The Hopkinsville Tigers head into Mortons Gap this weekend knowing that if they take care of business on the field they will be at home the first week of the Class 4A football playoffs. The Tigers take on the high-powered offense of the Hopkins Central Storm in the final week of district football action.
A win over the Storm would put the Tigers at 3-1 in the district and lock up the #2 seed for the playoffs, with the strong possibility the two teams could meet at the Stadium of Champions in two weeks in the opening round of the postseason. The Tigers could tie Logan County for first if the Cougars stub their toe against Calloway County, but the Cougars have the head-to-head win over Hoptown to give them the #1 seed for the playoffs.
If Logan wins as expected, that scenario would leave Hopkins Central, Calloway, and Madisonville all tied at 1-3. Hopkins Central currently has the higher RPI, with Madisonville with a very small RPI advantage over Calloway County. If Logan were to drop the game to Calloway County, the Lakers would clinch the #3 seed at 2-2. Hopkins Central and Madisonville would then both be 1-3. The Maroons’ win over the Storm would get them the #4 seed.
Should the Storm pull off the upset, things get a bit more complicated. Assuming that Logan County wins as expected against Calloway County, the Tigers and the Storm would then be tied, with the tiebreaker going to Hopkins Central for the #2 seed. That means the two teams would play again in two weeks in Mortons Gap. Should Logan beat Calloway County, as expected, that would have the Lakers tied with Madisonville for the 4th spot, with the head-to-head going to Calloway County.
Under the Hopkinsville losing to Hopkins Central scenario, if Calloway County were to upset Logan County, you would have Hopkinsville, Hopkins Central, and Calloway County all tied at 2-2 in the district, with Madisonville on the outside looking in. In that three-way tie, Hopkinsville currently has the higher RPI and would be in line to take the #2 seed. Hopkins Central would then have the next highest RPI over Calloway County. That would then set up a first-round playoff matchup between the Tigers and the Storm at the Stadium of Champions.
Now that we are thoroughly confused, let’s wait and see what happens on the field Friday night. Gotta love Friday nights in the Bluegrass.
