There is one thing you can pretty much write in stone as the Hopkins County Central Storm travels to Hart County on Friday night for the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs. That is the Raiders will run the ball, run the ball, and then run the ball some more.
It’s not that they can’t pass the ball when they need to, but when you rush the ball for nearly 350 yards a game, why would you want to throw it.
The Raiders (10-0) have looked like a team on a mission this season after dropping a heartbreaker to Bell County in the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs last season. Despite losing their top three rushers who combined for more than 3,300 yards last season, Hart County just reloaded the backfield and kept on running and running.
Kameron Asbury (1,021), Brenan Griffin (999), and Christian Martin (900) have combined for nearly 3,000 yards rushing as the Raiders have put up 37.4 points a game, while allowing just 13.8.
When they need to, the Raiders can throw the ball, they just haven’t had to throw much with their 3-headed rushing machine in the backfield. Jacob Shoulders is 46 of 80 this season for 1,120 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The challenge for the Storm will be to find a way to slow down the rushing game of the Raiders and to keep the ball out of Hart County’s hands as much as possible.
Hopkins County Central (4-6) may try to give the Raiders a big dose of Zayden Parker. Parker has 930 yards and 10 touchdowns and the Storm will likely need Parker to grind it out and wear down the Hart County defense.
Sylas Gunn, Isac Earl, and Issac Manning give the Storm some big play threats that can extend the field and break off a big play at any time. But you just get a feeling that the Storm’s best chance to pull off the upset involve avoiding a shootout with the Raiders.
A little bit of history will be made with the Storm’s trip to Munfordville. The game will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Kickoff Friday night is set for 7:00.
