After a 28-27 loss last season by way of a two-point conversion against visiting McLean County, it was deja vu all over again for Hopkins County Central on Friday.
The Storm rallied back from a 28-0 deficit to force overtime before the Cougars converted a two-point conversion to prevail 48-46 and send Hopkins Central to a second District 1 defeat.
McLean County raced out to a 24-0 advantage with three first-quarter scores, beginning with a 17-yard touchdown run by Trokoby Gill. Gill was a part of a 392-yard night on the ground for the Cougars, finishing with 102 yards on ten carries.
Aden Bolden found the endzone next for the Cougars, making it 16-0 with a four-yard plunge and a second two-point conversion. Hunter Stratton capped the strong start with a ten-yard scoring run to point McLean County toward what appeared at the time to be an easy win.
However, the Storm offense awoke on a 14-yard pass from Sylas Gunn to Zayden Parker, and a two-point conversion cut the margin to two scores.
Bolden looked to have stunted the Hopkins Central momentum with a 50-yard TD run, but the Storm answered with a 15-yard scoring connection from Gunn to Isac Earl to make it 32-16.
Hopkins Central continued to climb back into it when Kaijain Hayes picked off a pass and returned it 19 yards for a pick-six. The game’s seventh successful two-point try made it 32-24 at the halftime break.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, with Kamden Walters highlighting a 100-yard night on the ground with a 28-yard scoring run to again give McLean a two-TD edge.
Parker responded for the Storm with a three-yard TD dive, and another two-point conversion made it 40-32 with a quarter to play.
Parker capped a 120-yard night on the ground with his second rushing TD, pulling Hopkins Central even at 40-40 and forcing overtime with the only points of the fourth quarter.
In OT, Gunn hit Earl for an 11-yard TD reception to give the Storm its first lead of the night, but a fumble led to the game’s first unsuccessful two-point try and left the door open for the Cougars.
Rice capped McLean County’s ensuing drive with a two-yard scoring dive, and the Cougars finished 6/6 on two-point attempts to earn their first district victory.
Gunn was 13/19 for 165 yards and three scores for the Storm, while Parker totaled 120 yards on the ground with two TDs. Earl collected nine catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
McLean finished with 23 1st downs to Hopkins Central’s 22 and amassed 435 yards of offense to the Storm’s 339.
Bolden led the Cougars’ ground assault with 123 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. Walters finished with 103 yards, and Gill rushed for 102.
Hopkins Central slipped to 2-5 and has next week off before entertaining Trigg County on October 18. The Storm took last season’s meeting 40-14 in Cadiz to end a six-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
