With the event just two weeks away, officials with the Best of the West 7-on-7 tournament have announced four more teams that will be taking part, two of them for the last time. The latest teams to be added to the list of participants were Christian County, Hopkinsville, Bowling Green, and Logan County.
The Hopkinsville Tigers, led by Marc Clark, who returned as head coach following the departure of Craig Clayton, are preparing for their final season of football, ahead of the 2023 merger with Christian County High School to form Hopkinsville-Christian County Academy. The Tigers finished 2021 with a record of 7-5, falling to Logan County in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Hoptown returns top receiver Daisjaun Mercer, who caught 44 passes for 1127 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
Christian County, also has a new head coach for its final season of football. Blake Ladson took over the job when Ricky Gehres left after one season on the job. The Colonels finished the 2021 season at 1-10, losing their final ten games of the season, and falling to South Warren in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Colonels will be led by junior quarterback Jordan Miles, who passed for 998 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.
Bowling Green finished the 2021 season with a 6-6 record. The Purples lost to crosstown rival South Warren in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Purples will be led by sophomore QB Duece Bailey, who threw for 1100 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, and senior receiver Bert Kibawa, who caught 45 passes for 563 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Logan County ended 2021 with a record of 10-5. The Cougars made it all the way to the Class 4A semifinals before they were knocked out by eventual champion Boyle County. Junior quarterback Davin Yates is back to lead the offense for the Cougars. Yates had 1319 yards passing and 16 touchdowns last season.
The 2022 Best of the West is set for July 15 and 16 at the Stadium of Champions.
