Hopkinsville had 20 points on the scoreboard before Caldwell County ran its first play from scrimmage.
Treyvon Jefferson passed for 280 yards and five touchdowns while Dejuan Mercer ran for 138 yards and scored three touchdowns as Hoptown held off Caldwell the rest of the night for a 54-27 victory.
Reece Jesse caught four passes for 132 yards and a score as Hoptown improved to 2-0 with Saturday night’s win at the Stadium of Champions in Hopkinsville.
Both schools originally had different plans this week. Caldwell was scheduled to play at Union County while Hopkinsville had a date with crosstown rival Christian County.
But the COVID-19 situation led to those games being called off, with Caldwell and Hoptown agreeing to play each other late Thursday afternoon.
Once the game commenced, things couldn’t have started any better for Hoptown.
Mercer ran 65 yards for a score on the first series of the night.
Caldwell (1-1) then fumbled away the football on the ensuing kick return. Hopkinsville cashed in on a 16-yard TD pass from Jefferson to Ventrall Baker.
Caldwell then coughed up the ball again on the kickoff. Jesse’s 36-yard scoring grab put Hoptown up 20-0 just 3:10 into the contest.
Caldwell finally settled down and threatened to make a game of it.
Baron Wells took a screen pass 69 yards for a touchdown, then Russ Beshear hooked up with Tate VanHooser for a 23-yard score, getting Caldwell within 20-13 with still 10:05 left in the first half.
Baker’s 7-yard touchdown run gave Hopkinsville some breathing room.
But Caldwell countered on Travion Samuel’s 6-yard TD carry. That cut Hoptown’s lead to 27-20 with 4:56 left in the half.
Another Caldwell turnover set up Hoptown’s final score of the first half. Mercer hauled in a 14-yard scoring toss with just 47 seconds remaining as Hopkinsville got to the locker room with a 34-20 advantage.
Caldwell turned the ball over again on its first series of the second half. Hoptown cashed in on a 32-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Myers. That put Hopkinsville up 41-20.
Caldwell tried to remain within striking distance when Beshear ran 10 yards for a score. That came with 4:41 left in the third quarter and cut the margin to 41-27.
But Hoptown finished off the game with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns — Mercer hauling in a 20-yard TD reception and Baker running 6 yards for another score.
Hopkinsville finished the night with 497 yards of offense.
For Caldwell, five turnovers did in pretty much any chance it had of leaving the Stadium of Champions with a victory. Those five miscues led to 27 Hoptown points.
Beshear passed for 191 yards and two TDs for Caldwell. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 63 yards and a score.
Caldwell had 319 yards of total offense.
