The rivalry between Paducah Tilghman and Mayfield closed out their 104th meeting Friday night at Memorial Stadium. This annual battle between the Blue Tornado of Paducah Tilghman High School and the Cardinals of Mayfield High School is an outstanding game taken place in Western Kentucky and one of the longest and best rivalries in the state of Kentucky. There is and always will be a keen, sometimes bitter rivalry between the towns of Mayfield and Paducah when it comes to football. The Mayfield-Paducah series began in 1911, with the first game being a 0-0 tie. To many, on both sides, this is THE game of the year, and the rest of schedule is secondary in importance. As of late, the rivalry has been extremely lopsided in favor of Mayfield. The Cardinals came into the game having won 11 in a row over the Blue Tornado and lead the overall series, 47-46-10. The teams met again at Memorial Stadium with cross town bragging rights at stake. The Cardinals of Mayfield came into the game with a 2-0 record and took on the 1-1 Blue Tornado of Paducah Tilghman.

MVP

Kyle Hurt

Mayfield

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Bryson Brooks

Paducah Tilghman

Bryson is a four-year letterman on the varsity football team and a two-year letterman in track and field. Bryson is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the yearbook staff. He plans to attend Western Kentucky University and double major in religion and sports medicine.

Kyle Hurt

Mayfield

Kyle is member on the varsity football, track & field & baseball teams. Kyle has been a member of the All-Western Kentucky Conference team the past two years. He was a member of Mayfield’s 2014 & 2015 State championship football teams. He wants to pursue a degree in the medical field.

HALL OF FAME

Junior Shumpert

Paducah Tilghman

Junior played in the Paducah Tilghman & Mayfield rivalry game his junior and senior years. As the Captain of the 1985 teams, Junior led his team to an 14-0 victory over Mayfield. Junior lead Tilghman with 127 years rushing and one touchdown. Juniors also led the Tornados to a State Championship season in 1985. He was a 2nd team All-State running back in 1985 and went to star in baseball at the University of Troy in Alabama. Junior is the only Paducah Tilghman athletes to have never lost to any Mayfield team in any sports from little league, middle school & high school.

Johnathan Jackson

Mayfield

Jonathan was a part of the Mayfield-Tilghman rivalry for four years, playing a vital role on each team. He was a starter and captain on each of those teams, while boasting a 4-0 record against the Tornados during his tenure. Jackson went on to play at Murray State and saw action all four years and was a starter on two teams. He was also a two time All-American while with the Racers.

GAME SUMMARY

In their 104th meeting between the two schools, the Cardinals made it 12 in a row with a 48-14 blowout win at McRight Field. In the first half, the Blue Tornado of Tilghman were able to keep it close and trailed 20-6 at the half. However, it was the Scholar Athlete recipient and game MVP Kyle Hurt that opened up the second half and Mayfield took a commanding lead. Mayfield’s defense made it difficult for Tilghman to gain offensive momentum and held the Blue Tornado to 14 points for the contest and forced turnovers which kept Tilghman contained.