Hoptown faces tough task with No. 2-ranked Spartans

There’s no secret that the Hopkinsville Tigers have their work cut out for them tonight when they travel to South Warren to take on the No. 2-ranked Spartans in the second round of the Class 6-A football playoffs.

But, Hoptown Head Coach Dustin Lopez says his Tigers are up for the challenge.

Although he realizes that his 7-4 team is a heavy underdog to the 10-0 Spartans, he said his team has no pressure on it when the teams meet tonight.

The two teams met in September in a game delayed nearly two hours by thunderstorms and the Spartans held off the Tigers 33-21. Only Louisville DuPont Manual played South Warren closer all season.

Lopez said his team will have to play its best game of the season.

The Spartans are led by quarterback Camden Page, who has thrown for nearly 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. His favorite target is Jake Carter, who has caught 50 passes for 568 yards and seven scores.

South Warren also has an impressive ground game led by Kayden York and Jamir Boards, who have combined to rush for more than 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Spartans, who are ranked No. 3 overall in the state by Maxpreps.com, only allow 13.7 points per game. They have 17 interceptions on the season and have forced 19 fumbles.

South Warren will have to try and stop Hoptown’s James Bradley Jr., who has run for 1,407 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.

A Tigers’ loss would not only end the season, but would also be the end of the Hopkinsville High School football program. The school is consolidating with Christian County for the 2026 season.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with airtime at 6:30 p.m. on Newsradio 99.3 FM and 1230 AM WHOP.

File Photo by Danny Vowell/WHOP