not be on the schedule. By the time district play starts Hoptown should be in good shape and have the potential to be better then last years team that before the season started people said Dixie Jones would have them 5-5 at best.

MBA is out of the loop. Their schedule couldn't get reworked to fit them into the event. As of now Hoptown, Male, and North Hardin have all given the verbal agreements. A 4th team is still being looked for. If a 4th team does not appear then Hopkinsville will play Male in week 2 at the Stadium of Champions. Mempis Ridgeway is wanting to play but they already have an opponent for week 2. Memphis Ridgeway wants to play Hopkinsville on Hoptown's 4th game of the year. Hoptown still needs an opponent for that week. Ridgeway has said they would travel to Hoptown to play. Ridgeway would need to redo their schedule a bit and swap weeks with another opponent. Hoptown is also in discussion with a team from Missouri about playing in week 4. Hoptown's schedule could POSSIBLY look like this: 1) Alcoa (Tn.) (Integra Bowl--Cadiz) defending back to back state champs and a preseason top 3 team in their class. Rae Sykes returns at DE and will probably play some TE this year. He is leaning towards LSU at the next level. Shiverdecker, Lanxter, & Hicks return on defense. They might also be getting another stud transfer like they did last year when Chris Shiverdecker transferred to Alcoa. 2) Male (Home) maybe another opponent IF a bowl gets done at Hoptown. 3) AT Mayfield 4) Memphis Ridgeway (MAYBE and that's a strong maybe) 5) Christian Co. 6-10) will be all district games With the strength of their preseason it will be very beneficial to Hopkinsville. Especially the O-Line. The O-Line has the potential to be as good as the 2001 O-Line and could be the biggest since the 99 team if all goes as the Coaches hope.

Yes....I was talking, typing, and answering the phone while typing that and didn't catch my spelling mistake.

Josh Mack PG for University Heights Academy (UHA) Blazers will sit out the next 2 games due to a Growing injury that has been hampering him for a couple of weeks. It is possible for Mack to miss more then just the next 2 games. 6'4 Sophomore Scotty Hopson will sit out tonight's game for UHA against Kenwood High School out of Clarksville, Tennessee in the Border War. Kenwood is coached by former Christian Co. & Marion Co. coach Brad Frasier. For the past month UHA has been battleing injuries and sicknesses on their entire team.

There's been some talk about T.K. Guess going to UK as a Preferred Walk-on. Don't know if this will happen might be more speculation then anything right now. LeVar Weston DL/OL (Hopkinsville) didn't sign yet. Has offers from Austin Peay, Murray St., Kentucky Wesleyan, and some other small schools. UL looked at him hard as did UK but his size in then end did him in. 5'10 265 All State player. Was the best Linemen last year at the Hawg Heaven Camp in Owensboro. Chuck Thomas DB (Hopkinsville) hasn't signed yet. Vanderbilt is interested and he made a visit there during the season. Austin Peay, Wesleyan, and Murray St. are in the picture with him. Brandon Robinette DE/TE/FB/QB (Hopkinsville) most likely going to play baseball at the next level. Forrest Pittman OL (Hopkinsville) academic scholorship to the school of his choice. UK or UL is where he will end up but he won't play at either of those schools. If plays college ball will be at the D2 or NAIA levels John Reed LB (Hopkinsville) can play at the next level probably at a Cumberland or a small school like that. Smart football player, plays hard, and gets the most out of his abilities. Josh Ladson WR/DB) (Hopkinsville) Murray St., Austin Peay, Wesleyan, and some other smaller schools like him as a WR.

Rusty Goble (Hopkinsville) Offensive Coordinator Son of former Christian Co. Coach Dan Goble. Coach Rusty Goble Coached under his Father for 2 years at Christian Co. He then joined the staff of Craig Clayton at Hopkinsville in 2001. He was the WR Coach at Hoptown for 3 years before going to Madisonville to be their Offensive Coordinator for 1 year. He returned to Hoptown with Dixie Jones to become Hoptown's Offensive Coordinator. This year his offense averaged over 35 points per game. Coach Goble is also a terrific Special Teams Coach to go along with his offensive knowledge. Coach relates well with the kids, works extremely hard, and is always looking to better his offense and players. Cares about the kids in making them better football players and people. Madisonville would love to have Goble be their head coach. It was his job last year if he wanted it but he said no to return to Hoptown and again this year he said no.

I wouldn't be suprised if some of the NDMS kids wind up at Hoptown. This years Hoptown freshmen team looks good. Your starting to see consistency from Chad Brown. No suprise to that since he has began weightlifting with the football team. Power Cleaned 270 last week. Before this year he wasn't a weightroom guy. Antwain Loving is a double figure scorer who isn't out there but will be next year and Darnell Davis has people talking like they did when Deontey Kenner, Shawn Oglesby, and Miguel Merritt were in the 8th grade. This was the year people pointed to as to being the real DOWN year for Coach Hayes and it has been down. In a couple of years though they have the younger tallent to be in the mix for the region.

