Tigertalker

3A 1) Lexington Catholic 2) Bowling Green 3) Covington Catholic 4) Hopkinsville 5) Highlands

Ravenwood has a great team this year. They beat Franklin in the 2nd round of the playoffs on a FG at the buzzer. Franklin is coached by former Hopkinsville Tiger coach Craig Clayton. Ravenwood got 3 opportunities to onside kick and the 3rd time was a charm as they got the recovery that set up the drive for the winning FG.

The lack of a consistent passing game hurts BG when they fall behind and have to throw it. I felt like the ability of Burke to elude the pass rush and with his throwing ability that LC could move the ball on BG. Despite the losided score this was a great BG team. People seeing them for the first time this year today didn't get to see the team their fans or opponents coaches saw on film this year.

I have to agree with you. Without Antwain Loving this team lacks that player who isn't afraid of a challenge. Chad Brown could be special if he put forward the effort. I know right now he has been sick so as the season goes hopefull his numbers will increase. Just a young team this year so this years experience will help in future years. Right now they have a record of 2-1. Also Terry Hayes has to be pleased with the effort the kids are playing with. Nobody has missed a practice except for the football kids while their season was still going on. A loss can be handled when your kids play hard and as long as they continue that then they got a lot going for them.

Maryville is arguable one of the best coached high school teams around. I know they beat Alcoa back in week 2 and Brandon Warren didn't play in that game. But from looking at the score and hearing what people say that were there Maryville would have still won.

Alcoa was without Brandon Warrern DE/TE (FSU bound) and their other starting DE Rae Sykes who is a junior but said to have LSU at the top of his list. Dustin Lindsey RB/LB (UT committment) was supposedly held out of a practice because of flu sysmptoms this week. Best team we saw this year. They'll be loaded again next year with Sykes, Shiverdecker, Hicks, Lanxter, & Green Throw in Randall Cobb at QB and he gives them an athlete at QB.

He definitely has the size going for him. He's a pretty good high school player but can he perform at that high college level? I do think he is better then Kenny Ray Turner (Trigg Co.) who signed with UK. Turner was never overly impressive but like Adams he had the size thing working for him. You can get a kid with size and turn him into a player if that player is willing to listen & learn. Adams is getting these offers for a reason and could turn out to be a nice college player. I still say Taylor McGhee (Trigg Co.) would be a higher prospect then Adams had McGhee played OG instead of FB.

Athletically there is no more talented team in the state than Hopkinsville. BG shut out the Tigers. Actually held them to negative yardage in the second half. There's some truth to that but this years Hopkinsville team wasn't blessed with the speed burners they've had in the past. Athletic yes but there is teams around that was more athletic than Hoptown. Without 2 of their top athletes Antwain Loving (Best Athlete in the school) and Brandon Ethridge Hoptown didn't have a burning deep threat. Thomas and Ladson had speed but Loving and Ethridge are burners. I think that the ability of Burke to elude the pass rush and hit his WR's down field will hurt the BG defense. Their secondary is solid but you got some pick on areas back there. Hoptown was able to WR's open but Chris Thomas wasn't able to get the ball down the field or throw on the run. Plus more than the staff wanted he took it and ran. BG is tough to get outside on so they do a good job on the toss and quick pitch. Offensively stop the vear and quick pitch and the BG offense is losing their 2 favorite plays. They'll pass out of the "I" look and like to send Hibbitt in motion out of the "I" Hibbitt in motion then 90% of the time it's a pass to Hibbitt. BG is good at the skill positions but where they have had the advantage against some of their more quality opponents was in the Lines.

Emanuel Taylor RB (Hopkinsville) 6'0 200 rushed for over 1600 yards this year. He is the stud in the Tigers stable. I look for E.T. to put on an another 15-20 pounds onto his body frame before next season. Antwain Loving WR/DB (Hopkinsville) 6'0 175 best athlete in the school. Strong and physical. Has all the tools to be special. Only played in the first 4 games of the year before missing the remainder of the season. Brandon Ethridge WR (Hopkinsville) 5'10 170 fastest kid at Hopkinsville High School. Has worlds of potential. Was going to be a big time player in 2005 for the Tigers before a broken leg ended his season 2 weeks before the season started.

