DRAFFENVILLE – Playing their final game at home of the regular season, the Marshals took on an 8-1 Hopkinsville team who won the 1st District 4A Championship last season, meeting the Tigers for the 21st time in a series that Hopkinsville leads 12-8 since their first game in 1978.
Behind quarterback Jalen Johnson who scored three rushing touchdowns and one in the air in just the first half and wide receiver Steven Cager who had four receptions in the game for 156 yards and two touchdowns, Hopkinsville beat the Marshals 55-14.
Head Coach Evan Merrick credited the speed and athleticism of the Tigers, causing problems for the Marshals, something they will meet again next Friday in their first 5A playoff game against #2 ranked Bowling Green.
The Marshals celebrated senior night Friday to which Merrick said, “These guys have brought it week in and week out, but they get to play another game next week.” crediting them with bringing the program back to where it needs to be.
A flag on the field before the game even began was called against the Tigers for taunting, moving the Hopkinsville kick-off back to the 25 yard line which set the Marshals up at mid-field for their first offensive series but would be forced to punt on 4th and 15.
Hopkinsville scored on their first possession on a keeper by Johnson and two-points conversion for 8-0 lead at 7:49 in the first quarter. The Marshals turned the ball over on downs on their next series but would get it back on a fumble recovery by Zach Garland, not able to get anything going offensively, the Marshals were forced to punt.
Hopkinsville’s next series began at the Marshall 45 yard line and they scored right away on a 45 yard run by Jatorion Dillard to lead 14-0 with 54 second remaining in the first quarter.
Austin Riley opened the 2nd quarter for the Marshals with a 33 yard gain to the 50 followed by a complete pass from Skyler Smith to Tristen Prange for a gain of 11, but would punt the ball back over to the Tigers, getting a nice boot from Cameron Thurman that set the Tigers up at their own 7 yard line. Hopkinsville traveled the 93 yards on a 50 yard pass to Cager for the touchdown and 20-0 lead.
Hopkinsville scored again on a 3 yard run by Johnson that was set up by a 55 yard gain by Cager on the previous play for a 27-0 lead and would score again following an interception by Jarquevion Kendrick who took the ball back 28 yards to give the Tigers a 34-0 lead with 8:24 to go until halftime.
With 5:28 to go, Hopkinsville scored on a 14 yard run by Johnson to go up 41-0 but didn’t go into the halftime with a shutout, as the Marshals put their first points on the board on a 48 yard pass from Smith to Prange with 28 seconds to go.
Hopkinsville scored two more touchdowns in the second half with a running clock to go up 55-7 and the Marshals got into the end zone once more on a 3-yard run by Zach Garland for a final score of 55-14, finishing the regular season 5-5 before heading to Bowling Green next Friday for the first round of the Class 5A Russell Athletic/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl.
Game Stats
Rushing: Marshall 90, Hopkinsville 207
Marshall: Riley 7/50, Garland 4/27 (1 TD), Green 12/19
Hopkinsville: Bryant 5/82, Johnson 3/22
Passing: Marshall 115, Hopkinsville 207
Marshall: Smith 7/20, 155 yards, (1 TD, 2 Int.)
Hopkinsville: Johnson 6/10, 157 yards (2 TD’s)
Receiving
Marshall: Prange 3/65 (1 TD), Utley 2/32, Forsythe 1/10, Fisk 1/8
Hopkinsville: Cager 4/156 (2 TDs)
