Storm Warning: Look out North-Hopkins, you may be in for inclement weather

North Hopkins braces for visit from cross town rival, Hopkins County Central

It is the annual hatred-fest which exists between two Hopkins County football teams and competing high schools, Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central. We will use each of their Noms de Guerre commonly used in the county of North vs. Central. Central has a huge hill to climb as we can’t think of a time North has been any better visa vie the entire expanse of the KHSAA. On3.com believes the Maroons are the 7th-best team in a loaded 4A classification, Kentucky-wide; and 22nd in the commonwealth, regardless of classification. It is a huge obstacle to overcome but it also presents a tremendous opportunity. No one expects Central to win. Play loose, have fun, and see if you can’t “shock the world (or commonwealth).”

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball“

Badgett Stadium, Madisonville, KY: Friday night, the boys from Morton’s Gap will parade over to Badgett Stadium and take on the Madisonville North-Hopkins Maroons and, perhaps, the most talented team to ever don the uniform in the history of its program. Coach Chris Price has his boys playing at an optimal level as the Maroons will enter the contest with a 2-0 mark over two pretty, dad-burn good, high school football teams.

Central’s head football coach, Chris Manning, has his team entering the contest, 1-1. The Storm overcame the Fort Campbell Falcons a week ago and, in doing so, bested one of the hotter teams on this end of Kentucky.

We will break down this matchup and remind you that playing a team as highly regarded as this North squad presents real opportunity. The Storm could really sneak up on these guys and, literally “shock the world” or Kentucky, at the very least, if they could slip out of town with a win.

Last Year's Outcome: ’23 Game in "The Gap:" North 46-14 over Central

Lets take a look at the “Good Guys:”

Central is 1-1 on the year, dropping the opener to Caldwell in Princeton, 42-6, and surviving a visit from Fort Campbell at The Gap, 34-32. 

Issac Earl (’26) has thrown for 428-yards and 4-TDs and has run for 68-yards and a pair of scores. Earl has been a bit turn-over prone with eight (8) picks but that is misleading. Seven (7) of those INTs were in the opener.

Needless to say, we can ill afford to turn the ball over if we wish to stay in Friday night’s game. Somethings are so obvious they scarcely need mentioning.

Zayden Parker (’25) has been the most lethal threat in the backfield. Sylas Gunn is the second leading rusher, third leading pass catcher, and the leading tackler making him the most versatile piece of machinery Central’s roster can proffer. 

Mattox Allen (’27) and Carter Edwards (’25) are tied for the lead in INTs and will be crucial in the hopes to contain the Johnson to Travis combination which has gotten off to such a hot start. Allen and Edwards have to keep down field targets in front of them and be mindful of not getting beat deep.

This will be a very tall task for Central. North has a lot of athletes on the roster. North has had a lot of success, under Price, and expect to win. Sometimes, just expecting to win takes teams a long way in the high school game!

The mountain before us…

Make no mistake, this is the best team on the ’24 schedule by a wide margin. Through two games, North has smoked Union County, 34-6, and humiliated Caldwell, 52-14. Yes, that is the same Caldwell team which beat Central 42-6 in the opener in Princeton.

Kanyon Johnson (’25) has been a real threat. Johnson has thrown for 339-yards and 3-TDs and run for 275-yards and another 5-scores.

Johnson scores 19-points a game. Johnson has five (5) rushing TDs and four (4), 2-point conversions to his credit.

Markezz Hightower (’26) has averaged 145.5-yards a game. Hightower is approaching 300-yards rushing in just two weeks.

Jayden Travis (’26) has been the passing game’s most prolific weapon with 9-grabs and over a hundred yards receiving through two games.

KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) and On3.com have North ranked the 22nd best team in all of Kentucky regardless of classification. There are 222-football teams in Kentucky competing in the KHSAA.

In conclusion

There is not a pundit in the commonwealth who believes Central can stay on the field with North. In the end, it matters not what any of them say (or believe). In the end, it matters not what we say (or believe). The only thing which matters is the Central locker room.

Central, do you believe? Go out there Friday night with no pressure, no expectations, and no-one (besides you) believing. Execute and pledge to each other, and your coaches, you will not beat yourselves. If you can do that, and control what you can; then, let the chips fall where they may.

We will all live with the result. We will all be proud of your glorious effort. Who knows, we may just come out of the Badgett Athletic Complex with a program defining victory.

Remember, when two teams take the field, regardless of the relative rosters or records; either of them can emerge the victor. The proof of that exists at all levels of competition.

Then again, what do we know?

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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