The old saying “the most important game of the season is the next one” definitely applies to the Logan County Cougars this week.
That truth applies equally to their opponent, the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons, who will come to 2200 Bowling Green Road, Russellville, tonight.
It’s become increasingly obvious that the Cougars and the Maroons are the two best teams in Class 4A, Region I, District 1. Coach Todd Adler’s Cougars are 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the district. They’re ranked fifth in the state by the Associated Press and seventh in the KHSAA’s RPI. The Maroons, who are 5-2 and 2-0, are ranked in a tie for 11th in AP voting and rated 15th in the state by the KHSAA.
Since both teams have beaten Hopkinsville, more than likely the winner of tonight’s game will be the top seed in the district and have home field advantage in the playoffs.
Last year on the way to Class 4ssA’s Final Four, the Cougars beat the Maroons twice. The regular season game was on the road, and the top-seeded Cougars were at home for the playoffs.
In comparative scores and in the current Class 4A statistics, the Cougars appear to have the advantage. They each have swept games against the teams from the most populated area of the district—Hopkinsville and Christian County. Logan beat Hoptown 49-28 and the Colonels 49-6, while M-NH took those games 21-14 and 35-19. Logan has scored 40 or more points in five of its last six games.
The Cougars are in the Top 10 in the state in every category except field goals and pass defense. The Maroons are below them in most categories and don’t sit much ahead of them in all the others except pass defense. Passing could be the Maroons best hope of winning, although Cougar quarterback Davin Yates is only 20 passing yards behind Maroon QB Anias Mitchell.
Here’s a look at team standings in the state:
Points per game: Logan 3rd, 40.6; M-NH 12th, 33.7
Points allowed per game: M-NH 7th, 17.7; Logan 10th, 18.6
Scoring margin: Logan 5th plus 22.0; M-NH 8th, plus 16.0
Rushing yardage per game: Logan 8th, 246; M-NH 11th, 228
Rushing yardage allowed per game: Logan 10th, 102; M-NH 14th, 116
Passing yards per game: M-NH 5th, 174; Logan 8th, 164
Passing yards allowed per game: M-NH 13th, 107; Logan 20th, 124
Sacks: Logan 2nd, 19; M-NH 19th. 9
Fumble Recoveries: Logan 8th, 7; M-NH 26th, 3
Interceptions: Logan 8th, 9; M-NH 10th, 7
The LoJo
Many Cougars rank among the best in the state. They include:
Conversion kicks: Kyla Bilyeu 1st with 29; 3rd with 4.1 made per game
Sacks: Peyton Taylor 2nd with 8.5; Elijah Hawkins, Isaac Poe & Keenan Uhles tied for 35th with 3 each
Tackles: Elijah Hawkins 2nd in solo tackles with 45, 3rd in total tackles with 73,4th with 10.5 per game; Isaac Poe with 7.6 tackles per game
Rushing: Ryan Rayno 3rd in rushing yards with1125, 3rd in rushing touchdowns, 4th in yards per game with 161
Passing: Davin Yates 3rd in completions with 83, 4th in passing touchdowns with 15,10th with 1,080 yards; Brady Hinton 37th with 71 yards
Interceptions: Jack Delaney tied for 4th with 3; Hunter Holloway, tied for 16th with 2
Receiving: Zane Batten 4th in receptions with 27, tied for 5th in touchdown receptions, 11th in yards per game with 55; JunVontre Dillard tied in receiving yards per game with 36
Scoring: Ryan Rayno 5th with 96 points
Field goals: Kyla Bilyeu tied for 9th with 1
Fumble recoveries: Isaac Poe 10th with 1 recovered and 2 forced; Ryland Nichols tied for 4th with 2;
Peyton Taylor, Derek White, Kadin Switzer are all listed in this category
The LoJo
This is the Cougars’ final regular season home game. They only have four at Cougar Field this year.
The Cougars are inviting LCHS football alumni to gather in the end zone before the game,
It will be carried live on WRUS.