Zach Moss threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns while Daisjaun Mercer caught five passes for 155 yards and two scores as Hopkinsville picked up its first win of the season Friday night.
Hoptown turned an 8-6 lead after one quarter into a 27-6 lead at halftime and went on to spoil Caldwell County’s home opener 42-6 at Tiger Stadium in Princeton.
Hopkinsville (1-2) never trailed after getting a 3-yard scoring run from Devin Coleman and two-point carry from Mercer just 58 seconds into the contest.
But Caldwell (0-3) tried to keep the game competitive early. Jamus Carneyhan scored from 2 yards out on fourth-and-goal as the homestanding blue-and-gold Tigers got within 8-6 with 1:27 left in the first quarter.
But Hopkinsville countered with a quick five-play, 70-yard drive. Moss hit Trushaun Matt with a 5-yard scoring toss just 47 seconds into the second period to make it a 14-6 ballgame.
Caldwell never crossed midfield the rest of the first half while the black-and-orange Tigers added two more scores to take control 27-6 at halftime.
Mercer had a 9-yard scoring grab with 6:15 left in the second quarter.
Darrius Green scored on a 3-yard run at the 1:12 mark to help open things up.
Hoptown scored twice in the third quarter to reach the 36-point mercy rule for a running clock.
Moss connected with Mercer for a 75-yard touchdown pass at the 9:25 mark.
Coleman scored on an 80-yard run with 5:13 left in the quarter. Moss passed to Mercer in the corner of the end zone for the two-point try, pushing the margin to 36 points.
Coleman finished with 111 yards rushing on just five carries for Hopkinsville, which put up 233 yards on the ground and had 430 total yards in the contest.
Carneyhan had 90 yards rushing for Caldwell, which had 136 yards in that department and finished with 191 total yards.
Neither team had a turnover in the contest.
Hoptown has taken five straight from Caldwell and now holds a 22-11-1 advantage in the all-time series.
Hopkinsville will play at home for the first time next week, but hosts 3-0 Bowling Green at the Stadium of Champions.
Caldwell plays at home again next week, hosting Crittenden County.
