Hart County hit Hopkins County Central with a couple of quick scores and then used their patented running game to control things for the rest of the night as the Raiders ended the Storm’s 2025 football season with a 42-12 loss in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs. The loss ended the tenure of Coach Phillip Manning, who had previously announced he was stepping down as head coach at Hopkins Central at the end of the season.
The night started off about as badly as it could for the Storm. After forcing Hopkins County Central to a three-and-out on its opening possession, it took just two plays for the Raiders to find the end zone. Jacob Shoulders hit Kannan Allen for a 60-yard score to put Hart County up 7-0 less than 90 seconds into the game.
Hopkins County Central was forced to punt again on the second possession of the night, and Hart County was right back in business. Once again, it took the Raiders just two plays to score. After a 38-yard pass from Shoulders to Allen, Jayden Whitaker ran it in from six yards out, and the Raider lead was up to 14-0 with still 6:31 to go in the first.
After the Storm went three-and-out for the second time of the night, the Hopkins County Central defense came up with a play. Sylas Gunn came up with an interception to shut down a Raider drive and give the Storm the ball at the Hart County 42-yard line.
Central was not able to take advantage of the turnover, going three-and-out and giving the ball right back to Hart County.
After short scoring drives early, the Hart County ground game began to chew up clock. The Raiders had two long scoring drives over the rest of the first half, capped off by a 14-yard touchdown run for Allen and a 26-yard touchdown reception for Allen to make it 27-0 with 36 seconds left in the half. oik
The Storm took advantage of great field position after a penalty on the kickoff, and Sylas Gunn hit Kaijain Hayes for a 21-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the half to cut the lead to 27-6 going into the locker room at the break.
Hart County racked up 313 yards in the half, with 169 rushing and 144 through the air. Hopkins Central had 68 total yards, with 41 rushing and 27 passing.
The Raiders came out and delivered the knockout blow to open the second half. Hart County took the second half kickoff and drove 65 yards, capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run from Jake Crump with 7:35 to go in the third, running the lead out to 35-6.
After forcing the Storm to turn the ball over on downs on the next possession, Hart County went back on the move and scored again late in the quarter to make it 42-6 and get to the running clock, speeding up play for the rest of the evening.
Sylas Gunn, who had an outstanding night for Hopkins Central, came up with another big play. Gunn caught a short pass and rambled 73 yards for the score to cut the Raider lead to 42-12 with 10:55 left.
For the night, Hart County had 442 total yards, 143 passing and 299 rushing. The Raiders racked up 25 first downs.
Hopkins County Central ended up with 243 total yards,57 on the ground and 186 through the air.
Hopkins County Central finishes the season at 2-8.
Hart County improves to 9-2 and moves on to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs next week.
