Hopkinsville and Christian County high school head football coaches Dustin Lopez and Ethan Atchley had the opportunity to discuss their 2025 football teams with members of the Hopkinsville Rotary Club on Tuesday afternoon.
Lopez, who is entering his second year as the Tigers’ head coach, said he is pleased with his team’s preparation for this, the final season, of Hoptown Tigers football.
The Tigers have 18 seniors on this year’s roster and nine juniors to go along with 25 sophomores. Lopez said the Tigers are dressing about 75 players from ninth-12th grade.
Hoptown scrimmaged defending Class 4-A state champion Paducah Tilghman and Clarksville Northeast last weekend. The Blue Tornado defeated the Tigers 21-0 in two quarters and Hoptown routed Northeast 28-7 in a 30-minute running clock game.
This week, the Tigers will scrimmage against Mayfield and Murray on Thursday night.
Lopez said he should know much more about his team following Thursday’s scrimmage.
Meanwhile, Atchley brought four freshmen and a junior to the luncheon and said he had a young group of players, but he was excited about their potential heading into the 2025 season.
Christian County scrimmaged at Louisville Central last Friday night and fell 18-0 in a two-quarter scrimmage.
This week, the Colonels will go to Fort Campbell to scrimmage Clarksville Northwest and Kenwood.
Atchley, who is returning for his second year as the Colonels’ head coach, said the first scrimmage was important to his young team to get some game exposure.
When asked about the two schools consolidating to make the Christian County Tigers in 2026, Lopez said his team was only worried about the upcoming seasoon.
Atchley echoed Lopez’s sentiments about the final year, but also noted that Hoptown moving into the Class 6-A, District 1 with Christian County would make the last game between the two schools more important.
Hopkinsville and Christian County are scheduled to play for the final time on Oct. 24 with the Colonels being the home team. The series is tied at 29-29.
Hopkinsville opens the 2025 regular season Aug. 22 at home against Nashville Stratford and Christian County takes on Clarksville Northeast on Aug. 23 at the Stadium of Champions.
Photos by Joe Wilson