Hopkinsville wrapped up the No. 2 seed for the Class 4A 1st District playoffs by running past Hopkins County Central 35-7 Friday night in Mortons Gap.
Daisjaun Mercer caught two scoring passes and had an interception, Jayden Dillard ran for 146 yards and a score, and Emmanuel Cheatham returned a pick 55 yards for a touchdown to help the Tigers (5-4 overall, 3-1 district) put away the Storm (5-4, 1-3).
Quarterback Trey Jefferson passed for 189 yards, including the two scores to Mercer, and also ran for a touchdown for Hoptown.
Hopkinsville’s first two touchdowns both came at the 4:31 mark — a 7-yard pass to Mercer in the first quarter that made it 7-0 and a 7-yaard run by Jefferson in the second period that put the Tigers up 14-0. Zach Moss added the point-after following both TDs.
Hoptown added to its lead just before halftime when Jefferson found Mercer behind the defense down the left side. That play covered 48 yards and sent the Tigers to halftime with a 20-0 advantage.
Hopkins Central threatened to make a game of it when Adrian Stringer hit Logan Rogers with a 10-yard scoring toss. That came with 6:21 left in the third quarter and cut the margin to 20-7.
But the Hopkinsville defense twice turned away the Storm empty handed on drives inside the 10-yard line in the second half.
Meanwhile, Dillard’s 7-yard touchdown run at the 3:44 mark of the third period helped extend the Tigers’ lead to 28-7.
Cheatham then capped the night for Hopkinsville with a 55-yard pick six to make it 35-7.
Hoptown outgained Hopkins Central 352 yards to 195.
The Tigers won despite turning the ball over four times in the contest while also piling up 153 penalty yards.
The Storm turned the ball over twice and was penalized for 73 yards.
Mercer made six receptions for 124 yards for Hoptown with the two touchdowns.
Jefferson completed 10 of 17 passes for Hoptown while Stringer was 13 of 27 for 156 yards with the one touchdown and two picks for Hopkins Central.
Hoptown finishes the regular season next Friday by hosting Paducah Tilghman. Hopkins Central entertains McLean County.
Hopkinsville will play at home in two weeks in the first round of the playoffs, possibly against Hopkins Central.
