HS Football: Rivalry tilts as Tilghman tops Mayfield

PADUCAH — McRight Field was a madhouse Friday night, as Paducah Tilghman’s student section left the stands and celebrated with their team following a historic 35-28 win over century-long rival Mayfield.

As the kids roared and high-fived and hugged and skipped around like valence electrons, it didn’t take long to realize nearly every person on the school’s new turf either wasn’t alive — or was a gentle twinkle in their parents’ eye — when the Blue Tornado last toppled the Cardinals.

For those keeping count, it was 2005: an 18-15 victory in the heart of McCracken County.

Seventeen long, and sometimes painful, years.

Asked if there was a main takeaway with the victory, Tilghman coach Sean Thompson kept it about his sideline after his team moved to 3-0 in 2023.

Thompson also noted that this can’t be Paducah’s peak, and, quite honestly, this can’t be Mayfield’s misery, either. It was Public Enemy who once sang, “Don’t let a win get to your head, or a loss to your heart.” Friday was a battle for pride and prejudice, but the season is long, and in the grand scheme — larger goals are at stake for both squads.

Take 2005 as an example. The Cardinals followed up that loss with eight straight wins all the way into the Class A state championship game against Newport Central Catholic at Louisville’s Papa John’s Stadium: a 42-7 loss. Tilghman, meanwhile, would win its next four games before closing the season 1-2: a 48-18 blowout defeat at the hands of Hopkinsville and a 33-7 shellacking from Bowling Green in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

The blue and the red clashing leave purple bruises that should only be skin deep, and especially this year, when Thompson and future Hall of Fame coach Joe Morris possess otherworldly depth and skill.

Perhaps the biggest difference Friday night was the turnover battle and fourth down execution, both of which Mayfield fell short.

The Cardinals coughed up two fumbles and quarterback Zane Cartwright, behind a superb effort, was pressured into a pair of fourth-down interceptions — the second one coming against senior Darionte Ragsdale at the goal line to essentially seal the victory. Throws he had to try, lest he be toppled for drive-ending losses.

Prior to that drive, stalwart Mayfield running back and preseason Player of the Year Juju Starks was stuffed on fourth-and-1 inside the Tilghman 10. A physical specimen, he was harassed and hamstrung to just 85 yards on 23 carries — at one point seal-walking himself to the sideline late in the second half because of malicious cramps. Speed back Mekhi Dumas would spell for nearly 60 yards on nine touches, and his third-quarter score made it 28-all.

Tilghman, however, crested the hump. Thompson credited his team’s toughness.

A star appears

Much has been made about the arrival of Martels Carter to Paducah Tilghman, and it’s easy to see why.

The 6-0, 180-pound junior safety and wide receiver makes his way from Brainerd into west Kentucky, and immediately interjected himself into the titillating Tilghman-Mayfield rivalry.

Cartwright tested him once early on a deep middle post to Brajone Dabney, and drew a pass interference that eventually led to his own 1-yard score for the 7-all tie.

Then, with less than a minute left before halftime, he physically blew by Malik Kirby for a 10-yard touchdown at the back right pylon — only to get flagged for offensive pass interference. (It wouldn’t matter: Jack James would keep a 20-yard scamper for himself on the very next play, giving the Tornado a 21-14 advantage going into the break.)

To the naked eye, these were Carter’s only mistakes.

With 5:59 left in the second quarter, James found him one-on-one on the backside of his progression, and he easily raced in for a 59-yard touchdown — making it 14-7. It was the kind of play that drew illicit profanity from Mayfield’s sideline, because the young man was that open for business.

Directly after a Mayfield fumble, James and Carter linked up again early in the third quarter behind a 45-yard catch-and-run that showcased the kind of speed and instinct he has. It gave Tilghman a comfortable 28-14 advantage.

He’d finish with five catches and 115 yards, along with two carries for 26 yards. The fact he possesses more than 40 FCS and FBS offers, most of them from the Power 5, is a no Brainerd. He’s good. He’s really good.

Thompson, however, said it took everyone on the Tilghman sideline. And the emptying of the stands was special.

