One of the oldest rivalries in western Kentucky high school football resumes tonight when the Hopkinsville Tigers travel to Madisonville to take on the Maroons.
The teams first started playing football against each other in 1917 and from 1921-1957 would meet on Thanksgiving Day.
The Maroons are 1-0 after beating the Class 3-A, No.5-ranked Union County Braves 49-13. The Tigers are 1-0 after routing Stratford 49-13.
Madisonville is led by senior running back Markezz Hightower, who ran for 1,604 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior.
Hoptown coach Dustin Lopez said his team won’t be able to stop the big back, but he hopes the Tigers can slow down the Maroons’ offense.
Hoptown quarterback James Bradley Jr., is coming off an impressive game last week when he rushed for 195 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 126 yards and a pair of scores.
Hopkinsville leads the all-time series 70-45-4, although the Tigers and Maroons have not met on the football field since 2022 when Madisonville won 21-14.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the Tigers’ Countdown to Kickoff Show set for 6:30 p.m. on Newsradio 99.3 FM and 1230 AM WHOP.
Photo by Danny Vowell