One of the oldest and fiercest high school football rivalries in western Kentucky will resume tonight when the Mayfield Cardinals take on the Hopkinsville Tigers at the Stadium of Champions.
Mayfield enters the game 0-1 after losing 35-28 last week to Graves County. Hopkinsville also is 0-1 after dropping a thrilling 34-32 contest at Greenwood.
Tigers coach Dustin Lopez said his team will have to be prepared in all phases of the game if it is going to end a four-game losing streak dating back to last season.
After 25 years with Joe Morris at the helm Mayfield turned to former defensive coordinator and Ole Miss offensive lineman Cliff Dew to lead the team. Lopez said the Cardinals may look a little different, but the expectations are the same.
Although the Cardinals gave up 35 points last week to Graves, Lopez said Mayfield brings a talented group to Hopkinsville tonight, led by senior linebacker Ian Williams.
The Cardinals defeated Hopkinsville 59-6 last year in Mayfield. This is the 71st meeting all-time with the Cardinals leading the series 35-33-2.
Hopkinsville has lost seven straight games to Mayfield dating back to a 28-24 Tigers win in 2005.
During halftime of tonight’s game, former Hoptown head coach Craig Clayton will be recognized for his long coaching career with the Tigers.
The start time for tonight’s game has been moved back to 7:30 due to the extreme heat. Airtime for today’s game is at 7 p.m. on Newsradio 99.3 FM and 1230 AM WHOP.