Tigers get off to a god start to a season that expects be full of ups and downs and probably more downs the Coach Hayes would like. Not a lot of experience on this years team and not a proven go to man. But tonight Hoptown had too much quickness and the better athletes. Zach Hayes... 15 points Chad Brown... 6 points (Played a half) Chuck Thomas... 4 points Greg White... 6 points Darrin Downs....11 points (off the bench) Reggie Killebrew....6 points (off the bench) Phillip Shepperd......6 points (off the bench) Hoptown did get good bench play from 6'2 245 sophomore Reggie Killebrew, 6'0 junior Phillip Shepperd, and 6'7 sophomore Karlos Thompson. Thompson didn't score but got 4 rebounds, 3 deflections, 1 steal, & 1 blocked shot. He was active with his arms and quickness. This years Hoptown team has a ways to go will win more so with their athleticsm. They will need a good year from 6'5 junior F/C Chad Brown who right now is battleing a cold and flu. This could be a long year for the Orange & Black of Hoptown unless they can get consistent double digit scoring from 3-4 guys. That is easier said then done for this team.

Bowling Green should get pressure with their front. But with the mobility of Burke that will cause the Purples some problems. BG is solid in the secondary but you can spread the field and pick on some areas. A QB that can use his feet to stay alive and with the arm to get the ball to his WR's will cause BG some problems. where BG has had the advantage against some of their stiffer competition is in the LINES. If LC can stop the Veer and Quick Pitch then their in good shape defensively.

It's official now. His mother confirmed that last night. Clarksville (Tn.) tv is said he thought about waiting and giving his committment at the USARMY All-American game but that he knew where he wanted to go and wanted to make it official. Someone close to the Fort Campbell program said his list was: 1) Kentucky 1A) Kentucky 2 Georgia 3 Virginia Tech

Keith Tandy (Christian Co.) great athlete, quick relelase, accurate, and throws well on the run. Can drop back and throw the long ball or scramble and throw on the run. Not real big at 6'0 175. He is loseing his 2 starting WR's, TE, & RB. Keith is a 2nd cousin to Curtis Pulley (Hopkinsville/University of Kentucky)

I said it last week and I'll say it again. This BG team is as focused as I have seen a high school team. They approach each week in a business like approach. Last week when they beat Hopkinsville 3-0 and was given the Region Championship trophy at midfield there wasn't any taunting or bostering of sorts. They got their trophy and took it to the locker room. Didn't do anything to show up the Tigers. In fact Hoptown had a few kids crying so to speak knowing that their high school playing days were over. A few of the Coaches from BG like Rosco Echols, Demon Franklin, & Mark Spader took the time to console the Hoptown kids and givem them some words of encouragement. You can include 7-10 of the BG players that also showed great class and sportsmanship. Kevin Wallace has taken his share of criticsm over the years. But you can never lay blame on his effort. He works hard to prepare his team.

"Kentucky is still the over all leader" Is a quote Micah Johnson told a Clarksville radio last night. Mentioned Rich Brooks returning and said he spoke to him man to man and didn't try to impress him with who he knows and what he can do like other schools and coaches have done. Said when it's said and done the would the choice best for him as his family has told him to do. Nobody in the family trying to persuade him one direction or another.

Bowling Green isn't real flashy on offense. Stop the "Veer" and "Quick Pitch" and your taking away their 2 favorite plays. They have 2 solid QB's #7 is a better thrower of the two. But the other QB (Name escapes me) is a better runner and runs the team well. Plays under control. They like to get the ball in the hands of Avery Hibbitt. He's a speed guy with good hands. He will go in motion and use his elusiveness and athleticsm and catch the ball out of the backfield. Defensively BG is good. Especially up front. They are big and fast. Hard to get outside on and strong up the middle. Their secondary is pretty good. You can pick on some areas back there but need to a consistent blocking O-Line to give your QB time and a QB with the arm strength to get the ball down field. BG is playing as focused as I have seen a team play. Carrying a business like approach. Playing at home and with their tallent I'll give them a 2 TD advantage. Bullit East is a good team and gives BG some challenges. This could be a game of adjustments. You can that about every game though.

