The Hopkinsville Tigers gave indication Saturday that they will be a tough team to deal with this season. In stifling heat, and battling some tough competition, the Tigers went 2-2 in the double-elimination bracket portion of the Best of the West 7-on-7 passing tournament at the Stadium of Champions, reaching the winner’s bracket semifinals before dropping a pair of tough contests.
The Tigers rolled through their opening game of the day. Putting 40 points on the board, Hopkinsville rumbled past Warren Central 40-15.
That win set up a game against BOTW previous champion Pearl-Cohn. The two teams battled throughout the 23 minutes of the contest. Pearl-Cohn appeared headed for the win until the Tigers struck on the final play of the game on a long touchdown pass, sending the sideline into a frenzy and the Tigers into the winner’s bracket semifinals.
In the semis, it was Tigers against Tigers as Hopkinsville and Murray battled for a chance to reach the winner’s bracket championship game. This one too came down to the final play and this time it was Murray getting a stop on the final play and the two points that went with it as the Tigers from the west side of the lakes took a 12-11 win.
That loss dropped the Tigers into the loser’s bracket semifinals against Kenwood. The Knights got up early on the Tigers in the hottest part of the day to that time and went on to take a 36-26 win to end the tournament for Hopkinsville.