A show of resolve

So, why wasn’t a two-score lead on the road at a raucous McRight Field, with more than 6,000 whoopin’-and-hollerin’, enough to crush the Cardinals and their spirit?

Because it just wasn’t. And in future weeks, this should be Mayfield’s biggest takeaway from the loss.

Facing 3rd-and-23 and in desperate, desperate need of a large play, Cartwright delivered. He rolled right to his sideline, and fired to Dabney all the way down to the Tilghman 20. The Cardinals point guard beat his coverage, and cradled an in-stride, over-the-shoulder catch to extend the drive — one that was capped by a 3-yard rush from Starks.

It was the second time in the contest in which Mayfield used less than a minute to respond; the first being after Carter’s opening tally, when Cartwright found budding sophomore star Mak Hoover for a 22-yard screen-and-score.

Some other observations

— In 2022, James finished with 74 yards on 58 carries, using his legs as a last resort with running backs like Jordauyn White and Malachi Rider in front of him. On Friday, his legs were his best attribute: 10 carries, 40 yards and a score. And he had a backbreaking fourth-quarter 84-yard carry right past Mayfield’s sideline snatched away on a holding penalty. Now through three games, he’s got 167 rushing yards on 26 carries.

— In 2022, Hoover appeared in 15 games, but managed just seven catches and 128 yards behind Dabney, Isaac Stevenson, Ben Hite, Gavin Jackson and Novi Barnes. He broke out entirely on Friday: seven catches, 118 yards and a score. With Dabney and Murray transfer Xavier Biggers bracketed frequently, his effort was more than necessary. He delivered.

Elation from the closing seconds:

‘Defense’ chant:

PADUCAH TILGHMAN 35, MAYFIELD 28
Cardinals (2-1) 0 14 14 0 — 28
Blue Tornado (3-0) 7 14 7 7 — 35

SCORING
PT: Amari Williams 7 pass from Jack James (Shep Esper PAT), 7-0, 8:06 1Q
MAY: Zane Cartwright 1 rush (Lincoln Suiter PAT), 7-7, 10:12 2Q
PT: Martels Carter 59 pass from Jack James (Shep Esper PAT), 14-7, 5:59 2Q
MAY: Mak Hoover 22 pass from Zane Cartwright (Lincoln Suiter PAT), 14-14, 5:15 2Q
PT: Jack James 20 rush (Shep Esper PAT), 21-14, 0:36 2Q
PT: Martels Carter 45 pass from Jack James (Shep Esper PAT), 28-14, 10:54 3Q
MAY: Juju Starks 3 rush (Lincoln Suiter PAT), 28-21, 10:41 3Q
MAY: Mehki Dumas 3 rush (Lincoln Suiter PAT), 28-28, 4:52 3Q
PT: DJ Wilson 8 rush (Shep Esper PAT), 35-28, 12:00 4Q

PASSING LEADERS
PT: Jack James 13-25-218-0-3. MAY: Zane Cartwright 17-30-282-2-1.

RUSHING LEADERS
PT: DJ Wilson 21-120-1, Jack James 10-40-1, Martels Carter 2-22. MAY: Juju Starks 23-85-1. Mehki Dumas 9-57-1. Zane Cartwright 3-10-1.

RECEIVING LEADERS
PT: Martels Carter 5-115-2, Amari Williams 2-33-1, JoeAvion Starks 3-33, Banks LaFont 1-17, DJ Perry 1-11, Shemari Thomas 1-9. MAY: Mak Hoover 7-118-1, Braden Morris 5-78, Brajone Dabney 3-60.

MISCELLANEOUS
First Downs: PT 20, MAY 23
Third Downs: PT 3-10, MAY 4-11
Fourth Downs: PT 0-2, MAY 0-4
Rushing: PT 33-182, MAY 37-153
Passing: PT 25-218, MAY 30-282
Sacks: PT 2-7, MAY 0-0
Penalties: PT 14-145, MAY 9-75
Fumbles-Lost: PT 0-0, MAY 2-2
FG: PT 0/0, MAY 0/1