YSE File Photo
Carterville (Ill.) made its game plan clear early — run, run, and run some more — and the Lions bulldozed their way to a 35-15 win Friday night. They piled up 240 rushing yards on 49 carries, keeping Hopkinsville off balance all night.
Carterville (5-0) attempted just one pass, sticking to a throwback, ground-and-pound style that kept the Tigers on their heels.
Hopkinsville (3-3) stayed within striking distance in the first half, trailing 15-7 at the break thanks to a 22-yard touchdown run from James Bradley Jr. The score came after a fumble recovery on a punt gave the Tigers a short field.
Just before halftime, the Lions came up with a key stop when Hopkinsville quarterback Jasiah McCarley was sacked on fourth-and-goal from the eight-yard line, keeping the Tigers within one score heading into the break.
The Lions struck again early in the third with a seven-yard touchdown run from Jamieson Jones. McCarley kept Hopkinsville alive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Bradley Jr., but that would be the Tigers’ final score.
From there, Carterville pulled away with two more touchdowns, including an 11-yard run by Jonathan Miller that capped his 128-yard night and sealed the victory.
Bradley Jr. accounted for both of Hopkinsville’s touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. McCarley added a 24-yard scoring pass and finished with 158 yards through the air as the Tigers totaled 201 yards, slightly behind the Lions’ 240.
Hopkinsville will look to regroup next week as it tries to shore up its run defense and get back above .500 when it opens district play against McCracken County.
Hopkinsville 15, Cartersville 35
H: 0;7;8;0 — 15
C: 7;8;14;6 — 35
First Quarter
C: Carter Jones 8 yard run (Johnson kick)
Second Quarter
H: James Bradley Jr. 22 yard run (Harton kick)
C: Jamieson Jones 21 yard run (Jonathan Miller run)
Third Quarter
C: Jones 4 yard run (Johnson)
H: Bradley Jr. 24 yard pass from Jasiah McCarley (Bradley Jr. run)
C: Andrew Johnson 2 yard run (Johnson)
Fourth quarter
C: Miller 11 yard run (Johnson)