Phil Keller has said he is still looking for a another consistent inside guy to go along with Metcalf. They had that in 6'3 235 Chris Evans until he transferred to Hopkins Co. Central. 6'4 Scotty Hopson is going to be a stud for them but right now he is inconsistent and young. Good finisher but the effort is not always there. Josh Mack isn't a 100% and if this was just a regular season game he probably would be sitting out.

Help is on the way. Look for Antwain Loving to return next year. He's 6'0 and now is at 190 looking good. But the one everybody is talking about is 6'4 185 8th grader Darnell Davis. He's been getting some minutes in Varsity action and playing solid. Good coordination and skills. He is also a top prospect for the Tigers football team as a TE/WR/QB on offense and DE/LB on defense. Transferred here from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and his family has decided to stay and call Hopkinsville home.

Curtis did it against Male his senior year. 2nd play of the game Pulley was in the shotgun. Then backup QB/FB Brandon Robinette goes under Center gets the snap and Hoptown ran Tiger Quick Pitch and Pulley took it about 70 yards for the TD. Broke 3 tackles on the play. 2nd QUARTER Hoptown goes to their "4 Horsemen" look with 4 Wides. Pulley connected with WR Josh Ladson for 40 yard TD pass play. 2nd QUARTER Pulley in the shotgun FB/backup QB Brandon Robinette was lined up beside him. Pulley goes in motion Robinette gets the snap and Curtis runs a "Fly" goes up gets the ball and takes it in for the TD on about a 60 yard TD reception. Pulley dominated the field on this night he ran for another 30 yard TD on a QB Keeper and threw for another as well.

Emanuel Taylor RB Hopkinsville. 6'0 210Lbs: Over 1,600 rushing averaged 10.6 yards per carry last season for his first year of playing organize football. Very stong runner with great speed (4.6 or under speed). Taylor will have to great showing when playing Tandy and Beaumont next season. Hoptown plays both Male and Christian County at home next season.

I read where WKY also picked up Blake Boyd from the Cards, who was redshirted last season. Blake Boyd will have an immediate impact for the hilltoppers.

Yep!!! If the two meet up it will probably come down to the last drive. This was one of the better BG teams this year and a Tiger team that some of the self proclaimed experts said would be average at best. But Hoptown held their own with the Purples. BG returns a good nucleus with Hibbitt, Hines, and the QB's who will be stronger and have a season under their belt. Hoptown lost some good players but their losses aren't as big as some want to think. I was hoping for a better showing from BG in the finals but some turnovers forced them to do something they don't want to do unless they want to and that's pass the ball. BG likes to control the ball and clock with the running game but when the score got lopsided BG had to open it up more. It's not like they whooped BG up front. But some unforced turnovers did them in.

