After seeing the first round of the football postseason pushed back a week, Trigg County looks to snap a couple of long losing streaks Friday when they play at Paducah Tilghman in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Trigg has never beaten Tilghman in 11 career meetings, including a 63-26 loss to the Blue Tornado on Sept. 25. Trigg has also lost nine straight road playoff games dating back to 2006.
However, a lot has changed since the two teams played nearly two months ago.
Trigg County was able to play its full nine-game schedule, finishing with a 3-6 record. Tilghman lost two of its next three games after the win over Trigg and hasn’t played in over a month due to COVID-19 protocols and game cancellations.
Trigg comes into the playoffs with an offense that has shown they can move the football and score points for most of the season. The Wildcats are averaging 32 points and 312 yards per game.
Trigg handed Warren Central a 42-20 loss two weeks ago in the regular-season finale as Kendric Adams ran for a career-high 219 yards. For the season, both he and Jaquellus Martin topped 500 yards and combined for 16 touchdowns. The two combined for just 39 yards in the loss to Tilghman.
Sophomore Jacob Wease threw for 208 yards and three scores against Tilghman. For the season, he has thrown for 1,450 yards with 19 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
For Trigg County to knock off Tilghman for the first time, they will need its best defensive effort of the season. The Wildcats are giving up 39 points and 347 yards per game, including 189 on the ground.
Tilghman ran for 436 yards against Trigg County two months ago, with freshman Malachi Rider totaling 189 yards in the first half. Two other running backs had over 70 yards rushing on just two carries.
The Blue Tornado turned the quarterbacking job over to freshman Jack James midway through the first quarter against the Wildcats. He was 10-of-14 for 242 yards and four touchdowns. For the season, James is averaging 133 yards through the air.
Trigg’s recent success running the football may continue Friday against a Tilghman defense giving up 208 yards a game on the ground. Trigg ran for half that in the loss two months ago.
Friday’s winner will move to the second round next Friday against either Union County or Webster County.
