The Christian County and Hopkinsville high school football teams are preparing for the final seasons before consolidation in 2026.
Hoptown Coach Dustin Lopez and Christian County Coach Ethan Atchley shared their thoughts on the team’s last seasons during a media day event Saturday morning at the Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex.
Atchley, who is beginning his second season as the Christian County head coach after a 1-10 season a year ago, said his team understands the importance of the final season as Colonels, but they are focused on the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Lopez, who is in his second year as head coach of Hopkinsville, said the coaching staff hasn’t talked much about this last season, but he knows that as the season progresses, it will become more of a focus for the community.
Lopez said it is difficult not to look back at the 120 years of Hoptown football and not think about all the players and teams who wore that jersey.
He said the school is planning tailgating events and will sell t-shirts as well as have other activities throughout the season to celebrate the history of the Hoptown Tigers football program.
Hopkinsville has scheduled a home scrimmage for Aug. 8 against defending Class 4-A state champion Paducah Tilghman and Clarksville Northeast. The scrimmages will coincide with the school’s fall “Meet The Tigers” night at 5:30 p.m. The next week the Tigers will go to Mayfield for a scrimmage.
Hoptown’s first regular season game is Aug. 22 at home against Nashville Stratford.
Meanwhile, Christian County is scheduled to scrimmage Aug. 8 at Louisville Central and the following week at Fort Campbell. The Colonels’ first regular season opponent is Clarksville Northeast at home on Aug. 23.
Photos by Joe Wilson