Logan County quarterback Tyler Ezell (right) runs outside while Gary Hardy (left) blocks Hopkinsville’s JaKevis Bryant on Ezell’s game-winning touchdown. The Cougars defeated Hopkinsville 13-12 on Oct. 5 at Logan County High School.

The last meeting between Logan County and Hopkinsville came with offense at a premium, but ended with dramatics. Tyler Ezell’s game-winning touchdown as time expired kept the Cougars undefeated and dug Hopkinsville in a hole in Class 4A, District 1.

Plenty has changed since that Oct. 5 meeting.

Logan County’s offense picked back up to keep a magical, undefeated season rolling. Hopkinsville endured heartbreak the day after losing to the Cougars a month ago, but has been on an emotion-driven tear through the rest of the season and now has momentum in the playoffs.

Hopkinsville (5-6) hasn’t lost since that Thursday night at Cougar Stadium. They’ll get another shot against the Cougars in the second round of the 4A playoffs in a rematch Friday night at 7 p.m.

Logan County (11-0) had its lowest offensive production of the season when it last hosted Hopkinsville. Luckily the Cougars defense held on and forced Hopkinsville into four field goals on five red zone trips.

Logan County coach Todd Adler knew that game would be a methodical grind and constantly preached patience to his team. The second go-around with the Tigers might be a much different story.

“They’re rolling on all cylinders,” Adler said. “They’ve proven that against Greenwood and Warren East. We were the last team that beat them and I’m sure they’re itching to get back at us. We’re expecting a dogfight and a good second round playoff game.”

The day after that loss, the Hopkinsville community was rocked by the sudden death of freshman Elijah Austin as a result of an accidental shooting. Austin was one of the best defensive backs on the team, recording 23 tackles for the Tigers and leading the team in stops against Logan County.

Since that point, Hopkinsville has won four straight allowing 13 points, including two shutouts. The Tigers walloped Greenwood in the regular-season finale 31-6 and beat Warren East 21-7 last week in the first round of the 4A playoffs.

“I just think the kids have responded well,” Hopkinsville coach Craig Clayton told the Daily News in a phone interview. “Sometimes you get different results after a tragedy like that and I tried to get them right back into practice as soon as possible to get something to focus on a little more and I think it helped. I was a little surprised, but we reached that point where I thought we were getting better and I don’t know if this put us on over the edge so to speak.

“(Austin) was such a good person and teammate for us that I think the kids really want to finish up the year for him and themselves as well. I’ve been a head coach for 34 years now and I’ve never had something like this happen where one of my players died. It’s been a little different for me as well.”

The Tigers responded by holding Calloway County and Hopkins County Central scoreless with a combined 75 yards. That same defense kept Logan County in check Oct. 5.

“Hopkinsville has a lot of credit for this, but that was probably one of our worst offensive outings this year,” Adler said. “The way they play defense and fly to the football and if Tyler doesn’t make that jump, we don’t win that game and it’s a learning experience and we go forward. Seeing them again in the second round, it’s always hard to beat a good team twice.”

Ezell had four touchdowns for the Cougars in last week’s 54-18 win over Warren Central in the first round, which marked the first time this year Logan County scored at least 50 points in a game.

The sophomore quarterback leads the team with 1,582 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He also leads the squad with 10 rushing touchdowns, but sophomore running back Gary Hardy is right behind him with nine scores and 1,181 rushing yards.

Hopkinsville’s offense, which started the season without a single returning starter, has shaped up with Javier Bland at quarterback. He’s thrown for 1,762 yards and 15 touchdowns while Mitchell Degenhardt (383 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Jordan Hopson (255 yards, 3 TDs) pace the Tigers out of the backfield.

Gavin Marschand is Bland’s go-to receiver with 951 yards and six scores.

The winner of Friday’s game will play either Franklin-Simpson or Madisonville North-Hopkins in the region final.

“For us, we’re playing with a lot more confidence than we had before,” Clayton said. “I just feel like the kids think they can win. Logan County hasn’t had many guys this far in this situation and we haven’t either. It’s about who can respond to the pressure of the game the best and who can make the least amount of mistakes. We’re both on the same agenda here.”{&end}