He said tonight on TV he had a great time at ND. Gave them a 10 on the scale. But mentioned UK twice during the interview. His father is deployed and he and his wife have left the decision totally up to Micah. They will stand by whatever decision he makes. UK was in on him when he still lived in Virginia. But his UK days go back to living in KY when younger and being friends with Derek Homer. Most people around Fort Campbell or in the Clarksville, TN area that have talked to him about his recruitment fill like UK is ahead and was probably ahead before his brother got there. Georgia though is making a push. Ohio St. is a team that was in early but not been mentioned since the season started.

There is truth to that. Don't know why forgot them. They are also after his other brother who is at a J.C. somewhere.

He was interviewed a couple of week's ago and spoke highly of UK and Rich Brooks. Made it clear he was interested in them before he brother got there. He parents also are high on Brooks and Joker at UK. Early on he was high on USC. Probably would go there but has said they are too far away. Arkansas was high on his list but has fallen off. The talk has been Georgia and Kentucky. I know he and teammate Leonard Gordon are best friends so I would assume Gordon keeps putting ND in his head. But he also close with former Ft. Campebll player Marcus McClenton who is at UK. Johnson also has said on a few occasions UK getting last years Mr. Football Curtis Pulley to sign with him was a bright spot. Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell aren't that far away and I would venture to say Johnson and Pulley have spoken a time or two.

I'll give ya Routen and Leahy. Don't get to listen to them much but always enjoyable when the opportunity arrives. Leahy doesn't hold back and I think Routen has a good radio voice. But both are very informative and up to date with the rules Just wish the Friday night football radio show would return that Routen use to do. That was tradition to listen to that before the game started on Friday nights. Wish WPSD TV would get a Thursday night Football show and have Routen and Joey Fosko co-hosting.

Maybe Steve Lovelace (Christian Co.) Defensive Coord. and the previous Defensive Coordinator at Hopkinsville for 11 years. He applied for it the last time it was open. But is the job as intrigueing to him now as it was then?

No shame in losing to Bowling Green!! Opening drive Hoptown's drive ended at the BG 21. BG's opening drive resulted in the only points of the night. But the killer was 1st and goal on the BG 5 and Chris Thomas hits the FB with the ball and it ends up on the ground for BG to pounce on. Give BG credit they were able to move the ball out of the goal line and not stay backed up. Good physical game really pleased with hitting of the Tigers tonight. We just couldn't get that one big play to get over the hump. Had some real nice plays but didn't get the big play. BG plays good sound physical defense and it was hard to get outside tonight. Can't fault the effort Hopkinsville put forward. They went toe to toe with the #1 team in 3A and a team many fans said they didn't belong on the same field with. QB Chris Thomas had a bad game and missed some things that were there. He'll get some criticsm from people outside the program on his play tonight. Most though don't know the progress he has made from the end of last year to this year. In the end the better team won but the Tigers showed that they did belong on the same field but BG had just a few more positives. This BG team is very comparable to the 1995 team. This team might be a little more fundamentally sound. They don't take plays off and might have more depth then the 95 BG team.

It's good to be back!! It's hard to find good high school sports talk like PurpleHaze and Westsider give you. While away I learned Tigertalker was a Character that left many puzzled and guessing as to who he was in the Hopkinsville area. I didn't realize I was that well known.

Fort Campbell athlete Orlando Misaalefua gave a verbal committment to UL today according to TV reports in Hopkinsville and Clarksville, (TN). Missaalefua plays LB and OT for the Falcons. Clocked in the 4.8 range. Coach Berner (Fort Campbell) calls him one of the toughest and most physical kids he has ever had. Says put him on the field and he just makes plays.

Emanuel Taylor (E.T.) Junior HOPTKINSVILLE 1,580 yards rushing on 156 rushing attempts with 19 touchdowns. 3 games this year E.T. didn't get a carry in the 2nd half and 1 game he sat out the 1st quarter. 6'0 200 bruising runner playing his 1st year of Varsity football. See's the hole and explodes. One of the strongest players on the team and it's all natural. After a year in Coach Jones weight program he will be a monster in the backfield next season.