It will be one of those games that has the Hopkinsville Tigers asking ‘what if’ for the next several days. First half miscues put the Tigers behind and then some late-game mistakes cost them a chance to take the lead inside the final minutes of the game as Warren East outscored Hopkinsville 41-32 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Stadium of Champions.
The Tigers lose despite moving the ball up and down the field almost at will throughout the game and racking up more than 500 yards in total offense. For much of the game, Warren East had no answer for the Tiger offense, other than their big-play offense on the other side.
The Raiders, who have now scored at least 40 points in five of their six games, took the opening kickoff and struck quickly with the first of their big plays on the afternoon. On the fourth play of the game, quarterback Dane Parsley broke off a 46-yard touchdown run and, with the two-point conversion, Warren East took an 8-0 lead with still 10:41 to go in the first quarter.
In a sign of things to come for the rest of the day, Hopkinsville took its first possession and chewed up nearly five minutes of the first quarter, moving from its own 41 to the Warren East three-yard line before the drive stalled out. The Tigers went for it on fourth down from the two-yard line but Aiden King lost the handle on the snap and Hopkinsville ended up losing a yard.
The Hopkinsville defense shut down the Raiders on their next possession, setting up the first big moment of the game. With the wet conditions and rain falling on and off throughout the afternoon, the Tigers muffed the Warren East punt and the Raiders recovered the ball at the Hopkinsville 30-yard line.
Warren East did not waste any time taking advantage. Dane Parsley hit Logan Boyer for a 30-yard score on the very next play, on their second big play of the day, and the Raider lead was at 14-0 with 3:03 to go in the first.
Give the Tigers their due, they got up off the mat and responded with a 61-yard scoring drive to get right back in the game. That drive ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Aiden King with 11:58 to go in the half.
But big play #3 was about to happen for Warren East. Just 35 seconds later, Dane Parsley tossed a 53-yard score to Brayden Lightfoot and the Raider lead was 20-6.
The Raiders squib-kicked the ensuing kickoff and recovered the ball at the Hopkinsville 34. This time however the Raiders were not able to take advantage and were stopped on downs at the Hopkinsville four-yard line.
In a sign of the Raiders’ problems for the afternoon, the Hopkinsville Tigers then took the ball and started marching down the field. With Aiden King doing most of the damage with both his arm and his legs, Hopkinsville went 96 yards in a little over five minutes. Treston Kay finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to 20-14 with 3:17 left in the half.
Time for Warren East big play #4 of the first half. Dane Parsley and Brayden Lightfoot teamed up again, this time for a 54-yard score and the Raider lead was at 27-14 with 2:09 left in the half.
Again, the Raiders could not stop the Tigers from moving down the field. Hopkinsville quickly drove down the field inside the Warren East 10-yard line, and then came one of those missed opportunities.
On 4th and goal at the 9, Warren East was called for pass interference giving the Tigers a 4th and goal at the 5. On the next play, the Raiders were called for defensive holding, giving the Tigers a first down and untimed down for the final play of the half. On the play, Treston Kay scored but there was another penalty, and this time the flag went against the Tigers as the first half ended with the score still at 27-14.
The Tiger offense got rolling again on the opening drive of the second half, taking it 58 yards on five plays. James Bradley ran it in from 16 yards out, cutting the Warren East lead to 27-20 with 9:53 to go in the third.
After forcing Warren East to a three and out, Hopkinsville was right back in business. Taking over at their 14-yard line, the Tigers marched 86 yards in just over 4 ½ minutes and found the end zone again. This time it was Aiden King throwing to James Bradley for a 25-yard touchdown score and the Tigers were within 27-26 with 4:25 left in the third.
The Tigers looked to have Warren East stopped on the next possession but the Tigers jumped offside on a 4th and 5 and the Raiders converted another 4th down as they drove down the field. Warren East finished off the drive with a two-yard jump pass from Dane Parsley to Jackson McCool to push the lead back out to 34-26 with 1:05 left in the third quarter.
But again, the Raiders had no inkling how to stop the Tiger offense. Taking over at their 44-yard line after another Raider squib kick, Hopkinsville went on a 13-play, 56-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Aiden King with 6:37 left in the game.
The Tigers went for two and called the perfect play, but a wide-open Hopkinsville receiver could not pull in the wet football and the score was 34-32 with Warren East now trying to hang on for dear life. And, the Tigers would get their chance to win this one late.
The Hopkinsville defense did its part by coming up with a three-and-out against the Raider offense. After the punt, the Tigers started the potential game-winning drive at their 44-yard line.
The Tigers got down to the 34-yard line but saw a couple of late-game miscues cost them dearly. On second and three, the Tigers were called for holding, pushing them back, and setting up second and eleven. Then the Tigers were flagged for a false start, pushing them back five yards further. With the long yardage situation, Hopkinsville had to go to the air and the next three passing attempts were incomplete, giving the ball back to the Raiders.
Warren East then shut the door for good with another big play. This time it was a 52-yard run from Dane Parsley with 1:32 to go in the game as the Raiders took a 41-32 lead.
The Hopkinsville offense rolled up 540 total yards in the game, 327 on the ground, and 213 through the air.
Treston Kay led the Tigers on the ground with 128 yards. James Bradley had 95 yards and Aiden King added 68.
King was 13-25 through the air for 213 yards. De’Avery Ramey was his favorite target on the day, pulling down six catches for 83 yards.
Hopkinsville (1-5, 0-2 in district) hits the road next Friday night to take on Calloway County.