This will be the fastest Hoptown team since the 1995 team. They will have more depth on the O-Line. They will also have their biggest O-Line since the 1999 squad. Throw in Chad Brown at 6'4 250 playing TE 4.8 forty time (Cleans 270) and size won't be a problem. With younger kids developing quickly and the additions of 2 transfer Linemen along with this teams work ethic in the weightroom has the Coaches excited about next season. The O-Line COULD look like this: T/ Reggie Killebrew (6'2 250) Junior--Descent athlete benches 250 could turn out to be the D-Linemen on the team. G/ Will Beville (6'1 220) Senior--Started last year and was the 2nd best linemen on the team. Good technique and physical player. C/ Caleb Johnson ( 6'0 190) Junior--Started a couple of games last year and played in several more. OR Jason Denton (6'0 195) Sophomore could get the Center spot. Top prospect in the Line in a Freshmen class that is good at the skill positions. G/ Antonio Tolliver (6'0 205)---Physically one of the strongest guys on the team. Benches 300 and runs a 4.6 forty. T/ One of the TRANSFERS from Tennessee (6'1 250)--Big strong kid that looks the part and gets it done in the weightroom. OR T.J. Shepperd (6'3 230) Junior Could get this spot. Other players in the mix include Kasey Hall (6'1 230), Jacob Johnson (6'0 195) was in last years rotation, &reston Bush ( 5'11 195). Hoptown could have 10 more more legit kids that will compete for playing time in the Line. QB/CB Chris Thomas (4.5 speed) has added 10 pounds of muscle and is benching 240. Last year he wasn't physically strong enough to break tackles conistently like he will be next year. RB Emanuel Taylor 6'0 205 (low 4.6 speed) runs with power and speed. Most explosive runner since Brandon Hayes and Artose Pinner. FB Cardell McGregor (6'0 185) Junior will give the offense an explosion at the FB spot that wasn't there last year. Runs a 4.7 forty last year the FB didn't get the ball because they were 5.2 or more. WR/DB Brandon Ethridge (4.4 speed) Big Hitter on defense with a little above average hands at WR. WR/DB Antwain Loving (4.5 speed) Best athlete in the school who has all the tools to be special and now has the attitude to be a big time playmaker for the Tigers. Not afraid to go over the middle to get to the ball. WR/DB Michael Atkinson (4.5 speed) Good hands and runs good routes. A good deep threat and Jet Sweep type of guy. WR/DB Eric Colemen (4.7 speed) Came on last year and got a lot of playing time. Has a good attitude and works hard. Simular type of player as DeAnthony Daise was for Hoptown in 2003. WR/TE/DB Adam Briggs ( 4.6 speed) Good athlete that will provide depth for the Tigers on offense and defense. Missed last year after a shoulder injury in the Warren Central scrimmage. Offensively Hoptown will run more offense next year then they did last year. Injuries and other reasons took away some of the offenses best weapons. But the Tigers offense still averaged 38 points a game. Next year look for the Tigers to open up the "Pistol Offense" Like Nevada runs and give Chris Thomas more options. The Offensive staff is flying down to Nevada this summer to meet with the Nevada Coaching staff to learn more about their offense. Defensively The Tigers will be deeper and more athletic. Coach Dixie Jones is a good defensive Coach. His defenses get better as the year goes as he adjust to what he's got. Cardel McGregor (Junior) (4.7 guy) big hitter started last year at FS. Emanuel Taylor, Antonio Tolliver, Max Arnold (started last year), and a Transfer from Logan Co., Joe Harris a real tallented sophmore are all possbilities for the Tigers at ILB. The secondary will be athletic and hard hitting and cover well with man to man. Could be simular to the 2002 secondary. CB/ Chris Thomas started last year CB/ Brandon Ethridge SS/ Adam Briggs FS/ Antwain Loving Michael Atkinson, Alex Harvey, & A.J Murray will provide depth and playing experience for the secondary. On a side note Hoptown will also have arguably their most tallented Freshmen player since Miguel Merritt or Deontey Kenner. In a 6'4 190 kid. Moved here from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Physically ready can play WR/TE or MAYBE even turn out to be a QB. On defense he looks to be a DE/MLB. Good all around athlete from size, speed, and attitude. There is rumors rumbleing about a couple of more transfers that could land in Hopkinsville. The current Coaching staff at Hotown believes in no shortcuts. They all work well with the kids and the kids have a good relationship with each Coach from Coach Jones down to the lowest level Assistant. When Coach Dixie Jones was hired the word around Western, KY was he was the wrong man for the job. BUT from people inside the program he was the right man for the job. Last year the player numbers increased. They had 75 players from Varsity down to Freshmen playing football. The previous staff only had around 50-55 each year. Their offseason workouts have been more consistent since Coach Jones arrived.

I really believe that this could be the year Hoptown makes it to the carpet this year. Hoptown returns their entire backfield and will get back Brandon Ethridge at the slot receiver spot. Brandon was starting uptill he broke his foot a week before their first game. As a sophmore he was two steps faster then Pulley in the forty. The only forty time was around 4.45 range that was two years ago. Hoptown also returns their best receiver Antwain Loving who broke team rules and kicked-off after the male game last season. Loving is a big receiver who can really step. They will miss Levar Weston on the O-Line but will be alot bigger upfront with the addition of a couple of transfers from Tenn. Coach Jones is telling people that his defense will be more athletic and deeper this up- coming year.

I have a friend who's dad coached at Atherton during the 1970's (Dan Goble). He likes to talk about it was like coaching at Atherton back in the day. At one time Atherton used to be competitive with the elite teams in Louisville even beat ST.X one year and had 10-1 record. Goble talked about one year he had 18 starters back from a pretty decent team and one day latter after bussing was ruled in jefferson county he had only had 4 back because on the kids last name began with a certain letter. He left a year latter because of the bussing issues and won the 4a title 3 years latter at Christian County. Dan loves to talk about how much fun it was to coach at Atherton and at one time Atherton probably had one of the better facilities in the Louisville area.

Coach Barnes is from caldwell and should be their next coach if he wants it. The community of Princton really likes him and was offered the job before Hatchell took it. Should be an easy decision for him seems like his program has come full circle and has struggled the last several years with low numbers and support.

Hoptown started yesterday a 8th grade weight lifting team. They had 42 kids for the first day, should pick up some more after basketball is over. Hope to compete in two tournements. The varsity kids have been lifting since the Monday after losing to Bowling Green in the Regional Finials. The coaches were surprise they has so many young guys showing so much interest.

If Trinty does not scrimmage Scott, Hoptown is looking for one and would be willing to travel.