The Christian County Tigers’ football team will officially take the field for the first time Saturday as it hosts the Best of the West 7v7 Passing Tournament at the Stadium of Champions soccer fields.
Head Football Coach Dustin Lopez said he’s excited to see his team in action and together for the first time.
The 2026 KHSAA Dead Period ended Thursday night at midnight and Lopez said the team would practice at 6 p.m. Friday behind the current HHS Blockhouse.
While they have only one practice before playing on Saturday, Lopez said he is more interested in seeing his players in live situations than results.
Saturday’s pool play action begins at 9 a.m. with the Christian County Tigers playing on Field 1 in Pool A. The first game is at 9 against Calloway County. The Tigers will play Rossview at 10:30 a.m. and Gibson Southern, Ind., at 11 a.m.
Due to the weather concerns on Saturday, the single-elimination tournament will begin at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 cash. Children ages 10-and-under will be admitted free.
Other teams in the event include Paducah Tilghman, Fort Campbell, Clarksville Kirkwood, Meade County, Macon County, Union County, Clarksville Northeast, Logan County, Pearl Cohn, Clarksville Kenwood, Madisonville-North Hopkins, and Murray.
Lopez said the Best of the West has been successful for years because it brings in top-tier teams and players and this year won’t be different.
Lopez said the Tigers also will play in a passing event Tuesday night at Calloway County against Calloway and Graves County. On July 16, Christian County will play host to Madisonville-North Hopkins and Trigg County at the Blockhouse at 6 p.m.
The Tigers also will go to Southern Illinois University on July 18 to play in a 7v7 tournament in Carbondale, Ill.
Lopez said on July 20 the Tigers will begin their official fall camp and prepare for their season opener Aug. 21 at home against Cooper.
The Stadium of Champions is under renovation with turf being installed and the track being replaced. There has been some speculation that the field won’t be ready by Aug. 21 and the Tigers would have to play at Cooper.
However, Lopez said he is confident that the turf will be installed in time to play at home the first weekend.
Christian County will have two scrimmages. Northeast will come to town on Aug. 7 and the Tigers will travel to Louisville Manual on Aug. 14.
