2019 High School Football Preview: Tilghman

Paducah Tilghman football coach Jonathan Smith did an outstanding job in his first season as head coach of the Blue Tornado, leading Tilghman to a 9-3 record and the 2^nd round of the Class 3A playoffs last season. The nine wins were the most Tilghman had won in a season since 2011. Smith and the Blue Tornado have their sights set for an even better 2019 season.

Tilghman will have some big shoes to fill on the offensive side of the football due to graduation, including 57% of their rushing yards and 65% of their rushing scoring. However, Tilghman has some solid players to fill those shoes.

Junior quarterback Cam Marshall will be back under center for Tilghman. In his first season as a varsity quarterback, Marshall threw for 394 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Damien Ford will also be the primary rusher this season for Tilghman. In his junior season, Ford rushed for 698 yards and 7 touchdowns. Senior Jayden Freeman will also receive a share of carries this season while also splitting time as a wide receiver. Last season, Freeman rushed for 310 yards and five touchdowns, while also receiving 193 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Tim Watkins will move over from his guard position to play the tight end position, and Tilghman returns two offensive linemen from last season in senior DaRoyce Flemons at center and senior Trevor Harmon at tackle.

The defensive side of the football also returns six seniors this season. Senior Jarmorie Sabbs returns at the linebacker position, seniors Trevor Harmon, Tim Watkins, and Rasheed Reed return on the defensive line, and Jayden Freeman and senior Jaedan Graham return as defensive backs. Tilghman’s defense really solidified themselves towards the end of the season last year; including a stretch in October where the Blue Tornado gave up only 18 points in October in three games.

Paducah Tilghman’s schedule opens with two headliners – the annual battles against McCracken County on August 24^th and Mayfield on September 6^th. The game against the Mustangs will be at McCracken County, while Tilghman hosts Mayfield this season. Then Tilghman will play three local teams in Graves County, Calloway County, and Trigg County before hosting DeSales, a team that dominated Class 2A in Kentucky for several seasons before making the jump to Class 3A this season. Paducah Tilghman then closes out the regular season against Union County, Webster County, and Hopkinsville.

2019 Paducah Tilghman Schedule

August 24 – at McCracken
August 31 – Louisville Holy Cross (at Louisville Central)
September 6 – Mayfield
September 13 – at Graves County
September 20 – Calloway County
September 27 – at Trigg County
October 4 – DeSales
October 18 – Union County
October 25 – at Webster County
November 1 – at Hopkinsville