Allen County-Scottsville’s Chase Ross came into Friday night’s game with Hopkinsville as a tough running back to slow down. The Tigers got to see that and then some up close as they took on the Patriots in a big district game in Scottsville.
Ross ran for 123 of his 188 yards in the second half and scored two touchdowns in helping to lead the Patriots past Hopkinsville 36-34 in a nailbiter that came down to the final moments of the game.
ACS quarterback Braylon Adams also rushed for over 100 yards, finishing with 105 yards rushing. Adams scored what would turn out to be the game-winning touchdown on a one yard quarterback sneak with 4:11 left in the game, putting the Patriots up 34-28.
Hopkinsville blocked the extra point attempt but was called for being offside. The Patriots then elected to go for two and converted the attempt to make it 36-28. That offside call would turn out to be a huge moment in the game.
The Tigers quickly went down the field and scored on a 28 yard pass from Aiden King to Treston Kay that cut the lead to 36-34 with 2:18 left to go in the game. The Tigers went for two but King’s pass to the end zone was picked off after he was forced to scramble while looking for a receiver.
ACS was then able to get a couple of first downs and kill out the clock to secure the win and with it a home field game in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
The game had gone back and forth from the opening kickoff. Braylon Adams hit De’Ante Grainger on a 13 yard pass on the opening drive to put the Patriots up 7-0.
On their 2nd possession of the night, the Tigers drove 81 yards to find the end zone. The drive was capped off by a one yard run from Aiden King. The two-point conversion gave Hoptown the lead 8-7.
ACS returned the favor with an 81 yard drive of their own on the next possession. Jackson Morris ran it in from three yards out to make it 13-8 with 54.3 seconds to go in the opening half. But that was enough time for the Tigers as it would turn out.
Hopkinsville took just four plays to score on a spectacular 41 yard touchdown reception from James Bradley Jr. Bradey reeled in the pass from Aiden King and then sprinted into the end zone to put the Tigers up 14-13 at the half.
The Tigers kept the momentum on the opening possession of the second half. After a big kickoff return from Treston Kay, Hopkinsville marched to the end zone for another score. This one came on a 10 yard pass from King to Tremayne Clay and extended the lead to 22-13.
The Patriots scored on the very next possession. ACS went 55 yards, capped off by a 10 yard touchdown run from Chase Ross and cut the lead back to 22-21.
The Tigers next possession took up almost five minutes and ended when King connected with James Bradley Jr. for the second time, this one a 16 yard score. That put the Tigers up 28-21.
The Patriots took less than 90 seconds to get that score back. Chase Ross carried the ball four straight times, the last one a 9 yard touchdown run that tied the score at 28-28 with 10:20 left in the game setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
ACS finished the game with 431 yards of total offense, 323 rushing and 108 passing.
Hopkinsville had 243 total yards with 163 passing and 80 rushing.
The Tigers’ leading rusher was Aiden King with 44 yards. James Bradley Jr. added 31 yards.
King was 14 of 21 through the air for 163 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Hopkinsville falls to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in district play. The Tigers will wrap up the regular season next Friday night at home against Pleasure Ridge Park.
The loss combined with Logan County’s win Friday night places the Tigers in a three-way tie with the Cougars and Warren East. Hopkinsville has the lowest RPI ranking of the three and would be out of the playoffs if the season ended today. The Tigers will likely need to win against PRP and get some help next week to move ahead of Logan County into the #4 spot to get into the playoffs.
