After the teams combined for 77 points in a late September Logan County victory, the Hopkinsville Tigers may have felt Friday’s 4A playoff rematch would require a high-scoring performance. But with the Tiger defense forcing three turnovers and making things difficult for the 11-1 Cougars, Hoptown was left to regret missed red-zone opportunities in a 21-7 defeat.
Logan County has won the last four matchups with the Tigers dating back to a Hopkinsville playoff victory in 2020. The Cougars also ended the Tigers’ season last year with a 39-37 in Russellville.
Logan County marched down the field on its opening possession and took a 7-0 lead on a 16-yard scoring run by quarterback Davin Yates.
Hopkinsville welcomed back Daisjaun Mercer after he was out injured for the playoff-opening win over Franklin-Simpson, and his 26-yard catch had the Tigers in business at the Cougar 15-yard line. Mercer capped the 11-play, 65-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Zach Moss.
Senior linebacker CJ Stallworth forced a fumble and scooped it up for a return down to the Logan County 24-yard line, but the Tigers came away empty after a missed field goal.
Yates put the ball on the ground again on the Cougars’ next possession, and Jacob Beale recovered to give Hoptown the ball at the Logan thirty-seven. However, on 1st down from the 25, Moss’ pass was picked off in the end zone by DeSean Payne.
Logan County took advantage of a short field to jump in front for good with just over six minutes left in the first half. Ryan Rayno scored on a 3-yard plunge, and the Cougars led 14-7 at the break.
The Tigers threatened once in the third quarter, but on 3rd and 6 from the Logan 27, Moss’ pass skipped off the hands of his receiver and Payne came up with his second pick of the night.
Rayno put the game away with a 2-yard TD run, finishing off an 11-play 77-yard drive that ate up over five minutes of the fourth quarter. He rushed 34 times for 263 yards, following up a three-TD 200-yard night in the first meeting.
The Cougars rushed for 310 yards, and Yates completed five passes for 47 yards. Logan extended drives three times on successful 4th-down conversions.
Moss was 7 of 22 for 70 yards through the air for the Tigers. Darrius Green had 58 of Hopkinsville’s 82 rushing yards.
The Tigers were penalized ten times for 77 yards. Jaron Mills paced the defense with 11 tackles, followed by Trushaun Matt with seven, and Devin Coleman and Iriel Leak with five each.
Hopkinsville’s season ends with a record of 6-6. Logan County will host Central next week after the Yellow Jackets were 31-7 winners over North Oldham.
