HOPKINSVILLE — The Warren Central football team couldn’t overcome self-inflicted wounds, losing 15-9 to Hopkinsville in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs Friday at the Stadium of Champions.

Despite outgaining top seed Hopkinsville 252-92, Warren Central (3-8) was ultimately done in by mistakes – with three turnovers and 80 yards in penalties.

“We were excited with what we were doing defensively,” Warren Central coach Clay Stephens said. “It was working for us. We hurt ourselves. That is part of it. When you’ve got teenagers, you never know what is going to happen, but they fought.”

The Dragons outgained Hopkinsville 102-35 in the first half, but Hopkinsville (10-1) built a 15-0 advantage.

Hopkinsville’s lone offensive score in the first half came on a drive in which Warren Central committed four penalties. Two penalties extended the drive – including a fourth-down penalty immediately before Jalen Johnson found Stephen Cager in the back of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown reception.

Warren Central starting quarterback Chance Shanklin exited after the first quarter due to a coaching decision and Chauncey Greer took the reins, driving to the Tigers’ 33. Hopkinsville’s defense made a stand, with Dontarius Parker intercepting a pass over the middle and avoiding several Dragons, before racing down the sidelines for a 76-yard pick 6. 

The Tigers added a two-point conversion and took that 15-point advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Warren Central defense tried to get the momentum in the third quarter with a Payton Donisi interception on the Tigers’ first drive, but Warren Central’s offense was stopped on downs at the Hopkinsville 14.

The Dragons finally got on the board early in the fourth quarter when Greer found Tristen Murray for a 14-yard touchdown catch to trim the deficit to 15-7.

Warren Central recovered an onside kick, but couldn’t keep the momentum with a fumble on a hook and ladder attempt.

The Dragons offense got one more chance, marching to the Hopkinsville 25 before Greer’s pass to Kobee Lancaster was intercepted at the 8 with 2:24 left.

“It was a skinny post,” Greer said. “The safety read it well. My initial read was to go to Tristen Murray … but I saw Kobee. I tried to squeeze it in there. The safety just came out of nowhere and read me well.”

The Tigers tried to run the clock out, running the ball out of the end zone for a safety with one second left.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Dragons tried several laterals before getting stopped at the Warren Central 27.

“The percentage is very low, but we tried it,” Stephens said. “We do it at practice. It’s worked in practice some. It just didn’t work out tonight.”

Greer finished 12-for-20 for 160 yards to lead the offense.

Johnson threw for 75 yards, but was held to minus 11 yards rushing. The Tigers finished with 17 yards on the ground.

“Our defense has played well all year long,” Hopkinsville coach Marc Clark said. “There for a while I thought we were going to record another shutout. We had a good game plan. One thing about Warren Central is schematically, they are very similar to us and they have a lot of dynamic athletes, like we have. I felt like we were prepared.”

It was a tough finish in Stephens’ first season at the helm, a season that saw the Dragons without a home field until Oct. 16 due to construction delays. 

Warren Central played nine road games and lost three games by eight points or less.

“Every game we lost, the team we lost to played at home in the first round,” Stephens said. “I knew our schedule was going to be tough. I knew it was difficult, but I can thank (former coach) Joe Hood for that. He set the precedent here. I just appreciate the opportunity to be a Dragon. I’m very excited about what this program is doing and where it is going.”

— Follow prep sports reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter at twitter.com/mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.

WCHS 0 0 0 9 — 9

HHS 7 8 0 0 — 15

First quarter

HHS – Stephen Cager 24 pass from Jalen Johnson (Houston Ray kick), 2:06

Second quarter

HHS – Dontarius Parker 76 yard interception return (Dallas Green pass from Tyler Graham), 6:36

Fourth quarter

WC – Tristen Murray 14 pass from Chauncey Greer (Steven McEntire kick), 11:25

WC – Safety, 0:01