Head coach Marc Clark begins his second stint on the Hopkinsville sidelines with questions on both sides of the ball in 2022. However, the cupboard is far from bare with do-everything senior Daisjaun Mercer and a host of other contributors returning for what is scheduled to be the final season of Tiger football ahead of the formation of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Academy.
The Tigers finished last season at 7-5, losing to Logan County in the second round of the playoffs in the final campaign of coach Craig Clayton’s illustrious career. Clayton won 182 games over two stretches on the sidelines in Hopkinsville and finished with a career record of 307-161.
Clark was 31-36 the first time around with the Tigers, including a 20-4 mark over his final two seasons before taking the job at McCracken County. He compiled a 32-29 record with the Mustangs, earning three District Coach of the Year awards and being named Western Kentucky Conference COY in 2016.
The Tigers lost twelve seniors, headlined on the offensive side by quarterback Treyvon Jefferson, running back Jayden Dillard, and receiver Emmanuel Cheatham. Jefferson threw for almost 1,700 yards with 15 touchdowns and rushed for over 300 yards and seven scores. Dillard rushed for over 1,000 yards with 14 touchdowns, averaging 93 yards per game. Cheatham accounted for over 600 yards on the ground and receiving and found the endzone six times.
David Boswell leaves a hole in the defense after leading the team in tackles, with 20 for loss, five fumbles forced, and nine sacks. Kemaure Mumford recorded 19 tackles for loss with nine sacks, and Jaiden Metcalf was first with 19 tackles for loss and dragged down the quarterback 10.5 times. In addition, Cheatham will be missed in the secondary after making 46 tackles with a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six.
Mercer knows where he’ll be playing next season after signing with Miami of Ohio in the offseason, but he has some unfinished business for the Tigers after earning District Player of the Year and 1st–
Team All-WKC on both sides of the ball as a junior. He led the team with 44 catches, 1,127 yards, and 13 receiving touchdowns, averaging 93 yards per game. He also ran for 108 yards and a score and may spend more time in the backfield this season. He’s also a beast on the defensive side, recording 51 tackles, five for loss, with six interceptions and two returned for scores.
Junior Zach Moss steps in under center while continuing to handle kicking and punting duties. Moss had 23 completions as a sophomore with two passing touchdowns and six interceptions. He was named All-WKC as a kicker.
Sophomore JoVaun Jackson and junior JeMarcus Jones look set to help out in the running game, with Jackson also making his mark on defense with 40 tackles last season. Senior Trushaun Matt made five catches for 95 yards while also patrolling the secondary on defense.
Javon Mills was second on the team in tackles (89), with 12 for loss and two sacks as a junior, and fellow senior Isaiah Manning chipped in 36 tackles with three for loss. Two more seniors, Guy Blythe and CJ Stallworth, also figure to be a big part of the defense. Stallworth made the most of his 19 tackles, with seven for loss and seven sacks.
Hopkinsville hits the road on Friday to face Ballard in Louisville. In last season’s open, the Tigers fell 28-3 to the Bruins at the Stadium of Champions. The Tigers take the field against Christian County for the final time on September 16.
